It's All Here

[bisbee]

Men's Soccer Adds Eight More for 2011 Season AKRON, Ohio – University of Akron head men's soccer coach Caleb Porter announced the addition of eight more players for the 2011 season Tuesday. In total, the Zips will welcome five incoming freshmen and three transfers. The talented group boasts a 2010 Hermann Trophy candidate, the Missouri Valley Conference Freshman of the Year, a High School All-American and three internationals. Striker Akiel Barrett (Kingston, Jamaica/Calabar HS), midfielder Dominic Bonilla (Lawrenceville, Ga./CollinsHS), defender David Mayer (Wigan, England/Wigan Youth Academy), goalkeeper Jacob Fenlason (San Diego, Calif./Rancho Bernardo HS), midfielder Zach Portillos (Aurora, Colo./University of Washington/Grandview HS), midfielder Aodhan Quinn (San Diego, Calif./Bradley University/Mt. Carmel HS), midfielder Tony Walls (Wauwatosa, Wisc./Wisconsin Green Bay/Wauwatosa East HS), and goalkeeper Jean Pierre Van Der Merwe (Krugersdorp, South Africa) will suit up for the NCAA National Champion Zips this fall. "This has certainly been a grueling, seven-month process to reload our team to a level on-par with our standards," Porter said. "After the spring season, we felt there were still some major holes to fill. But with the addition of this final group of talented players, I am satisfied we are finally there. "We believe there are now quality personnel and depth in every position, and we should have all the pieces we need to put a championship caliber team together in 2011. We are excited to welcome this group to the Akron family and I look forward to their contributions." These eight new Zips will join UA's initial eight-player signing class announced last February that included six All-Americans and the NSCAA National High School Player of the Year as well as the NAIA National Player of the Year. In particular, the newest signing class will especially help bolster Akron's midfield core, which lost three starters to Major League Soccer last January. Of the four new mids, the three transfers – Walls, Quinn and Portillos – combined to start 53 games in 2010 and have appeared in 108 Division I matches collectively for their careers. Walls, a senior transfer from Wisconsin Green Bay, will have one year of eligibility remaining. The two-time NSCAA Great Lakes Team All-Region selection was named to the Hermann Trophy Watch List in 2010 and-recorded seven goals and four assists from his center mid position. The former Horizon League Newcomer of the Year is a three-time, all-league honoree and had started every game for the Phoenix the past two seasons. Walls was named to Freshman All-American teams by the College Soccer News and Top Drawer Soccer in 2008. Quinn, a sophomore transfer from Bradley University will have three years of eligibility remaining. He was the top freshman in the MVC last season and earned All-Freshman Team honors from College Soccer News and Goal.com after leading the Braves to a conference tournament title and NCAATournament appearance with three goals and a team-high 10 assists as an attacking mid. His 10 assists were the most recorded by a freshman in school history and ranked 26th nationally. In all, Quinn, whose first name is pronounced "AY-din", started all 22 games at Bradley and is the son of Brian Quinn, who played in the English Premier League during the 1980s and earned 48 caps for the U.S. National Team from 1991-94. Portillos, a sophomore transfer from the University of Washington, will have three years of eligibility remaining. He was a member of the U.S. U-17 National Team pool and was the Colorado State High School Player of the Year in 2008. Last season with the Huskies, Portillos was named the team's Rookie of the Year after recording two goals – both were game-winners – and one assist in 17 games, including 13 starts. The final midfielder, Bonilla is a 2010 ESPN Rise First Team All-American and the 71st-ranked recruit in the nation, according to Top Drawer Soccer. As the Georgia Class 5A Player of the Year, Bonilla led his club team, GSA, to its first ODP national championship and was named U.S. Youth Soccer Most Valuable Player. Barrett, a native of Kingston, Jamaica, will join fellow countryman Darren Mattocks and compete for a spot up top for the Zips this fall. Barrett, who was a star striker at Calabar High School, is a member of the Harbor View U-20 Team and his school's Player of the Year. Adding depth in goal for the Zips will be Fenlason and Van Der Merwe, who hails from Krugersdorp, South Africa. Fenlason was the starting keeper on the third-ranked high school team in the nation last fall, according to ESPN Rise. Furthermore, the Region IV ODP pool player set school records for career wins (48), career shutouts (26), season saves (135) and season GAA (0.592). Fenlason was a three-sport star in high school after also running cross country and track. Mayer, the third and final international student-athlete in the group, is a left back who most recently played for Wigan Youth Academy in England.2011 Akron Men's Soccer SigneesD Kayvon Afsarifard, Chardon, Ohio/St. Ignatius HS (Loyola University Chicago)F Akeil Barrett, Kingston, Jamaica/Calabar HSM Dominic Bonilla, Lawrenceville, Ga./Collins HSF Andy Chiu, El Pasco, Texas/Cornado HSD Kyle Culbertson, Olentangy, Ohio/Olentangy HSGK Jacob Fenlason, San Diego, Calif./Rancho Bernardo HSD/M Bryan Gallego, Kinnelon, N.J./Kinnelon HSM/F Luke Holmes, Oldham, England/Our Lady's R.C. HS (Notre Dame College)D David Mayer, Wigan, EnglandM David Murrow, Cleveland, Ohio/Strongsville HSM Aodhan Quinn, San Diego, Calif./Mt. Carmel HS (Bradley)M Zach Portillos, Aurora, Colo./Grandview HS (University of Washington)M Wil Trapp, Gahanna, Ohio/Gahanna Lincoln HSGK Jean Pierre Van Der Merwe, Krugerdorp, South AfricaM Tony Walls, Wauwatosa, Wisc./Wauwatosa East HS (Wisconsin Green Bay)D DeAndre Yedlin, Seattle, Wash./O'Dea HS

