Men's Soccer Adds 11 Players
2/18/2005 7:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Feb. 18, 2005
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Maryland head coach Sasho Cirovski today announced the incoming recruits for the 2005 team. The group includes 10 freshmen and one transfer from the University of Evansville.
The incoming high school seniors are: Matt Beckman (Owings Mills, Md.), Kwame Darko (Chevy Chase, Md.), A.J. De La Garza (Bryans Run, Md.), Michael Marchiano (Bel Air, Md.), Doug Rodkey (Jackson, N.J.), Robbie Rogers (Huntington Beach, Calif.), Chris Seitz (San Louis Obispo, Calif.), Kevin Tangney (Newton, Pa.), Michael Vallie (Rockville, Md.) and Graham Zusi (Longwood, Fla.).
Marc Burch comes to the Terps after spending three years playing with the Purple Aces at Evansville. He is currently enrolled at Maryland.
"This is one of the most talented and deep classes that we've ever brought to Maryland," Cirovski said. "We not only filled vital holes, but we increased the competitiveness within our team. In addition to their on-field talent, this group brings a high quality of character to our team.
"We knew it would be a formidable task to replace the great senior class, but I feel that with this class we accomplished that task. Combining this group with the development of our returning players will keep the program at a level of excellence."
Incoming player bios (in alphabetical order):
 Matt Beckman  |
|
Defender
5-9, 155
McDonogh School
Owings Mills, Md.
Beckman was the Baltimore Sun Player of the Year and NSCAA All-American in 2004 after scoring 26 goals and adding 15 assists at McDonogh. A three-time All-Baltimore County and All-Met selection, he finished his career with 68 goals and 31 assists. Beckman also helped the Casa Mia's Bays to the USYSA U-15 national championship in 2003 and the U-16 crown in 2004 as the team's leading scorer.
Cirovski on Beckman: "Matt is a very skillful player with a special ability to hit long balls and free kicks."
 Marc Burch |
|
Forward
6-2, 190
Turpin HS (Evansville)
Cincinnati, Ohio
Burch comes to Maryland after spending three seasons with the University of Evansville. A member of the U-18 national team, Burch also played with the U-20s in the summer of 2003. He scored seven goals and amassed 22 assists in three seasons with the Aces, leading the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) in assists as a freshman with 12. The three-time all-MVC selection was a first team NSCAA All-Midwest team as a sophomore. At Turpin High in Ohio, he was the Gatorade Player of the Year as a senior and scored 79 goals and 81 assists during his career, helping the team to two state titles in the process. Burch also led his club, Team Dayton, to the U-17 national title in 2001.
Cirovski on Burch: "Marc possesses a gifted left foot and passing ability. As his fitness level improves this spring, his raw talent will be given a chance to be exhibited to its fullest. He was one of the most talented players in the Missouri Valley Conference."
 Kwame Darko |
|
Midfield/Forward
5-8, 150
Bethesda-Chevy Chase HS
Chevy Chase, Md.
Darko was a first team Washington Post All-Met selection as a senior after helping Bethesda-Chevy Chase to the Maryland 3A West Region championship. He was also named the team's MVP after the Barons posted nine shutouts on the season. Darko also had a successful club career, winning club national titles at various levels in his career. He was a part of the Bethesda Internationals that won the USYSA national title in 2001, and as a part of the Casa Mia's Bays team, he helped the club capture titles in 2003 and 2004.
Cirovski on Darko: "Kwame is an athletic and versatile player who will progress rapidly during his first few years at Maryland."
 A.J. Delagarza |
|
Defender
5-7, 155
Lackey HS
Bryans Run, Md.
A two-time NSCAA All-America honoree, A.J. Delagarza played forward, midfield and defense for Lackey High scoring nine goals and 12 assists. A first team All-Met honoree as a senior and a second team honoree as a junior, Delagarza was a four-time all-county and all-conference honoree for the Chargers. He also plays along side several other incoming freshmen on the successful Casa Mia's Bays club team that won a pair of USYSA national titles.
Cirovski on Delagarza: "A.J. is a tenacious and athletic defender who will compete for playing time immediately. He embraces and accepts the challenge of shutting down the opposition's best players."
 Michael Marchiano |
|
Midfield
5-11, 165
McDonogh School
Bel Air, Md.
