March 21, 2013
NORFOLK, VA--Old Dominion University Head Men's Soccer Coach Alan Dawson announced the signing of seven outstanding recruits for the 2013 Fall season. Joining the Monarch soccer family are Matthew Sanchez (Owings Mills, MD.), Connor Hylton (Rockville, MD.), Cole Stringer (Keller, TX.), Christian Wirth (Pittstown, NJ.), Jesse Miralrio (Arlington, TX.), Nicholas Hutchinson (Allentown, PA.), and Kelvin Centeno (Alexandria, VA.).
"This is probably the most complete recruiting class that I can remember since coming to ODU. Basically, the recruits that we went after all signed on signing day and this is the earliest point in the recruiting process in my 16 years here that we delivered all of our recruits. We expect this class to make an immediate and major impact on our squad and anticipate that at least two or three of them will be impact players in the top 11."
KELVIN CENTENO - Hayfield High School, (Alexandria, VA.) A 1st-team All District selection at Hayfield. His ODP state team went to Spain, Portugal and France. His '95 Virginia State team won nationals and twice won regionals. His ODP state team also went overseas to Spain, France and Portugal for an international tournament. He played with ODP region 1 team in Costa Rica where they finished second and was selected to be in the United States Academy Awards for 2010-11.
DAWSON QUOTE "Kelvin is a lone Virginia recruit, coming out of Northern Virginia. He played with McLean which is one of the top clubs at the academy level in the Commonwealth of Virginia. He is a left sided player, can play in the midfield or a little higher if you need him. He came across to me as a very dynamic hard working and extremely tough kid. He impressed me when I went to see and I think he can bring a dynamic element to the team that on that left side that is something that we are missing. something that we need help with right away."
CONNOR HYLTON - Rockville High School, Rockville High School A current member of the Baltimore Bays Chelsea under-18 team, with fellow ODU recruit Matt Sanchez. Hylton is a two-time captain for his Rockville High School team. The 2010 USYSA national Champions in Overland Park, KS as he started every match as a defender. The team also was the region 1 Premier league Champions, State Cup Champions, and the 2006 and 2010 USYSA regional champions. Hylton was Rockville High School's captain for three years and the team's leading scorer.
"Dawson QUOTE" "Comes to us out of the Baltimore area where he played for the Baltimore Bays. Actually been out of school for a year as he decided to wait for a year to find the right place. We are very excited to have Connor. He has a great mentality, is very, very tough, very competitive, can play in back or as a wide player. We see him probably coming in and helping us as a fullback. He just has a great mid-set and competitive nature that we feel will fit right in with the mentality of our team."
NICK HUTCHINSON - Parkland HS, Allentown, PA. Nick Hutchinson is a first team All-State, All-region, two-time League All-Star and two-time All - Area player for Parkland High School. Hutchinson was selection to play in the 2012 High School All-American game and was a member of the FC Delco Academy team the past four years, as well as serving as captain twice. He was a member of the U-17 Philadelphia Union Cup Team in 2010. Scored eight goals with 13 assists.
DAWSON QUOTE "Primarily a centerback who comes to us from FC Delco in Philadelphia. Obviously we have had a lot of success over the years recruiting some Delco players and Nick is going to add to that list. Primarily a centerback, but he can play either leftback or rightback.Has a good head for the game and good size, hopefully he can come in and compete right-a-way. We need some players to step up in the back and we think Nick is a player we will be looking at very closely to press for a starting spot."
JESSE MIRALRIO, Summit High School - Arlington, TX. Member of the Solar Soccer Club since 2005. Miralrio helped lead his high school team to the 2012 Academy Finals where they placed fourth. His club team won the U-19 Dallas Cup Championship, the 2009 and 2010 Disney Soccer Showcase Champions and State Cup Finalist.
"DAWSON QUOTE" "Has a great frame, he is 6-2. He can put some more weight on him, can't wait to start working with him. He has great speed who is a left footed player who can play out wide on the left or you can play him in the middle. He has pace to burn and will cause a lot of teams a lot of problems, getting in behind. the best thing about Jesse is not only can he beat you for pace, but he can also combine and is technically very clean. Best of all, he can score goals. He has played together with current Monarch Ryan Condotta, he's played together with Cole Stringer and is also coming from the Solar Club. We think we have one of the better forwards in the country."
MATTHEW SANCHEZ - The McDonogh School, Owings Mills, MD. (GK) The starting goalkeeper of the u-20 Puerto Rico national team, recently completed his high school career as a four-year starter at national powerhouse McDonogh School in Owings Mills, MD. Helped lead McDonogh to three MIAA Conference Championship games, winning the title in his junior year. Sanchez allowed only one goal in those three title appearances and notched 52 career shutouts which is a Maryland State career record. Led the Baltimore Bays Chelsea to the USYSA National Championship with fellow ODU recruit Conor Hylton. Named All-American-Southern Region, and the Baltimore Sun's All-Metro squad. Sanchez did not allow a goal this summer in the in the initial World Cup qualifiers in San Juan against Bermuda, Barbados and Haiti. A 3.4 student.
`DAWSON QUOTE" "Matt is a presently at the final stages of the World Cup qualifiers for the under-20 Puerto Rico national team. A very mature young man with a lot of experience. Was the goalkeeper for the Baltimore Bays when they won the U-16 National Championship and is also the back-up keeper for the Puerto Rico National team. We think he has a great presence about himself, great maturity and anticipate that he will come in a compete for the starting position.
COLE STRINGER - Keller High School, Keller, TX. The 6-1 Stringer competed for the U.S. Soccer Development Academy from 2010-12, and is currently the team captain. He helped lead Keller High School to the 2010 District Championship. Stringer helped lead his Premier League team to the 2010 Regional Quarterfinals and played for USSF Solar Chelsea U-16 Development Academy.
"DAWSON QUOTE" "Cole is a central midfielder. He is a box to box midfield player who is athletic enough to defend as well as get forward and make things happen. He has great size and athleticism and a great mind for the game. He is coming from a club that is very strong and provided him the foundation to advance his game at the collegiate level."
CHRISTIAN WIRTH - North Hunterdon High School, Pittstown, NJ. Christian is a four year lettermen from north Hunterdon High School where he was named Express Times first team All-Area Boys Soccer last year, second team as both a freshman and sophomore. Wirth has been named team captain twice and last year PDA academy team ranked number 1 in the country and had the top seed in the academy playoffs.
"Dawson Quote" A very versatile player, we can play him anywhere in the back. He has played centerback and fullback. Played for a very competitive club in PDA out of New Jersey. I anticipate Christian will come in and push for place on the team immediately. Great background and a great future here at ODU."
ODU Soccer will compete in Conference USA in the Fall which will include New Mexico, Tulsa, Charlotte, Kentucky, UAB, South Carolina, Marshall, Florida International and Florida Atlantic. C-USA consistently ranks among the top-five men's soccer leagues in the nation.