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BURLINGTON, Vt. - The University of Vermont will add 11 newcomers, including three transfers and two freshmen with local ties, to the program for the 2015 season. Head coach
Jesse Cormier announced his incoming recruiting class today.
Trevor Colazzo - Freshman | Forward | 6-3 | 185 lbs. | Hudson, Ohio/Hudson HSColazzo Highlight ReelColazzo comes to Vermont after a four-year career at Hudson High School in his hometown of Hudson, Ohio … He led the state of Ohio with 22 assists in 2014 and added nine goals … He was a team captain and earned first-team All-Ohio honors as a senior … The Explorers captured the Northeast Ohio Conference Valley Division title with a 15-4-2 mark and reached the regional title game for the first time since 2003.
"Trevor has a lot of qualities we like in our attacking guys, he's big, has quality in the final third and makes good decisions on the ball. We feel he'll be ready to impact our attack," stated Cormier.
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Austin DeRidder - Freshman | Foward/Midfielder | 6-1 | 165 lbs. | Fairpoint, New York/Fairpoint HSDeRidder Highlight Reel
DeRidder is a native of Fairport, New York and attended Fairport High School ... In 2013 and 2014, helped the team post a 37-5-2 record and advance to the NYS Class AA State Tournament Finals … The team went 20-0 in 2013 and 2014 to win back-to-back Monroe County Division I League Titles … Fairpoint also won the NYS Section Five Class AA Championship in 2013 and 2014 … As a senior he earned the following honors: NSCAA All-State Selection, All-Greater Rochester First Team, Monroe County All-County Class AA First Team and Co-Player of the Year, NYS Section Five Class AA Finals Impact Player of the Game, Section Five All-Tournament Team … As a junior in 2013, he was named to the Monroe County All-County Class AA First Team and set the school record for the most assists in a single season (13).Â
"Austin is an excellent student-athlete. He understands the importance of balance with school and sport and we feel he will be a great role model in his time at UVM. He has a consistent nature about him that we like and will be coming in to play a central role for the program in his time here," said Cormier.
Loftur Eiriksson - Grad Student | Defender | 6-0 | 176 lbs. | Saudarkrokur, IcelandEiriksson Highlight ReelEriksson is a graduate student at Vermont and has two years of eligibility beginning with the 2015 season … He attended Reykjavik University and graduated in three years from the school.
"Loftur is an experienced defender who is athletic and competitive. We were very impressed with his ability to win battles, aerial duels, and his perseverance under pressure," stated Cormier.
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Clay Gattey - Freshman | Midfielder | 5-11 | 150 lbs. | Newtown, Connecticut | Newtown HSGattey Highlight Reel
Gattey comes to Vermont after a four-year career at Newton High School in his hometown of Newton, Connecticut ... During his junior and senior year he scored 26 goals with over 20 assists ... He was named team captain and SWC Runner-Up in the Southwest District Conference ... He received All-SWC, all-state, and All-New England honors during his career."Clay is a highly skillful, dynamic winger, who has good instincts under pressure. We feel he has the ability to create goal scoring opportunities and give us a presence on the wing over the next four years," said Cormier.
Stefan Lamanna - Junior | Forward/Midfielder | 5-8 | 160 lbs. | Pickering, Ontario/St. Mary CSS/Houston BaptistLamanna Highlight ReelLamanna comes to Vermont after two seasons at Houston Baptist University ... He recorded seven goals and two assists for 16 points for the Huskies ... Lamanna was recorded the most game winning goals for HBU as a freshman and sophomore ... A native of Pickering, Ontario, he played his scholastic soccer at St. Mary CSS ... He led his team to the LOSSA Championship in soccer and hockey, where he was a goalie … Played on the same club team, Ajax FC, as
Brian Wright.
"Stefan is a quick slasher who can be dangerous as a runner going one-on-one. He can also create opportunities for others and play the final pass in and around the box. He will be ready to impact us as a transfer," stated Cormier.
Elliot Maker - Junior | Forward | 5-11 | 170 lbs. | Naples, Maine/Cheverus HS/Boston UniversityIs a transfer from Boston University … Played in 16 games in two seasons with the Terriers … Scored his first career goal in 2013 as a rookie … Prior to attending Boston University he was a four-time all-conference selection at Cheverus High School … Earned all-state honors as a junior and senior and was named to the All-New England and garnered Class A Player of the Year and Conference Offensive Player of the Year honors as a senior."Elliot is an excellent athlete who is dynamic in getting to goal. He also has the flexibility to play out on the wing. We are excited to have him join our squad and he will be ready to compete for time right away," said Cormier.
