Yavapai soccer nabs 12 solid recruits for 2012 campaign
Yavapai's coaching staff quietly confident about class
Last updated: 6/19/2012 10:37:31 AM
5/30/2012
Doug Cook
The Daily Courier
PRESCOTT - The Yavapai College men's soccer program, winner of seven JUCO Division I national titles since its inception in 1989, announced Wednesday that it has landed 12 strong freshman recruits for a projected 24-member squad during the 2012 fall season.
Over the past winter, Roughriders coach Mike Pantalione and associate coach Hugh Bell said they focused on bringing in a deep corps of versatile defenders that could complement their half-dozen returning players, including four high-scoring sophomore star attackers.
Last October, Pima upset Arizona Conference champion Yavapai 2-0 in the National Junior College Athletic Association's Region I, Division I championship at Ken Lindley Field. For just the third time in the past 22 years, including the last two seasons consecutively, the Riders failed to qualify for the national tournament.
With the Class of 2012, YC and its coaches have higher hopes that the program can break a minor drought. The group features three players each from California and Oregon, two players apiece from Arizona and Nevada, and one each from England and Canada.
What follows is a brief breakdown of the Roughriders' recruiting class for the upcoming season that kicks off Aug. 23 at Scottsdale Community College.
ATTACKERS
• Miguel-Angel Angeles of McMinnville, Ore. (6-foot-1, 185 pounds): Pantalione said the left-footed Angeles is a "tough player" who "can assume a lot of roles."
Bell added that Angeles initially contacted the YC coaching staff about wanting to suit up for the Riders.
"He will be an asset to us in the attack and on the wings," Bell said.
• Junior Albon Gbapou of Casa Grande (5-7, 135): Don't let Gbapou's diminutive size fool you. The fleet-footed Gbapou from Casa Grande High is playing overseas with the U.S. Men's National Under-20 Team this summer, Pantalione said. Bell added that the hard-working Gbapou "brings quality to the wing play."
• Alex Harlley of Rosamond, Calif. (6-2, 170): Hailing from the small town of Rosamond near the Los Angeles County line, Harlley is a big, athletic player who can score goals.
• Gavin Hoggarth of Murton, England (6-2, 170): A polished passer who can also score, Hoggarth will be counted on to shore up some of the Riders' recent past deficiencies in the central midfield, Pantalione said. Bell added that Hoggarth fits the bill as an attacking midfielder who can "conduct the orchestra" by dictating the pace of the game while setting up plays for the wings and forwards.
• Matthew Paine of Portland, Ore. (6-1, 180): Like Harlley, Paine is tall and athletic, and he has a gift for tallying goals, Pantalione said. Bell added that he personally recruited Paine to compete for Yavapai. "He's got so much ability," Bell said. "He can play wing or forward. He's gung-ho about the game."
DEFENDERS
• Miguel Aguiar of Concord, Calif. (5-11, 170): A left-side defender who doubles as a top-notch track athlete, Aguiar is one of the Riders' more versatile guys who can play in various spots on the field, Pantalione said.
• Raul Cardona of San Jose, Calif. (6-0, 160): A "defensive-minded defenseman," Pantalione said Cardona currently plays for the San Jose Earthquakes Major League Soccer franchise's Youth academy club.
• Alonso Diaz of Las Vegas (5-11, 165): Diaz, from Eldorado High in Las Vegas, is another versatile athlete who could play "a lot of different roles," Pantalione said, in the vein of returning Riders defender Eduardo Jasso. Bell added that the coaching staff would feel comfortable having him at most any spot on the field.
• Jonathan Grant of Pickering, Ontario, Canada (6-1, 160): "An exciting player with speed," Pantalione said Grant could play forward, right wing or right back and performs well around the perimeter of the field.
• Jimmy Lara of Chandler (6-2, 185): From Chandler Hamilton High, Lara is calm, cool and composed on defense. "Nothing seems to rattle him," Pantalione said. Bell added that Lara is "technically sound" and will provide a boost to the Riders' returning defenders.
• Milan Popovic of Las Vegas (6-2, 160): The quiet, unassuming Popovic from Las Vegas' Sierra Vista High is already becoming known for a special gift: his long, pinpoint throw-ins. "It can be a dangerous weapon at times," Pantalione said.
GOALKEEPERS
• Kieran Coleman-Fry of Eugene, Ore. (6-2, 185): A product of Shattuck St. Mary's in Minnesota, Pantalione said Coleman-Fry is a sturdy keeper with "good size." Bell added that the maturing Coleman-Fry should challenge Riders returning standout goalies Daniel Sellitti and Agustin Rey for playing time.
"If he's good enough to start, he'll start," Bell said of Coleman-Fry.