[Zip_ME87]

Wow. I refuse to wish the summer away, but I look forward to watching this team!"This has certainly been a grueling, seven-month process to reload our team to a level on-par with our standards," Porter said. "After the spring season, we felt there were still some major holes to fill. But with the addition of this final group of talented players, I am satisfied we are finally there. "We believe there are now quality personnel and depth in every position, and we should have all the pieces we need to put a championship caliber team together in 2011. We are excited to welcome this group to the Akron family and I look forward to their contributions."

[UAZipster0305]

The quality players that continue to come into this program in large volumes is staggering. Can we defend and compete for another National Championship this year? After the draft, I didn't think we had a chance...now I'm thinking we have to be considered one of the favorites. This roster is more stacked than the Baywatch cast."This has certainly been a grueling, seven-month process to reload our team to a level on-par with our standards," Porter said. "After the spring season, we felt there were still some major holes to fill. But with the addition of this final group of talented players, I am satisfied we are finally there. Yeah, it would be terrible to have a subsidized recruiting trip from Ohio to Jamaica every winter! I'd be happy to fill in for you, Coach!It is amazing what recruiting AND coaching can result in when the successes are combined. Overall, another outstanding job by the staff. I am really looking forward to the season!

[zip37]

I agree with Ten Timmy-- I thoiught we'd get to the Final Four after our player loss last winter, BUT SAM, I think Caleb had reloaded beyond anything I could IMAGINE! or dream of! I'm almost speechless! Caleb:

[ZachTheZip]

16 new players. That's a bit ridiculous.A school could field that 16-man all-newcomer team and make the Sweet 16 with ease.

[yazan07]

So...many...questions. Can we have another Porter Q&A pleaseeee???My first question without a doubt is why we have FIVE GKs on our roster? I have to imagine that one of them is leaving, McAdams would make sense since he hasn't used any eligibility and obviously isn't moving up the depth chart any time soon. But still, FIVE?I'm going to go out on a limb and say David Mayer is going to be the answer to the problem that everyone from Caleb Porter to Bob Bradley has had: I need a good left back. If he is from an EPL academy I would expect good things.We know last year's freshman second in the nation goal scoring machine will start up top and maybe Luke Holmes will be his strike partner? Looks like we have a few other options to go with up top. Strangely enough, none of them are the ones we thought would be options a few months ago (cough...Tulloch, Diaz, Genovesie, SPEAS )The real big question I have though is what to do with that midfield? Looks like SO many skilled players. I expect Scotty, Balogun, Brenes, Walls, Trapp, and Quinn to all be the biggest guys competing for minutes. This is such a new team. With such a small core of guys coming back, I don't know if you can even call it a core; it's like a mini-core. It's going to be weird seeing so many unrecognizable faces out there. I can't wait to see this new team. I think it's going to be a crazy year. I am pumped.

