Dec. 13, 2007

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - For the second consecutive season, junior forward/midfielder Dejan Jakovic has been tabbed National Soccer Coaches Association of America's (NSCAA) First Team All-Region, which was announced on Thursday. Jakovic becomes only the third player in program history to earn back-to-back all-region accolades.

"I am very pleased for Dejan," UAB head coach Mike Getman said. "It is quite an accomplishment to earn back-to-back first-team all-region honors. He is a big contributor to our success over the last three years and he is certainly deserving of this honor. I am very happy that the coaches around the region have recognized the kind of player he is."

Jakovic joins former UAB soccer standouts Leandro de Oliveira (2003 and 2004) and Marin Pusek (2001, 2002 and 2003) as the only two-time first-team recipients to be honored by the NSCAA. The Etibicoke, Ontario native is also one of eight players in UAB men's soccer history to earn first-team all-region honors.

Despite battling injuries throughout the season, Jakovic finished the '07 campaign, leading UAB in goals (6) and points (13). Jakovic showed the type of player he can be when healthy, as he paced the Blazers to a victory at then-No. 10 Indiana (Sept. 21). In that contest, Jakovic accounted for two goals en route to the 2-1 upset win over the Hoosiers.

Jakovic, who was also one of 29 players selected to the preseason MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List, also earned a spot on the 2007 First-Team All-Conference USA team, marking the second straight year he garnered a spot on the league's first team, and the third time in three seasons he was tabbed All-C-USA (earned second team accolades as a freshman).