USD Men's Soccer 2006

OUTSTANDING VETERAN CORE MIXED WITH PHENOMENAL FRESHMAN CLASS

The University of San Diego men's soccer Guy, but JT Howlan is going to be avery dynamic newcomers. The coaching staff is still assessing team was recently ranked 11th in the nation player," McFadden said. "Chase Tangney is go- who will most effectively defend the back field . in a preseason poll for their 2006 recruiting ing to be outstanding as well." "Brett Hirota is such a steady and gutsy player," class according to collegesoccernews.com. Tangney was the team MVP for Bellarmine said McFadden. "He always finds a way to be With recruits like Ciaran O'Brien and Ryan Prep in Gig Harbor, Wash. and All-League MVP there. We have freshman Ryan Peterman from Peterman being sought after by such schools of the Narrows League his senior year. Howlan the national team. Blaine Smith is coming back, as University of Washington, UCLA, and was First-team All-State selection in Colo. as a Fabrice Gautrat and Tim Grey round out the fresh– Michigan, it's no wonder Seamus McFadden senior at Horizon High School and First-team man. There are just a lot of great athletes that can is thrilled to start the upcoming season. All-Conference in the Front Range League as a fill that role for us." San Diego returns 18 letter winners from junior. Returning from last season will be WCC Fresh- the 2005 season , losing only four seniors. man of the Year Sam Reeder who saw action in With the loss of those four starters, McFad- Midfield 15 games and was a key asset to San Diego's low den and his staff went to work signing seven The Toreros will have plenty of options for fill- Goals-Against Average of 1.14 in 2005. Hirota new recruits to the 2006 roster. This years ing the midfield position, which is yet to be an- started every game in 2005 and tallied one assist incoming class includes: Tim Grey, Favrice nounced. With eight players on the line-up card, for San Diego. He will be another key player to Gautrat, O'Brien, Chase Tangney, JT How- McFadden will have lots of possibilities to choose watch for this season. Blaine Smith also returns to Ian, Peterman, and Mike Barbeito. from. the roster after making 19 appearances last sea- O'Brien, a member of the United FC, re- "The coaching staff is still looking at how we son and taking five shots on goal from the back- corded 15 goals and 13 assists as a senior at want to arrange the midfield," McFadden said . field . Leon Abravanel made three appearances Decatur High School in Tacoma, Washington. "The problem is, will there be enough pie for ev- last season and could be called upon to fill the role Peterman was a member of the Arsenal FC eryone. The players will have to share and that of defender. Julian Santana opted to redshirt his and earned First-team All-League honors his will be the key to their success." freshman season returning this year looking for a senior hear helping lead his team to a 14-0-1 Senior Kevin Meissner; San Diego's co-cap- spot in the starting line-up. Dane McCleary; who record and the Baseline League champion- tain, returns for his final campaign after scoring made two appearances in 2005 against UC Irvine ship. one goal for the Toreros in 2005. Eric Pohl re- and Loyola Marymount University, will also be vy- McFadden and his staff will look at trying turns this season having posted three goals and ing for a starting position.

different line-ups early on in the season to tallying two assists last season. Dustin Guerrero see how the newcomers respond and interact had stellar performance in 2005 notching five with the veterans of the team. "That will be goals and three assists, two goals of which were the key to our success," McFadden said. "It's match-winners against Cal State Northridge and how well the integration between this year's University of Portland . Tannen Weis will also freshman and our returners occurs." be vying for a starter position on the field after "Tommy Tate and Nico Nicolson did agreat recording three goals, two of which were game– job helping me out with this recruiting class," winners, and one assist in 2005. McFadden explained. "This recruiting class is Some of the new comers to the team will be even better with Colin Jennings, who should putting up a tough fight for playing time. Colin be considered a top recruit after not playing Jennings, a Poway High School graduate and last year, because of his tremendous ability to transfer from San Diego State University, will be impact the team." seeing playing time most likely after having to red-shirt last season. He was first-team All-Con- ference while leading his team to the Palomar With all the new talent on board ,the line-up League championship his senior year. Ciaran has yet to be announced as competition for O'Brien, a member of the regional champion and a position at forward will be fierce this year. national runner up FC United, will be an athlete McFadden and his staff have an outstanding to watch. Scoring 15 goals and 13 assists as a pool of players to choose from . senior, he was the South Puget Sound Leagues Ryan Guy, who earned 2005 Far-West MVP, SPSL First-Tern All-Conference, and the All-Regional honors and a Second-team Washington State Player of the Year. All-League selection , is one of the possibili- Mike Barbieto joins the team from Etiwanda ties. In 2005, he recorded two goals and six High School where as a senior he scored 10 assists for 12 points. Michael Caso also re- goals and 12 assists. He was Team Offensive turns as one of two captains for the Toreros MVP and First-team All-League for the Chaffey after earning a 2005 West Coast Conference League. Native San Diegan Tony Ortega will re– Honorable Mention honors to go along with turn to action after red-shirting his 2005 season. his three goals and five assists last season. Ortega scored 15 goals for the Mt. Carmel Sun Adam Mariani is coming off of an outstand- Devils and 10 assists his senior season and was Forwards ing offensive season scoring four goals and named Team MVP. one assist in 2005. Nick Leonard will also compete for a spot up front after red-shirting Defense in 2005. San Diego has a strong core of defenders on "Returning players include Mariani and the roster this year, both veteran players and

Goalkeeper USO will be looking closely at their three goal keepers to see who will best defend the net. How– ever, it is a three-way battle between Lance Friesz, Ian Coffman, and Kelin Briones for the starting po– sition at keeper this season. Friesz started all 20 matches last season allow– ing only 24 goals, recording 56 saves and a 1.15 GAA, while posting five shutouts. Coffman made two appearances last season relieving Friesz, re– cording one save against UC Irvine. Briones has yet to take the field for the Toreros in goal but has impressed the coaching staff with his abilities. "Briones' club team got to the finals of the na– tional cup last summer, so he is ready to play," said McFadden. "We have a lot of possibilities at goal keeper which is a great thing. " Schedule San Diego opens the 2006 season at home this year against Rutgers and Albany. Rutgers has a very strong roster this year and that will be a real test for the Toreros. McFadden then takes the To– reros back to the East Coast to take on Brown and Providence. "Brown and Providence will be another huge test for us," said McFadden "because we've got a lot to prove back there. The providence coach is on the national committee, we are out of region ,

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· USD NCAA Tournament Appearances - 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1995, 1994, 1993, 1992, 1990