Patrick McCue - Freshman | Defender/Midfielder | 6-1 | 175 lbs. | Williston, Vermont/Champlain Valley Union HSComes to Vermont after a four-year career at Champlain Valley Union High School and is a native of nearby Williston, Vermont ... Led CVU to the Division I State Championship in 2012 and advanced to the finals in 2011 and 2013 … Team was a semifinalist in 2014 … Won the Metro League Championship in 2013 ... Served as a team captain in 2014 ... He was named to the 2014 NSCAA All-New England Region Team, All-Metro Division First Team, VSCA All-State First Team, 2014 Burlington Free Press All-State Soccer Team, and was a Gatorade Player of the Year nominee."We always feel having the best Vermont has to offer is important for the program every year. Patrick has size, skill and tactical know how to be a complete player and impact player over the next four years," said Cormier.
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Alex Popovich - Freshman |Â Goalkeeper | 6-0 | 190 lbs. | Louisville, Kentucky | St. Xavier HSPopovich Highlight ReelComes to Vermont from Louisville, Kentucky ... He was team captain for St. Xavier High School in 2014 and led St. Xavier to 28 wins over his final two seasons.
"Alex impressed us at our ID camp and has some great tools as a goalkeeper. He has size, shot stopping ability, and composure under pressure. We are excited to add him to the goalkeeping group to compete for the job," said Cormier.
Ismail Temirov - Freshman | Foward/Midfielder | 6-2 | 190 lbs. | South Burlington, Vermont/South Burlington HSTemirov Highlight Reel
Temirov comes to Vermont from nearby South Burlington High School and South Burlington, Vermont ... He was a four-year starter recording 30 goals and 32 assists for 92 career points ... Temirov was a team captain in 2013 and 2014 ... He led South Burlington to the State Championship in 2011 and 2014. Temirov was named team MVP in 2012 and forward MVP in 2013 and 2014."Ismail has some great gifts: size, power, ability to play with his back to the goal and gives our squad a different type of forward. We feel he will work his way into the squad and earn playing time," said Cormier.
Clay Thomas - Freshman | Goalkeeper | 5-10 | 165 lbs. | Purcellville, Virginia/U.S. Soccer Development AcademyThomas comes to Vermont from his hometown of Purcellville, Virgnia ... He played in the U.S Soccer Development Academy for Bethesda-Olney and McLean Development Academy ... During the last two seasons with Bethesda-Olney Thomas was the regular starter for the club, starting 48 of 51 games ... As a freshman in high school, Thomas was the varsity starter in every game during the 2012 season and earned the team's "Young Player of the Year Award".
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"Clay always impressed me with his ability on the ball and managing his team from the goalkeeping position. He will look to make his mark in goal and has the intelligence, presence and ability to be a good one for us during his career here," stated Cormier.
Greg Walton - Junior | Goalkeeper | 6-2 | 180 lbs. | Brunswick, Maine/Brunswick HS/Eastern Connecticut State UniversityWalton Highlight ReelWalton comes to Vermont after two seasons at Eastern Connecticut State University in Willimantic, Connecticut ... Walton started 39 games in two seasons … He picked up 21 wins, seven shutouts and made 159 saves in over 3,500 minutes in net for the Warriors … Was a team captain in 2014 … He garnered Little East All-Conference First Team and NSCAA All-New England honors ... In 2013, he led ECSU to the Little East Conference Championship and was named to the all-conference team ... Walton holds the ECSU record of the least goals allowed in a single season (12) ... During his scholastic career at Brunswick High School in his hometown of Brunswick, Maine he was the team captain and team MVP in 2013 ... He also garnered KVAC Class A Player of the Year, All-Eastern Maine, All-State, and Portland Press Herald All-State honors during his career.
"Greg has had a great run as a starter at the Division III level, where he was a captain and an all-conference and all-region honoree. We feel he has the maturity and ability to help us right away," said Cormier.
Vermont advanced to the America East Tournament for the 10th time in 11 years under Cormier and finished 2014 with an overall record of 8-9-2. The Catamounts return three of their top four scorers from a year ago, including leading scorer Brian Wright (21 points) who was named to the America East All-Conference First Team last season.The Catamounts open the 2015 season at Sacred Heart on August 28 (7 p.m.). UVM's home opener is slated for September 11 versus UNC Asheville at 4 p.m. at Virtue Field. The home opener is part of the Peter Baldwin Memorial Classic presented by Morgan Stanley and The Windjammer on September 11 and 13.
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