UNCG signs Mario Rojas to men's soccer NLI

GREENSBORO, NC – UNC Greensboro men's soccer coach Michael Parker has added one more student-athlete to his commitment list for next season, signing defender Mario Rojas from Annapolis, MD.

Rojas was a two-time all-county selection and a second-team all-state honoree as a senior at Annapolis HS, where he played in the midfield. He played for the Maryland Olympic Development Program in 2007 and the Region 3 ODP program in 2009. He played his club soccer for Freestate Elite.

"He is a defender that is tough in the tackle and will provide depth in the backfield for us," said UNCG coach Michael Parker. "We are very lucky to get Mario so late in the recruiting game and look forward to him attending UNCG."

Rojas joins four other signees that were announced back in March. UNCG previously signed Tulsa, OK native Denny Mask, Tampa, FL product Joe Layton, Jacksonville, FL native A.J. Nelson and Maumee, OH's Mike Mangotic.

One of the nation's most successful programs year in and year out, UNCG was in the unlikely role of Cinderella Story in last year's NCAA Tournament. Bouncing back from its first losing regular season in 30 years, the Spartans won the Southern Conference Tournament from the No. 7 seed and then knocked off Duke and ninth-seeded Loyola (MD) on the road in the NCAA Tournament to advance to the Round of 16 for the fourth time in five years. UNCG (10-11-3) nearly advanced to the quarterfinal round, but a late goal in regulation and the advantage in penalty kicks gave South Florida the advance past the Spartans.

The Spartans lost seven players from that squad, including MLS draftee Jokull Elisabetarson. However, along with returning seven of the 12 field players that started 10 or more matches last season, UNCG will regain the services of 2007 leading scorer Thomas Campbell, who missed all of 2008 following pre-season knee surgery.

- UNCG -