Men's Soccer Receives Ten Commitments for the 2009 Season
Jeremy Gunn announces his third recruiting class as the 49ers head coach. |
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May 29, 2009
Charlotte, NC - Head coach Jeremy Gunn and the Charlotte 49ers men's soccer program have received ten commitments for the 2009 season. The ten commitments join a 2009 roster that features nine returning starters, 15 returning letterwinners and three redshirts (Owen Darby, Julien Brown-Lathem and Justin Tucker) off a 2008 49ers squad that earned the programs' first national ranking in ten years. Represented in this recruiting class are seven players from the state of North Carolina, including three from Charlotte's Catholic High School, as well as one player from Tennessee, Florida and Canada. Gunn welcomes Nate Badke, Patrick Eavenson and Donnie Smith all from Charlotte, North Carolina, T. J. Beaulieu from Apex, North Carolina, Klay Davis from Jacksonville, North Carolina, Tyler Gibson from Knoxville, Tennessee, Robert May from Asheville, North Carolina, Anthony Perez from London, Ontario Canada, Jennings Rex from Boone, North Carolina and Steven Saballos from Miami, Florida.
"We are extremely excited to announce the class of 2009," Gunn said. "I truly believe that we will enter the 2009 season with a much stronger squad than the previous two seasons. Our team will be more mature, and there will be an incredible amount of competition for playing time, something that I didn't feel we had previously. As well as being excited about the talent level of our commitments, I am very proud that we have been successful in recruiting some tremendous local players; I feel this speaks volumes for the growing respect that we have in this region. Our commitments really know what Charlotte Soccer is all about, and are determined to reach the lofty goals set in the program."
Staying strong in their own backyard, Gunn and the Charlotte 49ers soccer program received commitments from three players out of Charlotte's Catholic High School. Badke, Eavenson and Smith led the Cougars to the 2008 North Carolina 3A State Championship and will remain teammates as all three will make the leap from the Charlotte Catholic Cougars in' 08 to the Charlotte 49ers in `09.
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Badke, a defender who was a two-year captain at Catholic, received numerous accolades throughout his junior and senior campaigns. He earned All-Queen City Conference, All-Region, All-Mecklenburg County and First Team All-Charlotte Observer in each of the last two seasons. He was also named to Charlotte Weekly's Top Players of 2008 list. He played club soccer for the Charlotte Soccer Academy.
"Nate has impressed me in the Academy program playing against the best strikers in the country," Gunn said. "He is tremendous in the air, good on the ball, and a fearless competitor. He will push for time at center back."
Eavenson, a goalkeeper from Huntersville, North Carolina, played on three NCYSA State Champion Teams. He participated in the 2004 ODP Region III and 2007 USL Super Y National Team Camps. He played club soccer for the North Meck Academy.
"Patrick is a natural athlete who has all the tools to be a top level collegiate keeper," Gunn said.
Smith, a midfielder/forward from Matthews, North Carolina, co-captained the Charlotte Catholic Cougars on their run to a State Championship. He was named to NSCAA/adidas All-Region III team as a senior. He is a two-time Region Player of the Year who also earned All-Conference, All-Region, All-Charlotte Observer, All-Mecklenburg County and All-State honors as a junior and a senior. He played club soccer for the Charlotte Soccer Academy.
"Donnie is an attacking midfielder who can beat players, create chances and score goals," Gunn said. "He has pace, and can shoot from a variety of positions. Naturally left footed, he will add much needed balance to our team."
Beaulieu, a forward from Apex, North Carolina, transferred to Charlotte after two successful seasons at Old Dominion University. At Old Dominion, Beaulieu played in 35 games and scored seven goals with six assists over the past two seasons. In 2008, he finished tied for second on the team with four goals in 13 games. In 2007, he earned Colonial Athletic Association All-Rookie team honors after scoring three goals with two assists in 22 games. He finished his Apex High School career as the school's all-time leading goal scorer with 86 career goals. He earned Team MVP honors after leading his team to the 2005 4A State Championship. As a senior in 2006, he earned All-Conference, All-South Region and All-State honors as well as being named Conference and Region Player of the Year. He played club soccer for CASL.