Marchiano, a NSCAA All-American and first team All-Met selection by the Baltimore Sun, set a McDonogh record with 17 assists as a senior while adding five goals. He was also the team captain and earned all-state and all-south recognition. Marchiano missed the majority of his junior season with a foot injury, but as a sophomore earned All-Met, All-MIAA and all-state honors. Marchiano is also a member of the Casa Mia's Bays team coached by McDonogh head coach Steve Nichols that captured USYSA national crowns in 2003 and 2004.
Cirovski on Marchiano: "Michael possesses great leadership skills and is a fierce competitor who loves to be the coach on the field. He is a hard tackler and a very good passer of the ball."
 Robbie Rogers |
|
Forward/Midfield
5-10, 160
Huntington Beach HS
Huntington Beach, Calif.
Rogers is a two-time Parade All-American out of Huntington Beach High in California. Rogers has been a member of the U-16 and U-17 national teams, and is currently on the U-18 team and a member of the U-20 team pool that qualified for the World Cup in Holland this summer. He also spent a year with the U-17 residency program.
Cirovski on Rogers: "Robbie is clearly one of the best attacking players in the country and will have an immediate, major impact for us. His technical speed with the ball and overall pure speed are special."
 Doug Rodkey |
|
Midfield
5-6, 145
Jackson HS
Jackson, N.J.
Rodkey was a four-year starter at Jackson High where he earned all-state recognition in three of those seasons, twice making the second team and once as an honorable mention. As a member of the Match Fit Academy club team, Rodkey helped the Raiders to the Region I Premier League U-17 finals in 2004 and the North American Championship semifinals in 2003 where he was named to the all-tournament team. A 2003 adidas/ESP camp nominee, he was a member of the U-16 national team, and has played with the Region I '87 ODP team since 2001.
Cirovski on Rodkey: "A skillful and explosive attacking player, Doug also possesses great one-on-one attacking skills. He plays with a competitive tenacity."
 Chris Seitz |
|
Goalkeeper
6-4, 205
Thousand Oaks HS
San Louis Obispo, Calif.
A member of the U-18 national team, Seitz was a Parade All-American and Gatorade Player of the Year in California in 2004. The 6-4, 200 pound goalkeeper was also named all-league and all-county in addition to being named Los Angeles Times first team goalkeeper. He has played ODP since 2001, leading his Region IV team to the national ODP championship in 2003. As a member of So Cal United club team, he led his team to the U-17 national championship and was selected as the "Golden Glove" winner as the top keeper at the tournament.
Cirovski on Seitz: "Clearly one of the top goalkeepers in the country. He is a great leader and organizer of the team. He's a physical presence with outstanding agility for his size. He's capable of making the big plays to keep you in or help you win a game."
 Kevin Tangney |
|
Midfield
6-2, 160
Council Rock North HS
Newton, Pa.
A two-time team captain and all-league selection at Council Rock High, Tangney was a NSCAA/adidas youth All-American in 2004. In his sophomore and junior seasons, he helped his squad to the league title. A 2004 adidas/ESP player, Tangney played club for FC Delco Black IV. He's been a member of the Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer Association (EPYSA) state team since 1999, serving as captain in 2003 and leading the 2004 team to the regional title. Tangney has also been a member of the Region I ODP team since 1999.
Cirovski on Tangney: "Kevin is also a fierce competitor who is versatile. He has a very good tactical grasp of the game. He is exceptional in the air and is a very good passer of the ball."
 Michael Vallie |
|
Defender
6-2, 175
Good Counsel HS
Rockville, Md.
Vallie was a four-year letterwinner at Good Counsel High for coach Tarik Makour where he was team captain and earned first team Washington Post All-Met honors as a senior. He was also a two-time All-WCAC honoree from his center back position. Vallie spent time and traveled with the U-18 team, and was an adidas/ESP player and team captain. His club team, the Potomac Cougars, has captured the Maryland state championship in each of the last two years. He's also spent four years with the Maryland ODP team.
Cirovski on Vallie: "Michael is really starting to come into his own as a player. He is an exceptionally poised and highly committed defender."
 Graham Zusi |
|
Forward
5-10, 165
Lake Brantley HS
Longwood, Fla.
Zusi was the Orlando Sentinel Central Florida and Seminole County Player of the Year after scoring 25 goals and 15 assists during his junior season and leading his team to the state semifinals. A two-time all-county and team MVP, Zusi scored 34 goals and had 27 assists for Lake Brantley during his sophomore season. A member of the Region III ODP team, he was the leading scorer at the tournament of champions and was a member of the adidas inter-regional ODP all-star team.
Cirovski on Zusi: "Graham is a very skillful player who is a clean, technical striker of the ball. He has great balance and versatility as an attacking player."
