The Wisconsin men’s and women’s soccer teams have announced their recruiting classes for the upcoming 2004 season. The men’s team added five players, while the women’s team brought in six recruits.
Heading the list for the men’s team is midfielder Erik Ortega (Western Springs, Ill.). Ortega, considered one of Illinois’ top high school players, was named all-state by the Chicago Sun-Times and the Chicago Tribune. The talented midfielder led his club team, the Chicago Black Magic, to the 2003 U.S. Youth Soccer Association National Championship.
Ortega also achieved tremendous success in the Olympic Development Program (ODP), participating on the ’85 Region II ODP team since 2000 and playing for the Illinois state ODP team since 1999.
“He is a player that can do a lot of things in the attack and has both the experience and talent to help us from the start,” UW head coach Jeff Rohrman said.
Like Ortega, midfielder B.J. Goodman (Lake Orion, Mich.) has substantial experience with the Olympic Development Program, competing on the ODP state level since 1997 and on the regional level since 2000. As a high school standout at Detroit Country Day Preparatory School, Goodman took home all-region, all-area, all-district, and all-state honors in each of his four prep seasons and earned a spot on the 2004 Adidas All-Star team.
“B.J. is a player that we have had our eye on for a while,” Rohrman said. “He is a bit of a slasher and can play a number of positions. Technically, he is very good, and he has the ability to score goals as well as set up players. He has a tremendous work rate, can get up and down the field, and can create a lot in the attack.”
The Badgers signed another heralded Michigan midfielder in Sho Fujita (West Bloomfield, Mich.). Fujita, who was named an interregional U-16 All-American, has been a member of the Michgan state ODP team since 1999 and participated on the regional ODP team since 2002.
Rounding out Wisconsin’s recruiting class is a pair of National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) All-Americans, Nick Caronna and Dirk Pearson. Caronna (Brookfield, Wis.), the only Wisconsin native in this year’s recruiting class, was the 2003 Gatorade State Player of the Year. The talented midfielder was also named the 2003 Greater Metro Conference Player of the Year and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Area Player of the Year.
“Nick [Caronna] is clearly one of the top kids in the state,” Rohrman said. “He’s an incredibly versatile and athletic player who can play in a wide variety of places. He has been blessed with some great physical qualities and I really believe that he will blossom and develop into a very good soccer player at the collegiate level.”
Pearson (South Barrington, Ill.) earned all-state honors from the Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago Tribune and Illinois High School Soccer Coaches Association (IHSSCA). Pearson, the 2003 conference player of the year as a standout for Barrington High School, was named the captain of the Daily Herald’s All-Area team. Pearson also shined on the top-ranked club team in Illinois, the Chicago Sockers.
On the women’s side, defender Ann Eshun (Madison, Wis.) leads a recruiting class that features four Wisconsin natives, including three players from the Madison area.
“As a whole, this group is well-rounded in terms of positions,” UW women’s soccer coach Duerst said. “We’ve got a goalkeeper, we’ve got two backs, two forwards, plus the forwards can also play midfield. With that kind of versatility, they’re really going to help the strength of the overall team. They are six players of quality caliber that have all had experiences at a high level.”
Eshun, a two-time all-conference and all-city selection, earned all-state honors in her senior season. The standout defender led the Madison 56ers Capital Elite club team to two consecutive state championships. Eshun has played for the state ODP team in each of the past three seasons.
Also hailing from the Madison area are forward Taylor Walsh (Madison, Wis.) and defender Katy Meuer (Verona, Wis.). Walsh took home all-state honors in her junior season and was twice named all-city and all-conference.
Meuer, who served as a member of the state ODP team for the past five seasons, will look to follow in her sister’s footsteps at Wisconsin. Meuer’s sister, Molly, anchored the Badger defense before moving to midfield this season, scoring four goals on the year.
“Katy is very similar to her sister in that she is a very hard-working individual that shows up in what she is able to do as a role player,” Duerst said. “She fits into different places around the field where you may need her to. That’s the kind of a player that can help a program. She is a strong, quick athlete that has a great training mentality and intensity in her play.”
Rounding out the recruiting class are forward Amy Lewis (Green Bay, Wis.), midfielder Shannon Terry (Long Lake, Minn.) and goalkeeper Lynn Murray (Marietta, Ga.). Lewis, who led Notre Dame Academy in scoring in each of the past two seasons, received all-state, all-area, and all-conference honors in her sophomore and junior campaigns and was named conference player of the year in her junior year. Lewis also took all-state, all-area and all-conference honors in tennis all four seasons.
Terry, a 2003 all-conference, all-metro, and all-state selection, set the Orono High School single season record for goals (29) and assists (14).
Murray, the only goalkeeper recruited this season, participated in the U-19 U.S. National team camp in 2003 and competed in the 2003 ODP championships. Murray was a member of the regional ODP team that won the 2002 Region III title, and her club team, the United Quest Red 85s, won four Snickers Georgia State Cup championships.
-compiled from staff reports