Open thread / say hello

Update 2:

On February 10, 2008 8:13 AM josh asked...
"Do we know if all of the recruits [minus Murphy] will have all four years of eligibility available? I know sometimes the international guys don't get all 4."

I posed the question 'do the international players Mark Geria and Anders Selander have 4 years or fewer?' to the UNM Athletics Department and Jay Blackman, Assistant Director - Media Relations replied that they have 4 years each - Tolstoy
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Mark Geria - 6-0 - 155 - Midfielder/Defender - Canberra, Australia (AIS)
Skilled left-footed player who joins the Lobos from Australia...trained and studied at the prestigious Australian Institute of Sport from 2005-06...Has twice been invited into the Australian U-23 Olympic team player pool...Personal...Born May 24, 1986.

Coach Fishbein on Mark Geria:
"Mark is an experienced, athletic player who is very dynamic in the attack. He has competed at the highest levels in his country and that experience will help him with his transition to the collegiate game."


Anders Selander - 5-10 - 175 - Defender - Ulrichehamn, Sweden (Sven Eriksonsgymnasiet)
Left-footed defender who joins the Lobos from Ulrichehamn, Sweden...reunites with youth teammate Simon Ejdemyr who will be a junior for the Lobos in the fall... played for IF Elfsborg's youth teams, one of the best youth teams in Sweden...finished third in Gothia Cup in 2005, the biggest youth tournament in the world...played 15 games for Sweden's youth national teams...Personal...Born March 21, 1987, Anders is the son of Reino and Agneta Selander...has two sisters, Elin (25) and Mailin (23).

Coach Fishbein on Anders Selander:
"Anders has had tremendous international experience and has grown up in a highly competitive soccer environment. He has the athleticism and soccer skills to immediately impact our program."

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Update:

On February 9, 2008 8:42 PM bigkicker said...
"Murphy got hurt at a recent training session and Staver to undergo surgety for shoulder. Thats why you recruit big numbers."

Thanks for the post bigkicker. Murphy enrolled this semester after transferring from national champion Wake Forest. No news on the nature or extent of the injury. Justin Fite from Houston is the other remaining keeper and the new recruiting class has two new ones (Justin Holmes and Victor Rodriguez). We'll definitely keep an eye on these developments - Tolstoy
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David Murphy - 5-11 - 170 - Defender - Grapevine, Texas (Wake Forest)
Transfer from Wake Forest University for the spring 2008 semester and is currently training with the team...will have three years of eligibility remaining at UNM...Saw action in six games for the NCAA Champion Demon Deacons last season...was a redshirt in 2006...Four-year letterwinner at Carroll Senior HS for head coach Greg Oglesby...all state and district 5-5A MVP as a senior... played club soccer with the Dallas Texans with current Lobo Stephen Brown...helped the Texans capture three straight state, region and national championships from 2005-07... served as the team's captain and also captured the Golden Boot at the 2005 National Club Championships -- the award for the Most Valuable Player of the entire tournament... member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes program... Personal...Born in New York, New York on October 20, 1987...son of Ken Murphy and Donna Saenz.

Coach Fishbein on David Murphy:
"David is a natural leader. He captained the most successful youth club team in this country's history. We feel UNM is the perfect fit for David and he is going to blossom as a leader and player here."


Eric Staver
Position: Goalkeeper
Class: Sophomore
Hometown: Portage, Mich.
High School: Portage Northern HS
Height / Weight: 6-1 / 185
Birthdate: 06/07/1988
Experience: Played at least twice behind Graczyk as Sophomore (Redshirted as Freshman)
High School
Four-year letter winner at Portage Northern HS in Portage, Mich...Two-time Division I all-state, all-district and all-region team member...Member of the 2004 Michigan Dream Team...2004 defensive MVP...Was also Academic All-State as a senior.
Club
Played club soccer for Vardar from 2003-05...2005 Region II Champion and 2004 State Cup Champion.
Olympic Development Program
OPD Region II Team member from 2004-06, playing several international tournaments...State ODP team member since 2002.
Personal
Born June 7, 1988, Eric is the son of Rick and Peggy Staver...He has one brother, Jason (21)...Member of the National Honor Society...Wants to be a pre-med major at UNM.


Justin Fite
Position: Goalkeeper
Class: Sophomore
Hometown: Spring, Texas
High School: Klein Collins HS
Height / Weight: 6-2 / 175
Birthdate: 09/18/1987
Experience: Sophomore (Redshirted as Freshman)
General Information/Career
Attended the 2005 Lobo Soccer Academy where he caught the eye of the Lobo coaching staff...Led his club team to the South Texas State Cup over the summer...As one of four keepers on the team, will have to battle for playing time...Last named is pronounced "fight".
High School
Four-year letter winner at Klein Collins High School in Spring, Texas...2006 all-state and all-region...2006 District 14-5A Goalkeeper of the Year...Honorable mention all-district as a sophomore.
Club
Played club soccer for the Houston Texans FC 87/88 Red Team...2004 CASL Shootout Finalist, U.S.Y.S.A. Region III champs and national semifinalist...2005 Disney Showcase Finalist and U.S.Y.S.A. Region III semifinalist...Four-time U.S.Y.S.A. State Cup champion.
Olympic Development Program
Member of the S.T.Y.S.A. '87 state pool in 2003 and 2004.
Personal
Born Sept. 18, 1987, Justin is the son of Keith and Robin Fite...Has an older sister, Britni (23), and an older brother, KJ (21)...Has not decided on a major.


Justin Holmes - 6-2 - 188 - Goalkeeper - Elkhart, Ind. (Elkhart Central HS)
2007 Northern Indiana Soccer Player of the Year at Elkhart Central High School in Elkhart, Ind...runners up in the state championships each of the last two seasons...spent the summer playing with the Indiana Invaders of the PDL with current Lobo James Urbany...participated in the USL/ODP national camp and select team...Personal...Born Oct. 12, 1989.

Coach Fishbein on Justin Holmes:
"Justin is a great athlete and a talented keeper. He will be fighting for playing time with three other keepers who are all looking to replace graduating senior Mike Graczyk. He has an incredible enthusiasm for the game and his work ethic is going to push our entire team."


Victor Rodriguez - 6-1 - 170 - Goalkeeper - Las Cruces, N.M. (Las Cruces HS)
2007 NSCAA High School All-American keeper at Las Cruces High School in Las Cruces, N.M...New Mexico 5A Player of the Year...captained Las Cruces High School to the 5A state championship...1st team all-state, all-district and district player of the year as a senior...played for the New Mexico Strikers 91 club team...New Mexico ODP 91 Team Captain...led his ODP squad to a second place finish at the 2008 regional championships...Personal...Born Feb 12, 1991, Victor is the son of Lucina and Ismael Rodriguez...he has six brothers and two sisters.

Coach Fishbein on Victor Rodriguez:
"Victor continues our tradition of bringing in the top players from the state of New Mexico. He was the only NSCAA All-American in the state this year and we wanted to make sure he became a Lobo. He will be competing with three other keepers for time between the pipes."