Cirovski Signs 20th Class at Maryland
5/3/2012 8:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
May 3, 2012
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Head coach Sasho Cirovski announced the Terps' 2012 signing class, his 20th at Maryland, on Thursday.
The Terps signed eight players to this year's highly-touted class. The class consists of five players on College Soccer News' Top 150 Recruits, including Michael Ambrose (#2), Cody Niedermeier (#45), Ntokozo Tshuma (#60), Dakota Edwards (#83), and Donovan Fraser (#102).
Tsubasa Endoh, David Kabelik and Ryan Reid also signed letters of intent to play for Maryland, who made its 10th consecutive Sweet 16 appearance last season.
"I am pleased to announce our 2012 recruiting class," Cirovski said. "This is a talented group of players who will leave their mark on our program.
"We have strengthened our team in all areas on the field. Integrating this talented class with a hungry and talented returning group has our coaching staff excited about our team for the fall. Our fans are in for a treat."
Endoh, Niedermeier and Fraser are currently enrolled at Maryland this spring semester. Cirovski is expected to make further announcements about this year's recruiting class in the coming months.
Below is rundown of this year's signing class:
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MICHAEL (MIKEY) AMBROSE
Frisco, Texas. • 5'9" - 155 Liberty HS Before Maryland: Part of the FC Dallas Academy program since 2009...one of eight MLS developmental players invited to play with U.S. U-18s in Northern Ireland's Milk Cup last summer... serves as captain of the FCD U-18 Academy squad....member of the US U-17 and U-18 national team and currently a member of the US U-20 national team.... appeared in many matches for the FC Dallas reserve team....No. 2 recruit nationally by CollegeSoccerNews.com... TopDrawerSoccer.com ranked Amrbose #12, and ESPNRise lists him 24th. Personal: Michael Ambrose was born Oct. 5, 1993 in El Paso, Texas...son of Jim Ambrose and Dianne Chambers... nickname is Mikey...came to Maryland to `play soccer and win a national championship'...has traveled to over 16 countries...major is undecided. Cirovski on Ambrose: "Mikey is the complete package. He is a great young soccer player who is comfortable playing any position on the field, though his specialty is left back. His technical skillset is outstanding, but what separates him from most young players is his great mentality and tactical understanding. He is a soccer junkie and a joy to be around. He will flourish in our environment." |
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DAKOTA EDWARDS
Sayville, N.Y.. • 6'2" - 185 Sayville HS Before Maryland: Competed for Val Winters at Sayville High School...finished his high school career with 20 goals and 32 assists... as a junior led Sayville to the New York State Championship... listed as the No. 54 recruit by TopDrawerSoccer.com and the No. 83 recruit by College Soccer News... 2011 New York Boys soccer player of the year by ESPNHS... two time all-state honoree... an All-American selection by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America... also played for Albertson Academy and U-18 National Team....MVP of NSCAA High School All-America game. Personal: Full name is Dakota W. Edwards... son of Debi Edwards... has two siblings Max and Madison... born on April 22, 1993... favorite pregame meal is chicken parmesan... sports hero is Carlos Puyol... choose Maryland because of the coaching staff, the athletic facilities and its academic reputation. Cirovski on Edwards: "Dakota is an outstanding athlete and a great central defender. He has tremendous physical skills and is a natural leader. He continues to improve from game-to-game." |
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TSUBASA ENDOH
Tokyo, Japan • 5'7" - 141 JFA Academy Fukushima Before Maryland: Played for JFA Academy Fukushima in Futabagun, Japan... won the Tohoku Prefecture League championship under coach Yasuhito Nakata while at JFA Academy... has competed for the U-12, U-13, U-14, U15, and U-17 National Teams for Japan... competed with the U-14 National team in the International Convention in China. Personal: Son of Takayuki and Hiromi Endoh... father ran marathon for Aoyama Gakuin University... lists his sports hero as Bastian Schweinsteiger... would play tennis if he could play another sport at Maryland... aims to one day be a member of Japan's National Team... would have Matt Damon play him in a movie... enrolled in the MEI program this semester at Maryland. Cirovski on Endoh: "Tsubasa is a very special player and has an advanced knowledge of the game. Even without training with us all spring, he has shown glimpses of greatness in games. He has the makings of having a very big impact on our program during his career." |
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DONOVAN FRASER
Mineola, N.Y. • 5'8" - 163 Half Hollow Hills East School West Before Maryland: A two-time NSCAA High School All-American...was one of only 10 juniors to be named an NSCAA all-American in 2010 was named ESPN High School New York "PrimeTime player"... scored 56 goals and tallied 54 assists in his high school career... won the Suffolk League IV championship all four years of high school...part of the Olympic Developmental Program national player pool in 2009... ranked the No. 58 recruit by ESPNHS... also played for Albertson Soccer Club and Dix Hills Thunder... won the Adidas Golden Boot at the U-14 Boys National Championship. Personal: Born on August 10, 1994... son of Donovan and Sabrina Fraser... father ran track at St. Johns... lists his sports hero as Pele... participated in many activities in high school including Future Business Leaders of America... Huntington Youth Court and volunteered at soup kitchens... enrolled at Maryland for the spring semester... intended major is Accounting... chose Maryland because of the brotherhood between the players and coaches, as well as the soccer atmosphere. Cirovski on Fraser: "Donovan has greatly benefited from joining us this spring. He has made a lot of progress technically and tactically. He has a great attitude and is very coachable which will allow him to have rapid growth."
