Having led Wake Forest University to its first NCAA College Cup title, tough-as-nails senior defender Julian Valentin is gearing up for the quickly approaching dawn of his professional career.

The Demon Deacons captain put in a spirited and ever-committed performance for his school as it triumphed 2-1 over Ohio State University in the final, a match in which Valentin found himself on the wrong end of a dangerously high boot to the face that would carve deep gashes and evoke a rush of blood, yet did little to deter his determination to play.

The Wake Forest #4, who was named as a 2007 MAC Hermann Trophy semifinalist, has received his fair share of individual recognition over the years, but remains adamant that this title is a culmination of countless hours of hard work and an altruistic group effort.

"My teammates, coaches, support staff, and I have put in so much time over the years, working hard and sacrificing so much to get to the Final Four and it's just an amazing feeling to finally have won it," Valentin described to American Soccer Daily, adding, "There is no feeling like it."

It's been an eventful 2007 for the Pennsylvania native, who was an integral component of coach Thomas Rongen's US Under-20 team, playing in every game of the qualification tournament for the 2007 FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Panama before playing in four of five matches in the summer finals.

Having tasted the pressure of both the highest level of youth play in the world and the tallest order of the domestic college game, the physically imposing defender is only just now realizing the scope of his summer Under-20 national team duty.

As has been the case with SC Heerenveen prodigy Michael Bradley, who has born a full transformation of presence by the wealth of experience gained over the summer, Valentin feels that the task of playing against the best young players of Uruguay, South Korea and Poland has served to prime him for this year's success.

"My experiences in Canada this summer greatly helped my development as a player and helped me in the College Cup this year," he said. "The pressure was a lot different playing the U-20 World Cup this summer, especially because it was the first time that I had played in such an environment."

"While I didn't think about it while I was on the pitch, the whole world was watching and the stress and pressure of that atmosphere was something that makes playing in front of 8,000 in the College Cup seem like no big deal."

"Still, there was pressure in the Final Four, for obvious reasons," Valentin recounted, the College Cup final having been broadcast across the country on ESPNU. "But I was much better suited to handle the pressure having played in games on the world stage."

While blood and guts might not be included in the soccer mom vernacular, the precocious defender wears his grit and determination with pride. During Sunday's final, Valentin had a 30-stitch gash across his face carved open by Roger Espinoza's studs, on a dangerous play that could easily have warranted more than the yellow card it was granted.

Despite bearing the nasty cut, the stopper refused to accept injury-driven abandonment of his leadership duties with any ease, nearly 10 minutes left open to decide the fate of years of hard work.

"I would consider commitment and intensity some of my best qualities," he critiqued. "Nobody will call me the best soccer player, the fastest guy or the most gifted technically, but I think I bring some things to the table that are hard to find in a player."

"I would do anything for my team and I'm a warrior who will leave everything on the field every time I step on."

Having been invited to the 2008 MLS player combine, Valentin is eagerly preparing to take his chance at a post-collegiate career. "I have a lot of things to improve on and I'm looking forward to working hard to do so," he admitted.

"I'm going to the Combine in January and hopefully I'll impress, get drafted and we'll go from there. It's definitely an exciting month ahead!"

The month of January is just a taste of what's in store for the Demon Deacon's hopeful career. Should all go according to plan, and a team come knocking at his door, it would be a dream come true.

"I love MLS, and I would love to play in the league for years," he decreed. "And Europe has always been a dream of mine, if the situation is right. I'm excited about my future in the game."