For the next few weeks leading up to the Terrapin men’s soccer season opener against Michigan State on Sept. 3 in College Park, I will take an in-depth look at this year’s team and the upcoming season.
Today I look at the incoming recruiting class for the Terps. While College Soccer News hasn’t released it’s yearly top 40 recruiting rankings, chances are the Terps will find themselves somewhere near the top. Once again, coach Sasho Cirovski has brought in talent from across the country, and the world, to upgrade his roster.
The Terps return nine starters and 23 letterwinners after an Elite Eight finish last season, but several freshmen could find themselves competing for time when the team reports to College Park Tuesday.
Here’s the six-player 2011 class:
Marquez Fernandez (Baltimore, Md.) – 5′8″, 160 lbs defender. Fernandez is deemed the “nation’s top defender recruit” according to ESPN. Last season he finished on the NSCAA High School All-American Team and ESPN RISE Magazine First Team All-America team. He missed nine games last year from a lung contusion – finished with 11 goals, 7 assists.
“Marquez Fernandez is a small feisty guy who can play anywhere in the back,” said Anthony Adams, one of Fernandez’s club coaches with the Baltimore Bays in a Gatorade press release. “He’s an all-around tremendous athlete. Fernandez has been so good for so long, he’s ‘Ol’ Reliable’ back there.”
“Marques is a fierce competitor in the mold of A.J. Delagarza,” Cirovski said in a press release. “He is very athletic and loves to defend. He can play anywhere on the backline and will have an immediate impact in our program. `Ques is one of the top defenders in the country.”
Tsotleho “Sunny” Jane (Prospect, Ky.) – 5′6″, 145 lbs forward. Jane is the No. 10 rated recruit in the nation according to TopDrawerSoccer.com. Originally from South Africa, Jane moved to the United States at 13 and has played for Trinity High School in Louisville and United 1996 FC.
“Sunny is one of the most dynamic attacking players coming out of high school,” Cirovski said. “He is extremely skillful and plays with a lot of flair. Our fans will love to see him taking people on and unbalancing opposing defenses.”
Gordon Murie (Takapuna, New Zealand) - 6′4″, 240lbs defender. Murie, one of several international recruits for Cirovski, captained the New Zealand U-17 World Cup team. Like Civoski says below, Murie should provide a huge target for corner kicks.
“Gordon Murie is a mountain at center back,” according to Joe Mauceri of proplayerpipeline.com after watching a Terps scrimmage. ” I expect that he may be the starter this fall. He did have a miscue which could have resulted in a goal.”
“Gordon is a physical presence, as he is built a little like Omar Gonzalez,” Cirovski said. “He gives us some much needed height and is great in the air. He is very competitive and possesses some great leadership qualities, as evidenced by him being the captain of the most successful youth team in New Zealand history. Like Patrick (Mullins), he will benefit tremendously from enrolling a semester early. We expect him to be a dominant force on our backline.”
Patrick Mullins (New Orleans, La.) - 6′1″, 165 lb forward/midfield. Mullins is rated as the No. 31 recruit in the nation by TopDrawerSoccer.com and was named Gatorade’s Louisiana Player of the Year. Mullins, along with Murie, enrolled at Maryland this past January to start his collegiate career as soon as possible. He scored 14 goals in the fall Region III Premier League season.
“He’s a great finisher,” his coach Jose Portillo told ESNN. “If he gets on a team that has a lot of playmakers he can really score a lot of goals. He is great at taking on players once he gets the ball in front of him.”
“Mullin’s left foot is going to be a weapon – I appreciate his control in traffic to place the ball to his advantage,” Mauceri said.
“Patrick is a very talented goal-scorer,” Cirovski said. “He has a great left foot and has refined his game to be a threat whenever he gets the ball. He comes from a similar background as Jason Garey and has the same nose for the goal. I expect big things and rapid improvement from Patrick, especially since he has joined us a semester early.”
Jereme Raley (Clinton, Md.) - 5′10″, 158 lb midfielder. Raley was the Washington Post Southern Maryland Player of the Year in junior and senior years. He played club soccer alongside fellow classmate Marquez Fernandez with the Baltimore Bays Chelsea Academy, where Cirovski most likely caught an eye on him. Raley was named to the 2nd team All-State team as well.
“Jereme is an outstanding midfielder who can play any of the midfield positions,” Cirovski said. “He has great feet, vision and overall skill. He will compete and contribute immediately.”
Helge Leikvang (Oslo, Norway) - 6′0″, 168 lb midfielder. Cirovski added Leikvang to his recruiting class at the beginning of the summer. Leikvang played on the U-18 Norwegian National team and a member of Stabaek’s elite juniors program.
“”I’m excited to welcome Helge to our team for this fall. He is a playmaking central midfielder who is a gifted passer and plays with a maturity beyond his years. His style of play is a perfect fit for our approach.”
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Look for Mullins, Murie and Fernandez to make serious runs at potential starting jobs at midfield and defense left by Drew Yates and Kevin Tangney graduating.
Much more men’s soccer coverage to come, so make sure to check back at TerrapinTrail.com for all your Terps sports coverage.
Chris Eckard is the Diamondback’s men’s soccer beat reporter. He can be reached at ceckard@umdbk.com. Follow him at twitter.com/ceckard