After a solid first season as a coaching staff, second-year head coach Nick Hillary and assistant coach Ian Fairlie spent time traversing the recruiting trails for new talent for the Clarkson University Men’s Soccer team. Hillary’s first class has netted seven freshmen and a junior transfer to bolster an experienced squad that looks to jump into the Liberty League playoff picture in 2010.
Junior transfer Steven Davis (Otsego, NY) has spent the last two years at Oneonta State. A 5-11 defender and midfielder, he played 29 games for the Red Dragons and recorded three assists in his first two seasons. “Steven comes to us with a lot of experience and a good knowledge base of the game,” said coach Nick Hillary. “He sees the field very well and he will battle each game for 90 minutes.”
The true freshmen are a deep and balanced group with excellent soccer acumen. Forward/midfielder Graziano Spagnolo (Ottawa, ONT), the brother of sophomore goaltender Saverino Spagnolo, is a player that has been on the Clarkson staff’s radar for some time now. “Graziano is an intelligent player who is also a vocal leader,” said coach Hillary. “He is poised on the ball and his technical abilities should play right away.”
Joining Spagnolo on the offensive end are Angelo DiFrancesco (Penfield, NY), Jacob Duff (Lebanon, CT), and Cody Sargood (Tamarac, NY). According to coach Hillary, all three have enviable skills when possessing the ball. “Angelo is a very technical player and he has a great work ethic, Jacob is a smooth player with good field vision and awareness, and Cody has good flank speed and he reads the game very well with a good cross off the ball.”
Midfielder Kurt Knolle (East Aurora, NY) is another outstanding newcomer who has good offensive awareness. “Kurt has a phenomenal work ethic,” Hillary noted, “and he attacks exceptionally well from the flank, distributes very well, and is overall a very crafty player.”
On the defensive end, Sam Abate (North Tonawanda, NY) and Tyler Rodrigues (Flemington, NJ) should pay dividends right away for the Golden Knights. “Sam sees the field very well and plays with intelligence, and he is a defender who always competes, while Tyler is a tenacious defender who also reads the game very well while playing simple, but efficiently.”
The newest members of the Clarkson Men’s Soccer team will arrive for preseason in late-August.