Jan. 16, 2004

Charlotte, NC - Two Wake Forest men's soccer players, goalkeeper William Hesmer and forward Jeremiah White, were selected in Friday's MLS Super Draft. Hesmer was taken by in the second round, 17th overall, by the Kansas City Wizards. White was picked by New England, 23rd overall, in the third round.

Hesmer, missed the regular season finale, the ACC Tournament and the NCAA Tournament, due to injury. However, he was still the second goalkeeper taken in the draft.

Hesmer will be behind longtime U.S. National Team goalkeeper Tony Meola who has appeared in the World Cup.

"I'm just looking forward to training with him. I'm looking forward to pushing him to become a better goalkeeper, and hopefully him in return pushing me to become a better goalkeeper," Hesmer told reporters at the draft. "Maybe in the next few years, whenever he decides to hang 'em up - or maybe beforehand - I can take over."

Hesmer says he is getting close to fully recovering from the leg injuries that ended his Wake Forest career.

"First of all, I've got to get completely healthy," Hesmer said. "I'm rating myself at about 75 percent right now. I'm still having some trouble with my right quad. I plan to be ready. If not by February 1, then at least mid-February."

White was the fourth collegiate forward selected.

Both were NSCAA All-Americans, both three-time All-ACC selections for Wake Forest. Hesmer was a first team NSCAA All-American as a senior and White was the 2003 ACC Player of the Year.

White, a native of Lansdowne, Pa., had eight goals and five assists for the Deacons as a senior. He leaves Wake Forest as the school's second all-time leading scorer with 37 goals, 19 assists for a total of 93 points. Hesmer, a native of Wilson, N.C., holds the Wake Forest career records for shutouts and goals against average.