T.J. is a very exciting forward that will terrorize our opponents over the next two seasons, he has pace, can turn on a dime, and is clinical in front of goal" Gunn said. "He had a tremendous spring with us."
Davis, a goalkeeper from Jacksonville High School in Jacksonville, North Carolina, played an integral role in helping the North Carolina State ODP team capture the 2008 USYS ODP National Championship. He was a three-year member of the North Carolina ODP team and participated in the Region III ODP camp for three years. He helped Jacksonville High School win the State 3A Championship as a freshman in 2005 as well as reaching the 2006 and 2008 3A State Championship game. He earned 3A All-State honors as a senior. He is a two-time All-Region IV selection. As a senior, he was named a NSCAA/adidas High School Scholar All-American. He played club soccer for the OCSA.
"Klay is a very technically sound goalkeeper who has shown a tremendous desire to be a top level keeper," Gunn said.
Gibson, a midfielder from Knoxville, Tennessee's Knoxville Catholic High School, played club soccer with KFC Crush Liverpool under coach John Craven. Gibson is a member of the Tennessee ODP and the Region III ODP teams.
"Tyler is a smooth, skillful passer, who quietly goes about linking the team from a central midfield position," Gunn said.
May, a midfielder from Asheville, North Carolina's TC Roberson High School, earned All-State honors as a junior and a senior. The three-time All-Region selection scored 50 goals and dished our 43 assists in his career. He was a three-time All-MAC Conference selection who earned league Player of the Year honors as a senior. He played an integral role in helping TC Roberson win 83 games and two MAC Conference championships during his four-year career. He was also an ODP Regional Pool Player. He played club soccer for the Highland Football Club.
"Rob had a standout career with the North Carolina ODP program," Gunn said. "He can play anywhere across the midfield, and could also compete for the position of right back. He has great personality and is a winner."
Rex, a forward from Boone, North Carolina's Watauga High School, is the younger brother of former 49ers women's soccer standout Ashley Rex. He played on the North Carolina ODP State team for three seasons. He earned All-Conference and All-Region honors as a junior and a senior. While at Watauga, Rex broke several schools records including goals in a single season (40), hat tricks in a single season (5), goals in a single game (7), and points in a single season (98). He played club soccer for the Greensboro Youth Soccer Academy.
"Jennings will add height and determination to our forward line," Gunn said. "He is great in the air, and has an incredible knack for finding the back of the net."
Perez, who graduated from the A.B. Lucas Secondary School in London, Ontario, Canada, was a member of the Ontario U-17 National Development team. He helped his London City FC club team to the Ontario Cup and a runner-up finish in the Canadian National Soccer Club Championships in 2007. In 2008, he played for the AKE London Cobras and the AKE Men's Premier team. He was named Lucas' Athlete of the Year in 2006-07. He also was a member of the Region All-Star team in basketball. He also participated in Golf, Cross Country and Track and Field during his high school career.
"Anthony was pivotal as a central defender for his club team, dominating the defensive third," Gunn said. "He is versatile enough to make the transition to right back or center back."
Saballos, who is a midfielder from Miami, Florida, played for the Miami Kendall F.C. in the United States Academy League. He is a United States U-18 National Team Pool player as well as a member of the Florida ODP State team. He is a four-year letterwinner who earned All-Dade County honors at John Ferguson Senior High School.
"Steven is a true playmaker with unbelievable control, skill and vision," Gunn said. "He will add a composed dimension to the central midfield position. Steven will allow us to look after the ball at times. He will help us steady the game, and then unlock the tightest of defenses with flair and vision."
These ten newcomers join the 49ers roster as Charlotte begins their third season under Gunn when they battle South Carolina on the road, Tuesday, September 1 at 7 pm.
2009 Recruiting Class
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