May 6, 2010

FAIRFAX, Va. - George Mason University head men's soccer coach Greg Andrulis officially announced the Patriots' 2010 recruiting class on Thursday.

The highly-touted class includes two players who have spent time with the United States Under-17 and Under-18 National Teams. The accolades of the eight-player class also include three adidas ESP selections, three high school state Players of the Year, two Disney Showcase All-Stars who were invited to train at Chelsea, two goalkeepers who are ranked nationally as top-10 keepers in the country and top-100 recruits in the country by TopDrawerSoccer.com, and a player selected to play with the Super-Y National Team in Germany.

The eight member recruiting class consists of Mark Bixler (IMG Soccer Academy, Roanoke, Va.), Geaton Caltabiano (Baltimore Bays Academy, Lothian, Md.), Sean Cote (Solar Academy, Plano, Texas), Zach Haapaoja (TSF Celtic Academy, Clinton, N.J.), Alex Herrera (D.C. United, Arlington, Va.), Hugh Roberts (Potomac Academy, Gaithersburg, Md.), Wesley Sever (Clearwater Chargers, Belleair, Fla.) and Connor Shanosky (D.C. United , Potomac Falls, Va.).

The Patriots continue their tradition of adding USA Youth National Team experience with 2010 recruits Alex Herrera and Wesley Sever. The Patriots have added eight players in the previous two recruiting cycles with youth national team camp experience. The 2009 recruiting class was ranked 15th in the nation by CollegeSoccerNews.com and the 2008 class was ranked 33rd overall in the country.

The group represents some of the finest youth club teams in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy League (D.C. United, IMG Soccer Academy, Baltimore Bays, Solar Academy, Potomac Academy and Clearwater Academy). The Patriots have once again recruited nationally, attracting commitments from five states - Virginia, Maryland, Florida, Texas and New Jersey. In addition, all of the incoming recruits have been captains of either their high school or club teams.

"We are very pleased to announce our third-straight nationally-regarded recruiting class. Our staff has put in countless hours not only attracting the best players in Virginia but expanding our recruiting base and securing top talent from across the country," Andrulis said. "This incoming group will rate right up there with our previous two recruiting classes, which were both nationally ranked. Once again the majority of our incoming players have international playing experience. As a group, they all possess the competitive drive, character and talent we want in our program. These are all young men who are going to put team goals first as they bring talent, enthusiasm and commitment to our program. They are also all very good people who have strong academic backgrounds and commitment to excellence in the classroom. We are excited to welcome this group of outstanding young men into the George Mason soccer family.

"Nick Carlin-Voigt, our recruiting coordinator, has once again brought together a great group of players to Mason. Nick has quickly developed a reputation as one of the finest recruiters in the country and this class solidifies that recognition. Assistant Coach John O'Hara also did a wonderful job in his first year on the recruiting trail."

The Patriots had some very specific recruiting needs to address with the loss of two four-year starters in Sean Kelley and Richard Edgar, as well as senior defender Alex Procter.

"Although you can never fully replace seniors we believe we have not only addressed the voids but have added quality, competition and depth to every position on the field," Andrulis added. "We arguably added two of the best senior goalkeepers in the country in Sean Cote and Mark Bixler, and one of the best strikers in Florida in Wesley Sever, who has great pace and a track record of scoring goals. We feel once again that we secured the top two Northern Virginia midfield products in Alex Herrera and Connor Shanosky, who are both products of the D.C. United Academy system. By signing Hugh Roberts and Geaton Caltabiano we have added two of the best players coming out of Maryland this year. Zach Haapaoja is the reigning West New Jersey High School Player of the Year.

"All of our new players will continue to make our University and fans proud. The strong core of returning players mixed with the talent of this recruiting class makes us excited for the potential of next year's team in our challenging pursuit of another CAA Championship and run in the NCAA Tournament."

Incoming Player Bios
Mark Bixler
Height: 6'1"
Club Team: IMG Soccer Academy (USSF Academy)
Hometown: Roanake, Va.
High School: Pendleton School (Bradenton, Fla.)
Position: Goalkeeper

Accolades: Rated by TopDrawerSoccer.com as the top goalkeeper recruit in Virginia, the 10th-best goalkeeper in the country and the 96th-best recruit in the country. Also named the sixth highest-ranked recruit in the Mid-Atlantic Region.

