Erwin Diaz Signs To Play Men's Soccer At Maryland
4/5/2002 7:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
April 5, 2002
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - University of Maryland men's soccer coach Sasho Cirovski has announced the signing of U-17 National Team striker Erwin Diaz (Washington, D.C./Wilson H.S.) to a National Letter of Intent. Diaz joins the Terps' incoming class for 2002 which also incudes Chris Lancos (Belford, N.J./Middletown H.S.), Kenney Bertz (Middletown, Ohio/Lakota West H.S.), Jason Garey (Baton Rogue, La./St. Amant High School), David Glaudemans (Bethesda, Md./Walt Whitman H.S.), A.J. Godbolt (Austin, Texas/St. Stephen's Episcopal School) and Pat Wilson (Laurel, Md./Gonzaga College H.S.).
Diaz comes to the Terps after playing for the United State U-17 National Team for the last two seasons. He recently played in the FIFA Under-17 World Championship held in Trinidad and Tobago this past September. While playing in 24 matches for the U-17 team, Diaz scored six goals and added four assists. He scored five goals in a four game span during the team's play last August.
"Erwin is a very skillful and exciting attacking player," said Cirovski. "He has great one-on-one skills and has a terrific nose for the goal. He's fast, he's hungry and is just what we need."
Diaz became involved in the ODP program in the summer of 2000 and instantly became a starter for the Region I ODP team. Diaz played at Gonzaga College High School in 2000 and attended Wilson High School in 2001-02. He was named a Parade All-American and USYSA All-American as well as an All-Met selection by the Washington Post. In 2000, he helped lead Gonzaga to the WCAC championship in defeating DeMatha High School, 1-0.
In joining the Terps, Diaz will be reunited with his former high school mate, Pat Wilson and continue his play with former United States U-17 teammate Chris Lancos. Diaz will also provide a potent punch to the Terps' attack along with the return of three key players who missed most or all of last season.
"Combined with the return of Abe Thompson, Domenic Mediate and Clarence Goodson," said Cirovski, "the addition of Diaz will further solidify our return to one of the nation's top attacking teams."
The Terps' top scorer in 2000, Thompson returns after missing all of last season after making a full recovery from a broken fifth metatarsal in his right foot. Similar to Diaz, Thompson was a member of the United States U-17 team when he made a major impact on the Terps after coming to College Park as a striker two years ago.
Mediate returns to action after missing time because of three separate hernia surgeries. Goodson comes back after sitting out last season as a redshirt.
Maryland will face Virginia in a scrimmage this Saturday, April 6 at Ludwig Field in College Park at 7 p.m.
For additional information please contact Jason Yellin phone: 301-314-7062 jyellin@wam.umd.edu
