GREENSBORO, NC – UNC Greensboro men’s soccer coach Michael Parker has received two commitments during the recent National Letter of Intent signing period to go along with two early enrollees who will join the program for the 2008 season.
The Spartans received NLI commitments from Miramar, FL native Jamel Johnson and San Antonio, TX product Cruz Oronos. In-state products Matt Foxx and William Mack, both from Mooresville, NC, enrolled at the university this past spring and will join the team this fall.
“We are very excited with this class for 2008,” said UNCG coach Michael Parker. “We needed some quality attacking players and we have done a great job of filling that void.
“All four players have solid ODP experience, with Will Mack being the captain of the North Carolina ODP squad. Jamel should have an opportunity to see a lot of time early. With his region team experience and speed, he will be looked upon to help produce goals right away. Cruz also provides region team experience and will also be looked upon to help create goals right away. Matt Foxx and Will Mack have been with us since January and that four months of experience will help them produce right away.”
Mack, a 5-10 midfielder, played his high school soccer at Mooresville HS, where he was an NCSCA All-State selection last year. A member of the Charlotte Soccer Club, Mack captained the State ODP team last season and was a member of the ODP Region III team in 2006. He spent six years on the NCYSA State team (2002-2007) and played the 2004 season in the USL Super Y League with the South Atlantic Regional team.
Foxx, a 6-0 forward, played his high school soccer at Lake Norman HS, where his team won 56 straight matches to close out his career. He was the Piedmont Player of the Year last year, scoring 35 goals and seven assists. He was the MVP of the Class 3A State Tournament as his team completed a perfect 29-0 mark. He scored three goals in a 12-minute span in the state title game to help his team rally from two goals down in the final 10 minutes of regulation time to win in overtime. As a club player, Foxx also played for the Charlotte Soccer Club and was a member of the Region III ODP team in 2006. He also spent two seasons with the USL Super Y Regional Team in 2004 and 2005.
Johnson, a 5-9 forward, is a product of American Heritage HS. He spent 2005 with the U-16 National Team and has been a part of the U-17 National Player Pool in 2006 and 2007. He had 10 goals and four assists this season for American Heritage and was named the MVP of the Florida Class 3A State Tournament, scoring the game-winner in the closing minutes in the semifinal round. His team finished with a 29-2-1 mark. He also spent two seasons in the Super Y League in 2005 and 2006.
Oronos is a midfielder out of Central Catholic HS in San Antonio. He began his career at Central Catholic as a frontline player, scoring 27 goals as a sophomore to lead the San Antonio area. He helped his Central Catholic team to a 32-match winning streak at one point on its way to a 22-1-1 mark this past season and the TAPPS (parochial and private schools) state title. He was a four-time All-State TAPPS selection at Central Catholic. Also a member of the Region III ODP program, he has been on the squad for three years, including a tour of Brazil.
UNC Greensboro returns 21 players from last year’s squad that finished 11-8-2 overall and advanced to the Southern Conference Tournament’s title match. The Spartans return their top seven scorers and nine starters from that squad.
- UNCG -