BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Lehigh head coach Dean Koski announced the addition of 12 student-athletes to the program, on Thursday. Leading the list is the Gatorade Nevada Player of the Year, Steven Avena. He will be the second player on the team to have been named a state Player of the Year, as current sophomore Kyle Evans earned the award for New Jersey in 2005-06.
“We are delighted to announce our recruiting class of 2012 and anxiously await their arrival to campus in August,” said Koski. “The academic profile, talent and character of these 12 student-athletes represents an outstanding recruiting class. Associate head coach [Mike] Benn and I worked tirelessly in the identification and recruitment of these prospects and we fulfilled all of our most essential needs for our program.”
Avena attended Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, Nev., where he guided his team to back-to-back Class 4A state championships. His senior year, the midfielder was named to the All-State and All-State Academic teams, as well as being named team MVP. At the club level, he played for Neusport 90, and helped the team to five state titles. In the classroom, he was a National Merit and AP Scholar, and was a member of the school’s campus ministry.
Ross Burki is a 5’10” midfielder/forward from Austin, Texas, and played for Lake Travis High School, as well as the Austin Lonestars 90 Red. An exceptional athlete, Burki was ranked in the top 10 of the U16 USA Triathlon national rankings. He was also a member of the STX Olympic Development Program (ODP) team in 2004 and 2005. In the classroom, he was named to the Duke University Talent Identification Program, as well as a Lake Travis Scholar.
Also joining the team from the Lone Star state is Ayo Olasupo. A 6’1” forward/back from Austin, Texas, Ayo is an outstanding athlete who can play several positions and attended high school at St. Stephen’s School. Olasupo was also a teammate of Burki’s and captain of the Austin Lonestars 90 Red, one of the top club teams in Houston. In addition to playing at the high school and club level, he was a six year member of the ODP state team and Ayo has been a member the Region Three ODP pool.
Bobby Keskey joins the Mountain Hawks from Louisville, Ky., where he was a midfielder for Dupont Manual High School. In three years on the Crimsons squad, he scored 20 goals and assisted on 15 others. Keskey also played for the United 1996 F.C., and guided the team to a state championship in 2005. In the classroom, he was a four year honor roll student, as well as an AP Scholar and was named to the Academic All-State teams in 2006 and 2007.
“Having the opportunity to attract exceptional student-athletes from Nevada, Texas and Kentucky are indications that Lehigh men’s soccer continues to expand its’ recruiting footprint nationally,” added Koski, “and that our historic Sweet 16 appearance in 2006 was recognized by many aspiring college players throughout the country. Having a national profile as a soccer program will provide us more opportunities to recruit quality student-athletes from the Midwest, Southwest and far west regions.
“Equally as important, we are always pleased to be able to identify and recruit student-athletes from our own ‘backyard’ and bringing in two local recruits is great for our program and great for the Lehigh Valley.”
Hailing from nearby Emmaus, Pa., Matt Kosik will join the Lehigh defense. At Emmaus High School, he was a two-time All-Area selection and was named the Morning Call’s Player of the Year in 2007, as well as earning a spot on the All-State team. He was named the team MVP his senior season, and earned the team’s Best Defender award three times. In his four years with the Green Hornets, they won three league titles, captured two District 11 3A titles and advanced to the Pennsylvania State quarterfinals. In the classroom he was an active member of the Student Government Association and a member of the National Honor Society.
Daniel Odenwelder is a 6’2” midfielder/defender from Pen Argyl, Pa. A product of Moravian Academy, he recorded 29 goals and 21 assists in his career for the Lions. He was a first team All-League and All-Area selection in 2006 and 2007, while also helping his team win two Colonial League championships. He also played at the club level for the Pennsylvania Classics, helping the team reach the finals of the Disney Showcase in 2007 and the semifinals in 2006. In the classroom, he was a member of the high honor roll, and was named the 2007 Lehigh Valley Soccer Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
Joining the defense and midfield is Jordie Ciuffetelli, from Unionville, Pa. He was Unionville High School’s team captain in 2007; he is the Indians all-time leader in assists with 31, and played in a record 86 consecutive games. He was selected to the All-League team three times and was an All-Area selection in 2006 and 2007. At the club level, Ciuffetelli played for F.C. Delco and Hockessin Blizzard, winning seven state championships and advanced to three Region One championship games. He was also a member of the Delaware ODP team in 2005 and 2006.
