Pac Ten 2009 Mens Soccer Recruiting

Published 4/22/2009 8:34:29 PM by Shane Barrow from soccermogul

Pac Ten 2009 soccer recruiting, Pac Ten soccer

It was not a good year for Pac Ten soccer last year. California carried the torch for the Pac Ten advancing to the final 16 in the NCAAs before falling to eventual national champions Maryland 2-1. Otherwise, nobody really stood out in the conference at all. It was a down year for UCLA as they crashed out in the opening round of the NCAAs to Cal Poly. Otherwise nobody even had a winning record for the year. The Big West Conference was the premier West coast soccer conference last season. The Pac Ten will look to a good recruiting class to get back on track in 2009.

California
Cal was the premier Pac Ten squad last season going 12-4-5 and losing in the Sweet 16 to eventual champions Maryland. They'll have some big shoes to fill, namely star goalkeeper Stefan Frei who was drafted in the 1st round of the MLS Superdraft by Toronto FC. The Bears do return leading scorer Andrew Wiedeman as well as All Region players AJ Soares and Hector Jiminez. Coach Kevin Grimes is bringing in an eight man class to bolster the squad for 2009. Jeff Cosgriff should make an immediate impact after transferring from Santa Clara where he scored 9 career goals. Steve Birnbaum heads the incoming freshman as he has considerable experience with the US U18 and U20 National Teams. Anthony Salciccia has also played extensively with the US U18s.

Steve Birnbaum from Pateadores
Jeff Cosgriff transfer from Santa Clara
John Fitzpatrick from San Diego Surf
Riley Kovatch from Santa Rosa United
Kyle Marsh of Marin FC
Chris Ortega from Arsenal FC
Anthony Salciccia from Deanza Force
Nick Shackelford from Pateadores

Oregon State
It was a lackluster year for Oregon State soccer as they went 5-9-4 and finished 4th in the Pac Ten. They do have talent to work though as Pac Ten freshman of the year Danny Mwanga and goalkeeper Mike Miller returning. The Beavers are bringing in an eight player class for 2009. Travis Anderson is on the Australia U17 squad.

"Our coaching staff has assembled a recruiting class that we feel has the ability to step in and contribute right away," Coach Dana Taylor said. "The common thread among this group is athleticism, size and attitude. We have very high expectations for these players and we are all very eager for August to arrive."

Travis Anderson from Adelaide, Australia
Tanner French from Sandpoint, ID and Sandpoint Strikers
Emmett Demirelli from Boise, ID and Boise Capitals
Mike Hodgen from Centerville, UT and Real Salt Lake Jrs
Tommy Martin from Park City, UT and Utah Rush
Jake Parker from Milwaukie, OR and Westside Metros
Alex Penny from Hillsboro, OR and Bridlemile SC
Travis Sanchez transfer from /Pima Community College

San Diego State
A horrible midseason slump which saw SDSU only win once in ten matches sealed the Aztecs fate. They finished winning three of four, but it was much too little too late. They will have a talented group of seniors next fall though in Nick Cardenas, Evan Toft and Jamel Wallace who all three earned 2nd Team All Pac Ten honors last year. Look for the Aztecs to possibly be a surprise squad for 2009.

It is a solid class coming in which includes top 5 national prospect Jose Altamirano. We look forward to having massive competition within our 2009 squad as we prepare to take on four former national champions and multiple 2008 league champions," Coach Kirshner said. "This schedule will certainly test our veteran group and talented recruits. It will be fun to see how they handle the challenges."

Jose Altamirano from San Diego, Calif. and Del Mar Sharks
Blake Hylen from San Diego, Calif and Del Mar Sharks
Chadd Johnson from Calif. and United FC
Jordan Phillips from The Woodlands, TX and Texas Rush
Morgan Sacco from Colorado Rush
Devon Sandoval from New Mexico

Stanford
It was a miserable year for Stanford as they won only 4 games all year. Not characteristic of Stanford soccer at all. The team definitely had trouble scoring goals last year as they only notched 14 all year with 4 of those coming in 1 match. To address the need for goals Coach Bret Simon was able to land Dersu Abolfathi, a midfielder/forward from Irvine, California that has been tabbed as #1 recruit in the nation by topdrawersoccer.com.

"I'm thrilled at the group we've been able to assemble," Simon said. "We've been able to address our pressing needs, and particularly build a quality attacking base for the future."

Dersu Abolfathi from Irvine, CA and LA Galaxy Youth
Eric Anderson from San Francisco, CA and Marin FC
Jason Dodson from Lake Oswego, Ore
Hunter Gorskie from Marlboro Township, NJ and PDA
Adam Jahn from El Marcero, Calif. and San Juan SC
Galen Perkins from Westbrook, Maine and Seacoast United

UCLA
The Bruins loaded up with an extremely difficult early season schedule with the likes of Maryland, Wake Forest, North Carolina and Indiana. The challenging games prepared UCLA for the Pac Ten season as they rolled through conference play going 7-1-2 and taking the Pac Ten title. The Bruins were not rewarded though as they drew a very difficuly Cal Poly side to open NCAA tournament play where they fell 1-0. Definitely not the ending the Bruins had envisioned as they had plans for a deep NCAA run.

UCLA brings in an impressive eight member class for 2009 led by Amobi Okugo who has been a mainstay with the US youth national teams. "This incoming recruiting class is gifted both technically and athletically. Amongst the group, there are several players with Youth National Team experience. Each of the players will have an immediate impact on our program."

Dakota Collins F from Temecula, CA and United FC
Chandler Hoffman F from Birmingham, Ala. and Birmingham United
Ryan Hollingshead from Granite Bay, CA and
Cesar Morales from St Charles, IL and Sockers FC
Matthew Norton from Poway, CA and La Jolla Nomads
Amobi Okugo MF from Sacramento, Calif. and San Juan SC
Evan Raynr MF from Calabasa, CA and Real So Cal
Michael Roman MF from Oxnard, CA and Real So Cal

Washington
An early season run which saw the team win nine of ten gave hope of a good Pac Ten showing and possible NCAA berth. That fizzled quickly though as the Huskies managed only one win in their last seven games of the season. The Huskies have announced a three man class so far for the fall of 2009. Ryan Moore is a U18 ODP National pool player.

"We are very excited about this 2009 recruiting class because it adds three quality players who have the potential to help us right away and it adds much needed depth in the forward position," Wurzberger commented. "While we do have a large returning class next fall, the addition of these three outstanding players will have an immediate impact on our 2009 team."

Quinton Beasley from Camas, Wash. and CPSC Timbers Red
Ryan Moore from San Leandro, Ca.
Will Pleskow from Culver City, Wash.