Feb. 22, 2006
NORFOLK, VA--CAA Coach of the Year Alan Dawson has announced the signing of two recruits for the 2006 season, picking up a blue chip goalkeeping prospect, along with a recruit expected to compete for a starting position in either the midfield or defense. Evan Newton and Dylan Montambo will be joining a program that has made four consecutive appearances in the second round of the NCAA tournament and was ranked as high as #2 in the nation at one point in the 2005 season.
Evan Newton, one of the nation's most prized goalkeeping prospects, has signed his letter of intent to Old Dominion and will compete for the starting goalie position in the fall. A Virginia Beach product, Newton was the goalkeeper for the U.S. U-17 national team as well as the U-15 national squad. He was a member of the ODP program from 2001-2006, and was named to the NSCAA adidas All-American team in 2001, 2003, 2005. In addition, Newton was invited to the adidas Elite Soccer Player (ESP) camps in 2004 and 2005, and was named to the camp's all-star team last year. He went to Landstown HS for his freshman year before moving to Florida to attend and ultimately graduate from the Edison Academic Center.
Dylan Montambo, formerly of Great Bridge High School in Chesapeake, is a midfield/defender out of Naples American HS in Naples, Italy. Like Newton, Montambo brings a decorated prep resume to the Monarchs. Montambo has extensive Olympic Development Program as he was a member of ODP Europe last year, and the Virginia State team from 2000-2005 which included a two-year stint as team captain. He has played on numerous club squads such as the US Naval Support Activity team in Naples, the Richmond Strikers (04-05), and Beach FC (98-04. Montambo also played at Great Bridge for three years, garnering Southeastern District MVP honors in 2005 along with Academic Award honors all three years.
"Our returning nucleus is very strong and we have addressed some of our immediate needs with our early signees. We are continuing to work very hard to identify additional impact players for next years squad" said Dawson.