Aug. 25, 2010
College Soccer News Top-40 Recruiting Classes
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - George Mason's 2010 recruiting class was ranked 13th in the nation among Division I men's soccer programs by College Soccer News. The Patriots' recruiting classes have steadily progressed in the rankings the past three seasons as Mason's 2008 class was ranked 33rd and last year's was 15th.
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), Zak Haapaoja (TSF Celtic Academy, Clinton, N.J.), Alex Herrera (D.C. United, Arlington, Va.), Taylor Morgan (IMG Soccer Academy, Southampton, England), Hugh Roberts (Potomac Academy, Gaithersburg, Md.) and Wesley Sever (Clearwater Chargers, Belleair, Fla.).
"We are very proud of the recent national ranking of our 2010 recruiting class. Our staff has worked very hard recruiting national caliber student-athletes who are dedicated to excellence on and off the field," said George Mason men's soccer head coach Greg Andrulis. "This group of dedicated young men are not only terrific soccer players but are all outstanding students and community minded individuals.
"Nick Carlin-Voigt, our recruiting coordinator, continues to raise the bar and does a tremendous job sharing the vision of George Mason University and our athletic department on a national level. We look forward to great things from this group and are proud of what they represent."
The highly-touted class includes two players who have spent time with the United States Under-17 and Under-18 National Teams, and one who played for the English Schools Football Association Under-19 International Team. 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 Patriots play one more exhibition contest before beginning the regular season on Wednesday, Sept. 1 against George Washington in the D.C. College Cup hosted by American University. Mason's exhibition schedule concludes with a match against defending national champion Virginia on Saturday.
College Soccer News Top-15 Recruiting Classes
1. UCLA
2. Akron
3. Wake Forest
4. Indiana
5. Maryland
6. Northwestern
7. UC Santa Barbara
8. North Carolina
9. Notre Dame
10. Michigan
11. Connecticut
12. St. John's
13. George Mason
14. SMU
15. California
2010 George Mason Men's Soccer Newcomers
Mark Bixler, 6-1, 165, GK, Roanoke, Va., The Pendleton School
Geaton Caltabiano, 5-6, 135, MF, Lothian, Md., Mount Saint Joseph
Sean Cote, 6-4, 170, GK, Plano, Texas, Plano Senior
Zak Haapaoja, 5-9, 155, D, Clinton, N.J., North Hunterdon Regional
Alex Herrera, 5-9, 150, D/MF, Arlington, Va., Yorktown
Taylor Morgan, 6-5, 180, F, Southampton, England, Tauntons College, CCSU
Hugh Roberts, 6-4, 175, F, Olney, Md., Our Lady of Good Counsel
Wesley Sever, 5-11, 160, F, Belleair, Fla., Tampa Prep
By State
Florida (1)
Wesley Sever (Belleair)
Maryland (2)
Geaton Caltabiano (Lothian)
Hugh Roberts (Olney)
New Jersey (1)
Zak Haapaoja (Clinton)
Texas (1)
Sean Cote (Plano)
Virginia (2)
Mark Bixler (Roanoke)
Alex Herrera (Arlington)
International (1)
Taylor Morgan (England)
