WILMINGTON, North Carolina - Former UNCW soccer standouts Daniel Roberts and Christian Davidson have signed professional contracts to play for the Wilmington Hammerheads in the upcoming season, which opens on April 15.

Roberts and Davidson become the third and fourth Seahawks to sign professionally for the 2012 season joining Brad Knighton (Vancouver/MLS) and Brandon Miller (Rochester/USL).

"The Hammerheads have signed our top two field players from last season and both were instrumental in our success during their careers," said Aidan Heaney, UNCW's head coach. "Both are talented individuals who will do well at the professional level. They've had the professional mentality every day for the last four seasons."

Roberts, a playmaking midfielder, was a four-year starter for the Seahawks, earning first-team All-Colonial Athletic Association honors as a senior.  He finished the season with a team-high five assists while notching a goal. Roberts concluded his career ranked second all-time at UNCW with 55 shots on goal and fourth with 18 assists.

In 2009, he helped the Seahawks to their first CAA tournament championship and they reached the second round of the NCAA tournament that season. His goal off a free kick helped tie UNCW's opening round game at Charlotte, where the Seahawks prevailed in penalty kicks. He keyed the offense with four goals and five assists.

As a rookie in 2007, Roberts earned CAA All-Rookie honors while starting 17 matches.

Roberts was drafted by his hometown Houston Dynamo in the Major League Soccer draft in early January.

Davidson was also a four-year starter for the Seahawks, splitting time between midfield and defense. He missed the latter half of the 2011 season following a broken jaw suffered against Towson.

During his four seasons with the Seahawks, he appeared in 66 matches and helped fortify a defense that was nationally-ranked during the 2008-10 seasons. In 2009, Davidson led the Seahawks with six assists, including one that led to the game-winning goal in the CAA Championship as UNCW captured its first conference title and advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament.

The Hammerheads continue their preseason schedule on March 27 with a 7 p.m. kickoff against UNCW. Their season opens on the road at Orlando City FC on April 15.