[johnnyzip84]

Seems like an amazing class no doubt. It begs two questions in my mind:1) How is the total of 9.9 scholarships permitted by the NCAA being divided?2) Will the "name" schools be so upset with Akron signing such a huge class that they begin to petition the NCAA to change a few rules?

[dan1967]

Seems like an amazing class no doubt. It begs two questions in my mind:1) How is the total of 9.9 scholarships permitted by the NCAA being divided?2) Will the "name" schools be so upset with Akron signing such a huge class that they begin to petition the NCAA to change a few rules?

With a championship program and a positive Learning Environment both on & off the field at UA, Porter will continue to attract STUDENT-Athletes. 1. STUDENT-Athletes are able to garner Academic grants to complement partial scholarships. 2. Transfers are willing to leverage Student Loans & partial scholarships for the opportunity to be noticed at a high level here. 3. We are now in the position to do what the ACC schools have done within the NCAA system for years

[fknbuflobo]

Seems like an amazing class no doubt. It begs two questions in my mind:1) How is the total of 9.9 scholarships permitted by the NCAA being divided?2) Will the "name" schools be so upset with Akron signing such a huge class that they begin to petition the NCAA to change a few rules?

With a championship program and a positive Learning Environment both on & off the field at UA, Porter will continue to attract STUDENT-Athletes. 1. STUDENT-Athletes are able to garner Academic grants to complement partial scholarships. 2. Transfers are willing to leverage Student Loans & partial scholarships for the opportunity to be noticed at a high level here. 3. We are now in the position to do what the ACC schools have done within the NCAA system for years

johnnyzip84, SouthernRoo has provided the same answers I would have. The appropriate petition to the NCAA is to increase 9.9 scholarships to at least a full team.

[TheTank123]

Seems like an amazing class no doubt. It begs two questions in my mind:1) How is the total of 9.9 scholarships permitted by the NCAA being divided?2) Will the "name" schools be so upset with Akron signing such a huge class that they begin to petition the NCAA to change a few rules?

With a championship program and a positive Learning Environment both on & off the field at UA, Porter will continue to attract STUDENT-Athletes. 1. STUDENT-Athletes are able to garner Academic grants to complement partial scholarships. 2. Transfers are willing to leverage Student Loans & partial scholarships for the opportunity to be noticed at a high level here. 3. We are now in the position to do what the ACC schools have done within the NCAA system for years

johnnyzip84, SouthernRoo has provided the same answers I would have. The appropriate petition to the NCAA is to increase 9.9 scholarships to at least a full team.

Yeah, the 9.9 thing is a joke. I won't get into the specific numbers but DeAndre was a partial with a lot of financial aid money.

[johnnyzip84]

Seems like an amazing class no doubt. It begs two questions in my mind:1) How is the total of 9.9 scholarships permitted by the NCAA being divided?2) Will the "name" schools be so upset with Akron signing such a huge class that they begin to petition the NCAA to change a few rules?

With a championship program and a positive Learning Environment both on & off the field at UA, Porter will continue to attract STUDENT-Athletes. 1. STUDENT-Athletes are able to garner Academic grants to complement partial scholarships. 2. Transfers are willing to leverage Student Loans & partial scholarships for the opportunity to be noticed at a high level here. 3. We are now in the position to do what the ACC schools have done within the NCAA system for years

johnnyzip84, SouthernRoo has provided the same answers I would have. The appropriate petition to the NCAA is to increase 9.9 scholarships to at least a full team.

Yeah, the 9.9 thing is a joke. I won't get into the specific numbers but DeAndre was a partial with a lot of financial aid money.

I appreciate the education everyone! It's probably just my Zip paranoia showing that has me inclined to think other (more prominent for other reasons) schools might want to knock UA soccer down a peg or two, using whatever means necessary (since they're having difficulty doing it on the pitch).

