Click here for 2011 recruiting class interview with Head Coach Cale Wassermann
UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. - Saginaw Valley State University men's soccer Head Coach Cale Wassermann has announced the team's recruiting class for the upcoming 2011 season. The 2011 class will look to help the Cardinals build on the success of last year's squad, which set a record for winning percentage in a season.
Zack Cooney, from Livonia Stevenson, comes off of junior and senior seasons where the team posted 11 and 12 shutouts, respectively. The All-State and two-time all-district and all-region selection was a member of the team's 2008 run to the state finals. Club Team - Derby County Wolves Academy
Laurence Paterson, of Flint Kearsley, comes in after a senior season in which he scored 21 goals and posted five assists while playing every minute of every match. Paterson was selected to the All-State Division 1 Third Team and was chosen all-league first team three times. Club Team - Derby County Wolves Academy
Tomer Sirma will join the SVSU men's soccer program after transferring from Prairie State College in Chicago Heights, Ill. Sirma was selected first team all-conference and First-Team All-Region IV in 2010 as well as being named to the all-conference second team in 2009. He recorded 34 goals and 10 assists in 32 career games at Prairie State.
Charlie Swingle makes the second student-athlete joining the program from Livonia Stevenson High School. Swingle was named all-district, all-area and all-conference in 2010 as well as being an all-conference honorable mention selection in 2009. Member of a team that posted 12 shutouts in 2010 and 11 in 2009. Club Team - Michigan Rush Nike Club
A local player, Zack Vasold, hails from Freeland High School. Vasold had 44 goals and 38 assists in his stellar career. The three-time all-conference selection was also selected all-district, all-region and All-State in his junior and senior seasons, as his teams claimed conference championships in 2009 and 2010 and a district title in 2010. He was a member of the Midland Daily News and Saginaw News Dream Teams his last two seasons as well. Club Team - Michigan Wolves
Grand Blanc High School player Tyler Yachcik comes off a senior season in which he was named all-district, all-region and First Team All-State and All-State Dream Team. Yachcik posted a record of 18-2-4 with 11 shutouts, three of which were in distric play, while recording a .75 goals against average and .70 save percentage over those 24 games. Club Team - TNT
"We are very excited about this year's recruiting class as a whole", stated Wassermann. "We have worked all year to not only find good players, but to find players that can fit into our system and come in as freshman and make a difference. We have a solid group of returners but with this class of freshmen coming in, our team will instantly become a lot deeper, more athletic and a lot more versatile in the way we can approach game planning for opponents. We have managed to bring in some quality players that can play numerous positions and they all are very coachable, smart, hard working kids that have a ton of potential. This past year was a great building block for us as we turned the program in the right direction, but with the incoming classes being added to our program we will really be ready to turn the corner and compete for championships. It is an exciting time to be a Cardinal!"