Maryland Men's Soccer Inks Six
2/7/2001 7:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Feb. 7, 2001
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Maryland head coach Sasho Cirovski was proud to announce the signing of six national letters of intent today to play men's soccer at the University of Maryland. Chris Gormley (Bethesda, Md), Wes Kirk (Bloomfield, N.J.), Dominic Mediate (South Lake, Texas), Noah Palmer (Williamsburg, Va.), Ian Rodway (Wilde Lake, Md.), and Craig Salvati (West Chester, Ohio) will all don the red, black, gold and white next year.
Chris Gormley is a 5-11, 170 pound midfielder from nearby Bethesda, Md. From Walt Whitman High School, he was a 2000 NSCAA All-American and All-Met Player of the Year by the Washington Post. Gormley also led Walt Whitman to a state championship this year. A recent standout on the Region 1 ODP team, Gormley is on the brink of the national scene. According to Cirovski, "Chris is technically gifted and adds leadership. His ability and strength of character will make him a strong presence immediately. His versatility, work ethic, and style will fit perfectly in the Maryland style of play."
Wes Kirk is a native of New Jersey, and will play at either the forward or midfield position for the Terps. At 5-7, 150 pounds, Kirk is a member of the Under-18 National Team, as well as being a high school All-American. A Region I ODP starter, he was a part of a Mercer United team that won the New Jersey State Cup and attends Mont Kimberly Academy. Cirovski calls Kirk, "A dynamic and skillful attacking player, whose versatility will allow him to a have an immediate impact."
Dominic Mediate comes to Maryland from South Lake, Texas. A 5-9, 155 pound midfield/forward from South Lake Carroll High School, Mediate is a member of the Solar Club team. A perennial Arkansas state ODP member from 1996-98 before moving to Texas in 1999, Mediate is also a current member of the Region 3 ODP team. "A dynamic attacking player who is gifted with both feet, he will compete at both the midfield and striker positions immediately," predicts Cirovski on Mediate's impact on the Maryland program.
Noah Palmer is the first of two goalies in Cirovski's recruiting class. A 6-2, 185 pound high school All-American, Palmer is a member of the Under-18 National Team and a perennial Region I ODP goalkeeper. A member of the Virginia Beach Desperados Under-18 team, who were the Virginia Cup Champions, Palmer attends Jamestown High School in Williamsburg, Va. "Noah is a great athlete who will compete for a starting position immediately. His potential is tremendous, and he has great presence and commands the box very well," comments Cirovski.
Ian Rodway hails from Columbia, Md., and is a member of the Soccer Club of Baltimore. A 5-9, 150 pound midfield/defender, he was a first-team All-Met selection by the Baltimore Sun and is a former Region I ODP team member. Recently, Rodway made the select team match at the Elite Soccer Program (ESP) Camp. "Ian is a great player who has not received national recognition yet. He's skillful, versatile and very tough," says Cirovski of the Wild Lake High School senior. "He will compete immediately for time. I believe he is one of the best kept secrets in the country."
Craig Salvati rounds out Maryland's 2001 signing class, and is the second goalkeeper in the seven-player group. A 6-2, 180 pound keeper from West Chester, Ohio, Salvati was the Cincinnati Inquirer's Player of the Year, and an All-Midwest selection. A Lakota East senior, he was a regional champion in 1999 and a regional finalist in 2000. Cirovski says of Salvati, "He's an athletic and aggressive goalkeeper, who is just starting to come into his own. He's a three-sport athlete who will flourish as he focuses his concentration on only soccer."
"I am delighted with the make-up of this class," said Cirovski after signing the six newcomers. "We've filled some important holes with graduation and the departure of Nick Downing to the MLS. The character, determination and work ethic combined with the attacking nature of this class should blend in perfectly with our returning players and create an extremely talented and deep team next season."
The six incoming freshmen give the Terps a 23-player roster for the 2001 season, which includes eight newcomers. Michael Dello-Russo (Columbia, Md.), the high school and club teammate of Rodway, and Robert Sjolund (Borlange, Sweden) are newcomers already training with the Terps after beginning classes this past week. Maryland's roster is now made up of players from seven states: Arizona (Bryan Vitagliano), Maryland (4- Scott Buete, Dello-Russo, Gormley, and Rodway), New Jersey (3- Kirk, Matt Roberts, Kevin Schmidt), New Mexico (A.J. Herrera), Pennsylvania (2- Beckett Hollenbach and Reed Rickert), Ohio (2- Salvati and Seth Stammler), Texas (3- Tyler Pharr, Philip Salyer and Mediate), and Virginia (4- Jason Arnold, Clarence Goodson, Palmer, Abe Thompson). Three Terrapins also hail from beyond the borders of the United States, with Sumed Ibrahim and Siba Mohammed natives of Tamale, Ghana, and newcomer Sjolund a native of Borlange, Sweden.
The Terrapins gutted-out a 10-9 record last season after seven season-ending injuries, most of which struck prospective Maryland starters. The Terps graduated five, All-ACC pick Rob Birch, three-year starting goalkeeper Christian Lewis, reserve striker Nick Purdom, starting midfielder Jason Sardis, and starting defender Mike Shebuski. Junior defender Nick Downing also left the team to pursue a career in Major League Soccer, and was drafted Monday by the New England Revolution. The team welcomes eight newcomers to the 2001 roster.