[bisbee]

So...many...questions. Can we have another Porter Q&A pleaseeee???My first question without a doubt is why we have FIVE GKs on our roster? I have to imagine that one of them is leaving, McAdams would make sense since he hasn't used any eligibility and obviously isn't moving up the depth chart any time soon. But still, FIVE?I'm going to go out on a limb and say David Mayer is going to be the answer to the problem that everyone from Caleb Porter to Bob Bradley has had: I need a good left back. If he is from an EPL academy I would expect good things.We know last year's freshman second in the nation goal scoring machine will start up top and maybe Luke Holmes will be his strike partner? Looks like we have a few other options to go with up top. Strangely enough, none of them are the ones we thought would be options a few months ago (cough...Tulloch, Diaz, Genovesie, SPEAS )The real big question I have though is what to do with that midfield? Looks like SO many skilled players. I expect Scotty, Balogun, Brenes, Walls, Trapp, and Quinn to all be the biggest guys competing for minutes. This is such a new team. With such a small core of guys coming back, I don't know if you can even call it a core; it's like a mini-core. It's going to be weird seeing so many unrecognizable faces out there. I can't wait to see this new team. I think it's going to be a crazy year. I am pumped.

I had the same question about the number of keepers. I suppose you could have an unlimited number if you are not using athletic money but why would a freshman keeper commit to a program with so many keepers?

[bisbee]

So...many...questions. Can we have another Porter Q&A pleaseeee???My first question without a doubt is why we have FIVE GKs on our roster? I have to imagine that one of them is leaving, McAdams would make sense since he hasn't used any eligibility and obviously isn't moving up the depth chart any time soon. But still, FIVE?I'm going to go out on a limb and say David Mayer is going to be the answer to the problem that everyone from Caleb Porter to Bob Bradley has had: I need a good left back. If he is from an EPL academy I would expect good things.We know last year's freshman second in the nation goal scoring machine will start up top and maybe Luke Holmes will be his strike partner? Looks like we have a few other options to go with up top. Strangely enough, none of them are the ones we thought would be options a few months ago (cough...Tulloch, Diaz, Genovesie, SPEAS )The real big question I have though is what to do with that midfield? Looks like SO many skilled players. I expect Scotty, Balogun, Brenes, Walls, Trapp, and Quinn to all be the biggest guys competing for minutes. This is such a new team. With such a small core of guys coming back, I don't know if you can even call it a core; it's like a mini-core. It's going to be weird seeing so many unrecognizable faces out there. I can't wait to see this new team. I think it's going to be a crazy year. I am pumped.

I had the same question about the number of keepers. I suppose you could have an unlimited number if you are not using athletic money but why would a freshman keeper commit to a program with so many keepers?

Probably will be an amazing "competition" for starting MF spots during August. I think I would much rather be a defender where I think positions are most likely already set unless something totally unexpected happens.

[ZachTheZip]

Meves' spot is not safe. Besides, he's a junior now. if he takes us to the College Cup for a third year straight, he could conceivably go pro early. These young GKs can redshirt or sit this season out and whoever wins after meves is gone will start the next three or four years.

[TheTank123]

Meves' spot is not safe.

Why do you say that?

[ZachTheZip]

Meves brought us a national championship. But I've seen better. If one of our new GKs is as good as Evan Bush was, they'll earn the spot.

[Z.I.P.]

Sixteen new players? 9.5 scholarships? Caleb Porter may not have earned any caps with the US National Team, but he's now wearing more caps than I can count. One of them is an academic and financial aid counselor. It's a great juggling act, but with star student-athletes (e.g., I believe Andy Chiu is a 4.0) you are able to secure competitive scholarships that most programs don't have the same juggling ability with. I know there was a lot of talk on BigSoccer a year ago about how many Akron players had academic scholarships -- and the inference that that was because of lower academic standards at Akron. I think most of our kids could easily get into Duke, Michigan, or any university they wanted. They know they can get the combination of education, futbol, and professional opportunities at Akron that competes with anywhere else.Looking forward even more now to seeing the team early on in the City of Angels.

[Z.I.P.]

Now we know why Zach Portillo wanted to come to Akron. He'll learn about Akron's ambivalence shortly. GH: If you could train with any professional athlete who would you chose and why? ZP: "Lebron James so he could teach me how to be a baller."