Regional Team Experience: ODP Region I Team (2008-10), ODP Region I Team, Inter-Regional Champions - CASL Shootout, Dec. 2009, ODP Region I Team, Italy Tournament, Trofeo Nereo Rocco, April 2009, Voted Team MVP ODP Region I Team, Inter-Regional Champions - Disney Showcase, Dec. 2008

Club Team Success: Starting Goalkeeper for IMG U-18 Academy Team (2010). Coached by Tom Durkin. Member of GFA 91 Elite (2009) coached by George Mason soccer alums Ed Beach and Mark Ryan.

Andrulis on Bixler: Mark is a fiery competitor who hates to lose. He will immediately challenge for the starting goalkeeper position along with Dustin Butcher and Sean Cote. We once again feel that with Mark we are getting one of the top players in the state of Virginia. Mark's development has improved significantly since being in a full-time residency environment at IMG Soccer Academy under the direction of Tom Durkin, who is one of the best developers of talent in the entire country. We look forward to pushing Mark and developing him to reach his goals in our every day demanding training environment.

Bixler on Mason: I chose George Mason because of the excellent coaching staff and the opportunity to be part of a great soccer program with tremendous potential on the national stage. I feel it is the best place for me to develop both academically and athletically to reach my goals.

Bixler was also recruited by Georgetown, Virginia Tech, Dartmouth, St. John's, South Florida and Notre Dame.

Geaton Caltabiano
Height: 5'6"
Club Team: Baltimore Bays (USSF Academy)
High School: Mount Saint Joseph
Position: Midfielder

Accolades: Maryland state Player of the Year as selected by the Old Timers Soccer Association, adidas ESP participant, ranked 11th top recruit in Mid-Atlantic Region by TopDrawerSoccer.com, named a top Maryland prospect by ESPN Rise. Played internationally in Scotland with the regional team and has trained with Serie A side Cantania.

Club Team Success: Two-time U.S. Youth Soccer National Champions with Baltimore Bays, starting midfielder for Baltimore Bays Academy Team (2010).

High School: Team captain. As a senior, led his team in points with 16 goals and eight assists. Scored both goals in a regular-season victory over McDonogh, then the No. 1 team in the nation.

Andrulis on Caltabiano: Geaton is an intelligent, dynamic and tenacious player who has a great feel for the game. He has a good first touch and is a good passer of the ball which is important to how we want to play. He is a product of the Baltimore Bays Academy System, which annually produces not only the best players but also some of the most competitively driven. As he adapts to the pace of the college game and the physical component we believe he can impact our program with his soccer ability, leadership and dedication to excellence.

Caltabiano on Mason: I chose to attend George Mason University because I want to play at a soccer program on the rise. I feel like George Mason is the best fit for me and where I am in my career. From the minute I met the coaching staff I knew that I wanted to play for them for the next four years. I knew that George Mason was the place I want to call home for the next four years.

Also recruited by Wake Forest, St. John's and Loyola (Md.).

Sean Cote
Height: 6'4"
Club Team: Solar Academy (USSF Academy)
High School: Plano Senior (Dallas, Texas)
Position: Goalkeeper

Accolades: Rated by TopDrawerSoccer.com as the fifth best goalkeeper recruit in the country, top-ranked goalkeeper in Texas and the 55th-ranked recruit in the country. adidas ESP selection and member of the Disney/adidas All-Star Team selected to train at Chelsea.

Club Team Success: Solar Academy (USSF Academy). Starting goalkeeper for Solar. Helped lead his team to the 2009 Dallas Cup U-19 Championship Match. Team captain. Coached by Kevin Smith.

High School: Led team to the 2009 state championship. Named Dallas Goalkeeper of the Year. Team captain.

Andrulis on Cote: Sean has a great frame for the goalkeeper position and has great range to get to the corners. He is the best goalkeeper to come out of Texas this year, which says an awful lot about his talent level. He possesses great shot stopping ability and will immediately compete for the starting position with Dustin Butcher and Mark Bixler. Sean's distribution and kicking range has grown significantly over the past year and as he gets physically stronger the sky is the limit for him.

