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Delaware men’s soccer adds nine new players
11:16 a.m., Feb. 20, 2007--The University of Delaware men's soccer team has added nine players for the 2007 season, which promises one of the most difficult schedules in school history. The Fightin' Blue Hens recruits are E.J. Alvarado of Wyckoff, N.J., and Ramapo High School; Stephen Cavalier of Aston, Pa., and Salesianum School; Courtney Hewitt of Bowie, Md., and Archbishop Carroll High School; John Koutsounadis of Flushing, N.Y., and Francis Lewis High School; Kevin Mitten of Dover and Salesianum School; Tolu Ololowafe of Bear and Glasgow High School; Ben Rodkey of Jackson (N.J.) Memorial High School; Conrad Rusnak of Glenwood, N.J., and Vernon Township High School; and Demar Stephenson of Upper Marlboro, Md., and Archbishop Carroll High School. "This is a class rich on quality, not only as players but as individuals," UD Head Coach Ian Hennessy said of the recruiting class. "They are a classy group of young men who will serve the Delaware community well on the field, in the classroom and in many of the local community projects that our squad is involved in.” Hennessey said the Hens' strength of schedule in 2007 is arguably the toughest in UD history. “I expect our RPI (Ratings Percentage Index) to be one of the toughest in the country this year with the addition of Duke, North Carolina State and Rutgers and two other teams that made it to the NCAA tournament last year,” he said, adding, “I believe, with the pedigree of this class and the strength of our returning team, these are games that we can win. I would not have scheduled these games if I felt we could not be competitive." Following are profiles of the recruits: E.J. Alvarado: A former New York/New Jersey Red Bull player, Alvarado joins the Hens from the well-known Ironbound club team in New Jersey. He is a three-time all-state player and enjoyed a successful senior year with Ramapo High School in 2006. “E.J. is very competitive and carries an edge to him that will see him do well in college," Hennessy said. Stephen Cavalier: Cavalier, a transfer from the University of Pittsburgh, was a three-time first team all-state and regional All-America selection and was named an Adidas All-America, National All-America and Gatorade All-America as a senior at Salesianum. He helped lead F.C. Delco to a U.S. Youth Soccer Association national championship in 2001. At Pitt, Cavalier started in 31 games and registered five points. "Steve has a very good pedigree as a Delco player and will be a super contributor at Delaware," Hennessy said. Courtney Hewitt: Hewitt was a member of the Maryland Olympic Development Program 2006 team. In high school at Archbishop Carroll, he was named all-conference as a junior in 2005. John Koutsounadis: Koutsounadis was a member of a very talented Eastern New York Olympic Development Program team in 2006 and captained both his Kosmos club and high school teams. He was the 2005 Tampa Bay Sun Bowl most valuable player and attended the Super Y national camp that same year. “John is a gifted player, with a spontaneity and creativity that I am a big fan of,” Hennessy said. Kevin Mitten: Mitten is an all-state selection from Salesianum and a Delaware Olympic Development Program player. At Salesianum, he helped lead the team to three state championships and the team recently finished the 2006 season ranked 12th in the nation by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA). "A tremendous athlete, once Kevin finds his feet I believe he has a huge upside and can be one of the best defenders in the conference,” Hennessy said. Tolu Ololowafe: A transfer from the University of Michigan, Ololowafe was the 2003 Delaware State NSCAA player of the year and finished his four-year varsity career with 72 goals. Olowolafe earned all-state honors three of those four campaigns, and is a two-time NSCAA high school All-America selection. He had two goals in two seasons at Michigan. "Tolu is a very pacy player, and I am sure that he is looking to make his mark on the college circuit,” Hennessy said. “I think he has all the motivation in the world to be successful at Delaware." Ben Rodkey: Another New Jersey all-state selection, Rodkey was also the Newark Star-Ledger Ocean County player of the year in 2006. Rodkey was a member of the New Jersey Olympic Development Program team in 2006. “Ben plays the game with a wonderful simplicity, which allows him to control the flow of games. I have great faith in his vision of the game,” Hennessy said. Conrad Rusnak: A regional Olympic Development Program player, Rusnak was a New Jersey all-state pick in 2006. He is a starting member of the Red Bulls club team that was crowned New Jersey state champion in 2006 and recently traveled to California with the Region 1 ODP team that included fellow UD recruit Demar Stephenson. "Conrad is a very enthusiastic young man, whom I believe has the quality of leadership that great goalkeepers need,” Hennessy said. “As a regional player I expect that he will compete for a spot from the start." Demar Stephenson: A standout for Archbishop Carroll High School, Stephenson also plays club soccer with the Bethesda Mavericks. He is a member of the Region 1 Olympic Development Program team that traveled to California in January and he played for the Maryland State ODP squad in 2006. "Demar has electric pace and a fantastic attitude. He loves to be challenged and I don't think will have difficulty transitioning to college,” Hennessy said. |
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