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DAKOTA (CODY) NIEDERMEIER
Arnold, Md. • 6'0" - 185 Broadneck HS Before Maryland: Competed for Broadneck and coach Sean Tettermer for three years after attending Mount St. Josephs as a freshman... listed as No. 50 overall recruit and fourth-ranked goalkeeper by TopDrawerSoccer.com... ranked the No. 58 recruit by College Soccer News... a three-time all-state player at Broadneck... named to the 2011 NSCAA High School Scholar All-American team... played club for Sheldon Nolan at DC United Academy for three years... won the 2010 MLS SUM Youth Cup Championship with DC United Academy. Personal: Son of Gary and Mary Niedermeier... full name is Dakota Dale Niedermeier... born Mar. 19, 1994 in Rochester, NY... has one sister Nicole... lists his sports hero as Oliver Kahn... chose Maryland because it had been a dream of his to play soccer here since he was a child... undecided on major...enrolled at Maryland this spring semester. Cirovski on Niedermeier: "Cody is just an outstanding human being, a `salt of the earth' kind of person. He started off extremely well this spring before a hand injury. He's a great communicator with a great feel for the game. He's a very good goalkeeper who will push to play next fall."
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DAVID KABELIK
Budapest, Hungary • 5'11" - 160 American International School of Budapest Before Maryland: Played for Coach Miklos Jalics at the American International School of Budapest... team finished second at the CEESA Tournament... was also named an all-tournament player at CEESA... Jalics describes his touch as one of the best he has seen and notes Kabelik is clever on the field. Personal: Son of Gabor Kabelik and Erika Fekete... has two younger brothers Mark and Daniel... high school coach played soccer at Akron University... will major in Materials Science and Engineering. Cirovski on Kabelik: "David was discovered last summer at our camp. He is an extremely skillful and athletic soccer player. He can play in any of the attacking positions. His ability to run at people at full speed is scary. He has tremendous potential." |
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RYAN REID
Baton Rouge, La. • 5'11" - 175 Dutchtown HS Before Maryland: Competed for Dutchtown and coach Larry Chambliss for five seasons... led Dutchtown to the Louisiana State Championship in 2009 and 2011... an all-metro selection four seasons and was a three-time first team all-state selection as well... also played for Baton Rouge Soccer Club for nine years. Personal: Son of Eric and Sharon Reid... father ran Track at LSU...born on December 6, 1993... has three siblings - Eric, Christina and Justin... brother Eric is an All American safety at LSU... lists his sports hero as Ronaldinho... his craziest ambition is to fly a fighter jet... intends to major in American Studies. Cirovski on Reid: "Ryan is an incredible physical specimen with a knack for scoring goals. He is a tremendous athlete. His physical and personal character qualities combined with his athletic pedigree have us excited to see his potential."
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NTOKOZO (SCHILLO) TSHUMA
Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. • 5'10" - 162 Episcopal HS Before Maryland: Three-time state champ at Episcopal for coach Rick Wilcox... tallied 55 goals and 28 assists in his high school career... a three- time first team all-state member and two-time Virginia Player of the Year... All-MET Player of the Year...played in the inaugural NSCAA High School All-America Soccer game for the East team... member of the Pachuca Internationals and Bethesda Soccer Club... listed as the No. 60 recruit by College Soccer News... has appeared for the U23 and U17 National teams for Zimbabwe. Personal: Full name is Ntokozo Tshuma... nickname is Schillo...guardians are Douglass and Kathleen Caslow of Alexandria, Virginia... born on September 21, 1992 in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe... has five siblings - Mbuso, Mkhului, Scelo, Mbongeni, and Andile, all of whom live in Zimbabwe... lists his sports heroes as Zinedine Zidane and Cristiano Ronaldo... chose Maryland because of the great soccer program and academics... undecided on his major. Cirovski on Tshuma: "We feel Schillo was a hidden gem nationally. He's a great attacking player who has a work rate that matches his talent. He will compete for immediate playing time. He's a technically and tactically gifted player."
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