June 23, 2004

Contact: Brian McCann

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Stephen Ademolu, who was selected as the Horizon League men's soccer Player of the Year last fall, has elected to forego his senior season in order to begin his professional soccer career.

Ademolu has signed a professional contract with Trelleborg of the Swedish Elite League, which is located on the southern coast of Sweden along the Baltic Sea. He will join the team immediately, which is currently ranked 10th in the 14-team league with a 2-4-3 record, and play through the end of the season in November.

Ademolu was named the Horizon League Men's Soccer Player of the Year in 2003 after leading the league with 12 goals. He ranked 16th nationally in goal per game (0.71) and 28th in points (27 points, 1.59 ppg). recording seven multiple-point games with five game-winning goals.

A two-time first team All-Horizon League choice, he was tabbed as the league newcomer of the year in 2002 after transferring from UNC-Pembroke. He closes his CSU career with two-year totals of 23 goals, eight assists and 54 points.

Ademolu, a native of Windsor, Ontario, participated on Canada's U-23 national team at the Olympic qualifying tournament in Guadalajara, Mexico in February.

"I am very disappointed that Stephen has elected to pass up playing his senior year at Cleveland State," head coach Pete Curtis said. "Stephen gave two valuable seasons of service to Cleveland State, during which time he established himself as the preeminent striker in the Horizon League. We wish him well."

The Vikings, who finished the 2003 season with a 6-13-1 record, open the 2004 season against host Louisville on Friday, Sept. 3 in the opening round of the Louisville Musselman Hotels Classic in Louisville, Kentucky.