Coming from Monson, Mass. is 5’8” midfielder Mark Dangleis. At the Williston Northampton School, he was a two-year captain, and was named to the Western New England Prep School Soccer Association all-star team two times, as well as earning All-League honors. In 2006, he helped his Western United U17 club team win the Massachusetts state championship, and advanced to the regional semifinals. While playing for Juventus USA, his team won the Massachusetts state championship and his ODP team won the regional championship.
Joining the Mountain Hawks form Marmora, N.J., is Neal Melchionni. As a midfielder for Ocean City High School, he recorded 20 goals and 38 assists in his career, and was named the Philadelphia Inquirer and Press of Atlantic City Player of the Year in 2007. Melchionni was an All-State selection, and a two-time All-South Jersey and All-League selection. He was also a member of the New Jersey State ODP team. Off the field, he earned distinguished honors all four years, and was involved in many clubs including the Peer Leadership Program.
Joe Puleo joins the Brown and White from Presto, Pa. A midfield/forward for Chartiers Valley High School, he led the Colts in scoring in 2006 and 2007, amassing 51 goals and 28 assists in his career. Among the honors he received in 2007 were Section V Player of the Year, All-WPIAL, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Elite 11, Pittsburgh Almanac Elite 11, first team All-State, and NSCAA/adidas East Region All-American. He was also a member of the Pennsylvania West ODP team from 2002-07. Off the field, he received high honors every grading term, was a four year Scholar-Athlete, and member of the National Honor Society.
Joining the team from Houston, Texas is Christopher Rabey. A Houston native, he attended the Kinkaid School, where he earned All-Southern Preparatory Conference honors and All-South Zone honors as the team’s captain in 2007. He recorded 17 goals 17 assists throughout his career as a midfielder and forward. Rabey was also an active member of the cross country and track teams, earning All-District honors for both sports, while also capturing two state championships in the 4x800 meter relay.
Coming from Downingtown, Pa. is 6’3” defender Kevin Strunk. A four year member of the Bishop Shanahan team, he was named to the first team All-Chesmont League and All-Area teams in 2007, as well as being named the team captain and MVP. At the club level, he won multiple state titles with F.C. Delco and Concord Arsenal, and in 2007 advanced to the national finals as a member of the Reading Rage. He was also a member of the Eastern Pennsylvania State ODP team from 2003-07.
Continued Koski, “Also noteworthy is that six of these incoming freshmen attended our Elite Soccer Academy which afforded us an opportunity to get to know these players and for them to know us, our players and our campus.
“The remainder of our recruiting class are products of the Mid-Atlantic and New England region which will always be strong areas for us to recruit in. With our 12 commitments we can immediately add both depth and potential starters to our team. I’m certain that all 12 recruits can’t wait for August to arrive when they can begin to contribute to our program.”
The Mountain Hawks recorded their Patriot League record 12th consecutive winning season in 2007, finishing the year with an 8-7-2 (3-4-0) record. The Brown and White had three players named to All-Patriot League teams, led by Evans, who was named to the first team and the NSCAA/adidas Division I Mid-Atlantic first team.
|
Name |
Position |
Hometown/High School |
|
Steven Avena |
Midfield |
Las Vegas, Nev./Bishop Gorman |
|
Ross Burki |
Midfield/Forward |
Austin, Texas/Lake Travis |
|
Jordie Ciuffetelli |
Defense/Midfield |
Unionville, Pa./Unionville |
|
Mark Dangleis |
Midfield |
Monson, Mass./Williston Northampton School |
|
Bobby Keskey |
Midfield |
Louisville, Ky./Dupont Manual |
|
Matt Kosik |
Defense |
Emmaus, Pa./Emmaus |
|
Neal Melchionni |
Midfield |
Marmora, N.J./Ocean City |
|
Daniel Odenwelder |
Midfield/Defense |
Pen Argyl, Pa./Moravian Academy |
|
Ayo Olasupo |
Midfield |
Austin, Texas/St. Stephan’s School |
|
Joe Puleo |
Midfield/Forward |
Preston, Pa./Chartiers Valley |
|
Christopher Rabey |
Midfield |
Houston, Texas/The Kinkaid School |
|
Kevin Strunk |
Defense |
Downingtown, Pa./Bishop Shanahan |
