SEATTLE, Wash. - Brad Agoos, head coach of the Seattle University men's soccer team, has announced that eight student-athletes have signed National Letters of Intent and will join the Redhawk soccer program beginning in the fall of 2007.
"We couldn't be more excited to have such a strong incoming freshman class," Agoos said. "We've been able to preserve our usual mix of local players from top clubs, and out of state guys that will keep consistency and drive in the program."
Thomas Bento-Nystad moved from Denmark to Sacramento, Calif., in the summer of 2005 and has been an All-League performer with Christian Brothers High School over the past two years. He was a team captain and the team MVP in 2006, earning 15 goals and ten assists. He also played midfield for the San Juan Thunder club team.
Jake Ellig, a native of Richland, Wash., earned All-Area and All-Big Nine honors in 2006 as the MVP of the Kamiakin High School varsity soccer team. He is also a member of Emerald City FC 88 Green, which won the Diadora Cup in 2005 and the Washington State Championship in 2006. Ellig also has experience in the Olympic Development Program, serving on the state team for the past four years and the regional team in the past two years.
One of Ellig's club teammates, C.J. Hamel, was a four-year letterwinner at Bishop Blanchet High School. Last season he earned First Team All-Metro honors and was also named honorable mention All-State. Hamel won the Golden Boot Award from the Emerald City FC 88 club team, helping the team win the state title and finish second at the Far West regional tournament.
A native of Carmichael, Calif., Brandon Hamer was named most outstanding offensive player and First Team All-League in 2006 at Jesuit High School. In September 2006 Hamer was named Jesuit High School Athlete of the Month and is presently serving as a Senior Religious Retreat Leader. He has also participated in club soccer with the San Juan Lightning 89.
Nick James, from Kirkland, Wash., was the team MVP and All-KingCo First Team for Lake Washington High School in 2006. He played on the Crossfire club team from 2003 to 2005, helping the squad win the state championship in both 2003 and 2004 and also the regional championship in 2003.
Alex McCrackin has been a teammate of Hamer's at Jesuit High School for the past four years. A native of Rio Linda, Calif., he helped his high school team win the league championship three straight years and the sectional title in 2006, serving as captain and winning the team MVP award during the year. He is also a member of the San Juan Thunder club team and has been an honor roll student all four years in high school.
Sean Morris, from Bothell, Wash., has played with Hamel on both Bishop Blanchet High School's varsity team and the Emerald City FC Green club team. A two-sport athlete at Bishop Blanchet, Morris was captain of both the soccer and cross country teams, and also has experience in the Olympic Development Program with the Washington state team from 2003 to 2006.
A native of Lynnwood, Wash., David Raney was a First Team All-Metro performer as a sophomore at O'Dea High School. Raney plays for the Crossfire James club team, helping the squad win the state title five times as well as the club regional title. He has been on the state Olympic Development Program (ODP) team from 2002 through 2006.
"At Seattle University, we look for not just good players, but people with outstanding character and the will to win. I firmly believe that this group of players has everything we need to not only sustain our previous success in the short term, but to take another step forward in the future and establish Seattle University at the next level of top collegiate soccer programs," said Agoos.
These eight student-athletes join 18 players eligible to return from the 2006 squad that won the GNAC title, the program's fifth in the past six years. In postseason play, Seattle University won the Far West Regional of the NCAA Division II Men's Soccer Tournament to advance to the Elite Eight for the second time in three years.