Cote on George Mason: I decided to attend George Mason because of the great soccer and academic facilities plus I really liked the fact that I will have the opportunity to compete right away. I also really like the soccer coaches at Mason. I feel that I will get the excellent coaching and instruction that will enable me to compete effectively at the next level.

Cote was also recruited by Duke, SMU and North Carolina-Wilmington.

Zach Haapaoja
Height: 5'9"
Club Team: TSF Celtic (New Jersey)
High School: North Hunterdon Regional High School
Position: Right or Left Back

Accolades: West New Jersey Player of the Year, Named a Top New Jersey Player to Watch by ESPN Rise.

Super-Y National Team Experience: Super-Y ODP National Camp - U-13, U-14, U-15, U-16 and U-17, 2007 Super-Y National Team Trip to Germany to compete with some of the best players in the country against top European Youth Clubs.

High School: Named Star-Ledger West New Jersey High School Player of the Year. Became the second leading scorer in North Hunterdon High School history in 2009 with 22 goals and 13 assists. He was voted MVP of the county tournament, scoring two goals in the championship game. Voted First-Team All-State

Club Team Success: Played with the TSF Academy Celtic under coach Huey Ferguson, helping the team capture the New Jersey State Cup championship the last two years.

Andrulis on Haapaoja: Zach has an endless engine to get up and down the flank. He is a defender that loves to attack and get forward. Zach attended our Elite Residential Victory Summer Camp and really performed well against some of the best players in the region. We believe Zach is one of the top players to come out of New Jersey this year. Zach will push our current players for playing time as he is so versatile in how he can help the program.

Haapaoja on George Mason: From my first visit to George Mason last summer, the school seemed like the perfect fit for me. I wanted a mid-to-large size school, close to an urban area. The people that I met during my tour were all very nice and had great things to say about the university. Then I attended the summer camp and met the coaching staff and that sealed the deal for me. They were all great, the team members I met were all friendly and they were all good soccer players. All the things that I looked for in a university came together for me then.

Alex Herrera
Height: 5'9"
Club Team: D.C. United
High School: Yorktown High School (Virginia)
Position: Midfield/Defense

National Team/Regional Team Experience: U-18 National Team Camp 2009, ESP All-Star Selection 2007, U-17 National Team, U-17 National Team Trip to the Mondial Minimes International Tournament in Chantonnay, France, Region 1 Team member from 2005-2008 with trips to Spain, Argentina, and Italy. VA State Team 2003-2008.

Club Team: D.C. United Youth Academy (2009), National runners-up for Academy Championship (2009) SYC Jr. Royals, Coached by Judah Cooks and John Maessner.

High School: Virginia All-State selection as a sophomore and junior, First-Team All-Met as a junior, Two-time National District Player of the Year, Northern Region Player of the Year during his junior year.

Andrulis on Herrera: Alex is a very technical and talented player who can play anywhere in the backline or in the midfield. He is one of the top players in the D.C. metro area, if not the state of Virginia, and we are expecting big things from him during his career. He has proven himself at the club, state, regional and national team level. Alex enrolled at Mason this past January and now has a better understanding of what it takes to be successful in our program.

Herrera on Mason: I chose George Mason University because I feel like I can fulfill my goals of becoming a pro soccer player under the guidance and leadership of the coaching staff. I also wanted to go to a good all-around school where I could focus and do my best. I feel like George Mason is the place for me.

Herrera was also recruited by St. John's, UConn, West Virginia and James Madison.

Hugh Roberts
Height: 6'4"
Club Team: Potomac Academy
High School: Our Lady of Good Counsel
Position: Striker, Winger

Accolades: Named a Top Maryland Prospect to Watch by ESPN Rise, Named by Maryland Gazette as Local High School Soccer Player of the Year.

Club Team Success: Starting forward on Potomac Academy, second leading goal scorer for Potomac Academy (2009 and 2010). Coached by Zach Samol.

High School: Scored 53 combined goals his senior and junior seasons, senior year had 33 goals which led the league (Washington Catholic Athletic Conference) and county for the year. Named First-Team All-Met and First-Team All-Conference during his senior year. Named team MVP three years in a row at Good Counsel.

