Dec. 15, 2008

Romeoville, Ill. - After one of the most successful seasons in school history, the Lewis University men's soccer team continues to be recognized nationally, as the Flyers had three student-athletes named to the 2008 NSCAA/adidas NCAA Division II Men's All-America Team.

Lewis' honorees include senior midfielder Cory Mastey (Tinley Park, Ill./Andrew), junior forward Nestor Hernandez (Berwyn, Ill./Morton West) and junior defender Joey De Francesco (Bloomingdale, Ill./Lake Park). Each played a key role in helping Lewis to the `Sweet 16' of the NCAA Tournament and finished the season ranked 12th overall - the highest finish by a Flyers' squad since a 10th place finish in 2001.

Lewis was one of five teams in the country that had three players named to the squads, including Metro State, Rockhurst, Sonoma State and Tusculum.

Mastey was named to the All-America First Team, marking the first Flyer to be selected to the squad since Lewis Hall of Famer and three-time All-American John Thompson in 2001. This is the fourth postseason award for Mastey, as he has taken home All-Great Lakes Valley Conference and Midwest Region First Team honors, while being named to the 2008 Daktronics NCAA Division II All-American Honorable Mention Team after he scored 10 goals and finished with 24 points on the season. The Tinley Park, Illinois native finished his career with 85 points, tying him for seventh overall in Lewis history.

Hernandez earns All-America honors for the second-straight season, as the Berwyn, Ill., native was named to the Second Team after claiming Third Team honors as a sophomore. An All-GLVC first team selection, Hernandez led the Flyers with 11 goals scored and 26 total points in 2008.

Nestor Hernandez

Named a Third Team All-American, De Francesco spearheaded a stingy Lewis defense that held opponents to just 0.5 goals-per-game, which was the third best in the country. De Francesco, an All-GLVC second team selection, finished with three goals and three assists on the campaign for the Flyers.

Joey De Francesco

A Catholic University sponsored by the De La Salle Christian Brothers, Lewis offers nearly 80 undergraduate majors and programs of study, accelerated degree completion options for working adults, various aviation programs and 22 graduate programs in nine fields. The mid-sized university is being honored for the fifth consecutive year by The Princeton Review and U.S. News & World Report. For more information please visit www.lewisu.edu.

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