Men's Soccer Inks Six For 2007 Season
2/16/2007 7:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Feb. 16, 2007
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Maryland men's soccer head coach Sasho Cirovski announced the addition of six student-athletes for the 2007 season. The group includes two goalkeepers, two midfielders, a forward, and a back.
The incoming class includes forward Billy Cortes (Mission Viejo, Calif.), defender Sean Flatley (Virginia Beach, Va.), keeper Thorne Holder (Trinidad & Tobago), midfielder Yannick Salmon (Westbury, N.Y.), keeper Will Swaim (Ellicott City, Md.), and midfielder Rodney Wallace (Rockville, Md.).
"They say `the reward for good work is more work' and that is certainly the case with this recruiting cycle," Cirovski said. "We had a great start to our class with some early commitments but with the recent graduation of Maurice Edu and Chris Seitz into the MLS, we were challenged to fill some more holes. I am proud to announce that we have met that challenge. This class not only fills some voids but also adds great depth to the team and I am confident that we will once again be a national contender."
"This class has a little bit of everything, but what excites me the most is the quality of their character and competitiveness and their unabashed love for Maryland soccer," Cirovski added.
Cirovski will not only have the incoming freshman class in 2007, but he will also regain the services of sophomores Doug Rodkey and Kevin Tangney who both missed the entire 2006 season with injuries. Tangney played in 13 games and started two for the 2005 national championship team while Rodkey appeared in eight games.
"The enthusiastic injection of talent from this class to an already hungry team gets me excited for what can come in 2007," Cirovski said.
Incoming player bios (in alphabetical order):
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Forward
5-11, 170
Temescal Canyon HS
Mission Viejo, Calif.
Before Maryland: ESP participant for the last two years ... played for the highly-respected Pateadores club team, the same squad that produced Maurice Edu, under Mike Gartlan ... served as captain for coach Tom Frank at Temescal Canyon ... an All-League player as a sophomore, junior, and senior ... All-CIF as a junior and a senior ... named team MVP as a junior and senior.
Personal: Full name is Guillermo Arturo Cortes ... the son of Nury and Joe Cortes ... born December 1, 1988 ... has two sisters and a brother ... lists his parents as the people he most admires ... says committing to Maryland is his biggest athletic thrill ... major is undecided.
Cirovski on Cortes: "Billy is an explosive and dynamic attacking talent. He has two good feet and the ability to break down opposing defenses with his dribbling, passing, and long distance shooting ability. He will continue in the tradition of our great Southern California players and I expect him to progress rapidly and have an immediate impact."
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Defender
6-1, 190
First Colonial HS
Virginia Beach, Va.
Before Maryland: Two-time first team All-Region selection for coach Matt Wallace ... tabbed Defensive Player of the year in 2003 after helping team win the district tournament ... an All-District Second Team honoree in 2003 ... first-team All-District, All-Region, and All-Tidewater selection in 2004 after team won the regular season district championship ... also named All-State Third Team ... tabbed Offensive Player of the Year as a senior ... played for a pair of State Cup Final Four teams with Beach FC and helped Virginia Rush Nike to a State Cup Final Four last year ... member of the National Honor Society and the Math Honor Society.
Personal: Full name is Sean Daniel Flatley ... the son of Christine and James Flatley ... born December 4, 1988 ... his brother, Jimmy, played soccer at the College of Charleston and his other brother, Brendan, is currently on the Virginia golf team ... lists his favorite athlete as Michael Jordan ... plans to major in business or engineering.
Cirovski on Flatley: "Sean came to us very late in the recruiting process but I believe he will follow in the tradition of some of our great `sleepers.' He reminds me of Kenney Bertz because he is a great competitor and has tremendous promise. Sean is a natural leader and a very technically sound left-footed player. He will add depth to the center back position."
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Goalkeeper
6-3, 185
Queens Royal College
Cunupia, Trinidad & Tobago
Before Maryland: Keeper for the U-20 Trinidad & Tobago CONCACAF qualifying team in 2005 that played at the Home Depot Center ... starting keeper for the U-23 Olympic pool ... has been groomed by former US National Staff coach and Columbia, Md. resident Lincoln Phillips, who also serves as the technical director and head goalkeeper coach for T&T ... played four seasons for Queens Royal College Intercol ... served as captain in 2003 when QRC won the North Zone Intercol title, the first title in the team's last nine seasons ... led the league in goals against with seven shutouts in 17 matches ... named to the all-star team ... played for the San Juan Jabloteh U-20 in 2004 and was recognized as the league's top keeper ... served as vice captain for the U-17 team which advanced to the final qualifying round in the world youth championship ... also serves as a goalkeeper coach at La Foucade Soccer Clinic, the most recognized clinic in Trinidad, for the past three years.