Andrulis on Roberts: Hugh has a great body for the game and has made enormous improvements in the past year. Hugh has the potential to develop into a handful for teams because of his combination of great size and athleticism. He has wonderful athletic ability and as he continues to refine his feet, ball striking and touch he will grow and develop into a very dangerous college soccer player. Hugh's positive personality is contagious and his character and pleasant demeanor will be great fit for the program both on and off the field.

Roberts on Mason: I selected George Mason over other schools because it was the perfect fit for me. I loved the coaching staff as they welcomed me as one of their own. I loved the team as they all had fun together and they all have a great bond and chemistry. The team has a lot of potential and after watching them play and beat ACC teams I knew they were good. George Mason has some very talented players who I look forward to playing with.

Also recruited by Georgetown, Northeastern and Towson.

Wesley Sever
Height: 5'11"
Club Team: Clearwater Chargers (USSF Academy)
High School: Tampa Prep
Position: Striker/Winger

National Team Experience: U-18 National Team Camp 2009

Club Team Success: Scored 17 goals for the Clearwater Chargers as they qualified for Academy Playoffs 17/18 (2009). Ran the fourth-fastest 20-meter sprint in the country (Academy Sparq Testing). Selected as a member of the Southeast Starting 11 for Academy Program (2008). Selected as a member of Disney Showcase All-Star team to train internationally with Chelsea (2008). Coached by Peter Mannino.

Tampa Prep High School: Florida 2A State Player of the Year 2010, Three-time State Champion. Scored 32 goals in 2010 and 39 goals in 2008. Both years he was named Final Four MVP. Named by ESPN Rise as a top Florida recruit. Team captain.

Andrulis on Sever: Wes is a goal scorer who has great pace and ability to make intelligent runs to get in behind defenses. Wes has a winning mentality and was a highly sought after recruit who has won three high school state championships and scored almost 100 goals in high school on his way to being named the Florida 2A Player of the Year. He is one of the most prolific scorers in the Southeast Academy Division for the Clearwater Charges and led his team in goals in their 2009 playoff season. It is no surprise that he was a member of the U-18 U.S. National Team pool. We think he has a huge upside and expect him to have a smooth transition to college soccer.

Sever on George Mason: I chose George Mason University because I wanted to attend an excellent institution, while competing at the highest level in collegiate soccer. I believe that the coaching staff at George Mason is one of the best in the country and can guide me to my full potential as a soccer player and as a person. I'm looking forward to joining the George Mason program and community.

Sever was also recruited by the University of South Florida, Georgetown, Old Dominion and UNC-Charlotte.

Connor Shanosky
Height: 6'3"
Club: D.C. United (USSF Academy)
High School: Potomac Falls High School
Position: Holding Midfielder, Centerback

Club Team Success: Starter for D.C. United Academy, Selected to U.S. Soccer Academy Market Based Training for National Team Candidates, Captain of Great Falls 91 Elite Virginia State Championship winner 2009. Played for Juda Cooks at D.C. United. Also played for Ed Beach and Mark Ryan at GFA, who are George Mason soccer alumni.

High School: Two District and Regional Championships at Potomac Falls High School, Second-Team All-State, First-Team All District and Region (junior year).

Andrulis on Shanosky: Connor is an excellent fit for our program as he has a winner's mentality. He is very technical and has great feet for his size. Connor has been a great addition to D.C. United and was one of the best players at GFA. Connor is very good in possession and has excellent passing range. We expect Connor to immediately make an impact on our program and compete for playing time as a true freshman. Connor has a very humble attitude toward development as he is always striving to improve as a player.

Shanosky on Mason: I chose George Mason University because of the school's athletic and academic reputation. I am very excited to play under the excellent coaching staff, and I know I will learn and grow a lot as a soccer player under a very qualified staff. George Mason seemed like a great fit for me academically and as a soccer player. I want to help the team compete in a very competitive conference and compete for an NCAA tournament selection.

Also recruited by James Madison, Virginia Tech and American University.

Mark Bixler	Geaton Caltabiano	Sean Cote
Zach Haapaoja	Alex Herrera	Hugh Roberts
Wesley Sever	Connor Shanosky