Personal: Full name is Hasely Thorne Holder ... the son of Judy Holder and Frank Francois ... born April 4, 1986 ... has an older sister, Hazel ... lists his favorite athlete as Shaka Hislop ... plans to major in international business.
Cirovski on Holder: "Thorne has tremendous potential. He is physically gifted and has an amazing appetite for the game. His curiosity for learning should allow him to progress rapidly. He has overcome tremendous personal hardships and has done it with an exemplary positive and charismatic attitude."
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Midfielder
5-11, 165
Westbury HS
Westbury, N.Y.
Before Maryland: Member of the U-17 Jamaican National Team ... captain of the Region I ODP 1990 team ... MVP of a tournament in Italy in which the team played against Croatia, Sienna, and Grosetto ... Nassau County Player of the Year ... served as Westbury captain for three seasons under coach Chris Valentini ... played for the club Blau Weiss Gottschee under former Colombian international star Wilmer Cabrera and Scott Knight which was Eastern New York state champions in 2005 and 2006 ... led Westbury to the conference championship as a junior and was team captain as a senior.
Personal: Full name is Yannick Salmon ... the son of Michele and Calvin Salmon ... born April 7, 1990 ... has an older brother and sister ... sister, Danielle, played soccer at Drexel from 2003-05 ... chose Maryland because he loves the coaches and the environment ... plans to major in finance.
Cirovski on Salmon: "Yannick has emerged into one of the top talents of this nation's recruiting class. Technically, he is very clean. He is a great passer and fluid connector in the central midfield. For such a young player, he has a very mature game. He can also play center back since he has great on-field leadership qualities. He has a passion for the game and will also have an immediate impact on our team."
 Will Swaim |
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Goalkeeper
6-2, 170
Howard HS
Ellicott City, Md.
Before Maryland: First-team All-County and second-team All-State as a senior under coach Brian Boussy at Howard ... appointed team captain as a junior and a senior ... has played on Maryland's ODP team since 2000 ... played for the club team Bethesda United under former Maryland player and women's assistant coach Steve Campbell ... helped the squad to be a National Championship Series Finalist in 2004 and 2006 when they were also Region I champions and Maryland State Cup champions.
Personal: Full name is William Jared Swaim ... the son of Judy and Bill Swaim ... born January 23, 1989 ... has two sisters ... cousin, Tiffany, played basketball at Kentucky from 1995-99 and other cousin, Matt, played football at Arkansas from 1993-97 ... lists his favorite athlete as Tim Howard ... chose Maryland he "wanted to be a part of the best soccer program in the country" ... undecided major.
Cirovski on Swaim: "Will is a very technically sound goalkeeper who also has great potential to develop into a top flight keeper. I have seen his progression over the last few years and he has emerged as one of the top goalkeepers in the region. He has a great work ethic and he is a tremendous competitor who will compete for the starting position this fall. He is an exceptional young man who I am thrilled to keep close to home."
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Midfielder
5-11, 155
Bullis HS
Rockville, Md.
Before Maryland: Two-time member of the Region I ODP 1988 team ... four-year starter at Bullis for coach George Moore ... 2006 All-Met Player of the Year as selected by the Washington Post and was a 2005 All-Met selection ... 2006 NSCAA/adidas All-South Region, All-Gazette, All-Journal, and All-State ... scored 21 goals and had seven assists in leading Bullis to a share of the Interstate Athletic Conference championship ... also led his team to the 2005 championship ... team MVP as a junior and senior and served as captain in senior season ... lettered in lacrosse as a senior.
Personal: Full name is Rodney Wallace ... the son of Sandra Burns and Sydney Wallace ... father is an agronomist at University of Maryland ... born June 17, 1988 ... has an older sister ... lists his favorite athlete as Kaka ... undecided major.
Cirovski on Wallace: "Rodney is a tremendous competitor who has really matured in the last year. He already typifies all of the qualities that we want in a Maryland player. He has a very cultured left foot and has some very special attacking qualities. Rodney's willingness to be a complete two-way player will make him a valuable addition."
