Rutgers Men's Soccer Announces Four Additions to 2008 Squad
Feb 04 | Men's Soccer
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Rutgers head men's soccer coach Bob Reasso announced the addition of four standout players who have enrolled for the spring semester at Rutgers University and will compete for the Scarlet Knights in the 2008 season.
"We will be a very young team in the fall and adding these four transfers this spring should help guide the young guys this coming season," said Reasso.
The quartet of Yannick Salmon, Guilherme Dantas, Josh Carroll and Taha Mostafa will bring depth and experience to what shaped out to be a young and talented Scarlet Knight squad last year. In 2007, Reasso added a 12-member recruiting class which ranked among the nation's best and his expectations for this year's class of recruits is as lofty, calling it the best group in his 28-year career.
Salmon is transfer from the University of Maryland where he appeared in 18 games and will be a sophomore for the Scarlet Knights in 2008. Prior to competing with the Terrapins, Salmon was a member of the U-17 Jamaican National Team. As a senior at Westbury High School in New York, Salmon was named the Nassau County Player of the Year. He was also an All-Conference, All-Region and All-State selection as a senior.
"Yannick was a highly recruited player last year and he decided to go to Maryland where he played 18 games for them as a freshman," said Reasso. "He has transferred in and we could not be more delighted. He is a very talented young man and he comes to us with a season in Division I soccer under his belt. He will also gain experience this spring on the international level as he has just been called into the U-20 Jamaican National Team camp this February."
Dantas, a Brazilian born midfielder, comes to Rutgers after a two-year stint at the University of Alabama in Huntsville where he led the team in scoring for two-consecutive seasons. He was a two-time first team All-Gulf South Conference selection and was named the GSC Freshman of the Year in 2006.
"Guilherme is Brazilian by birth and he has all the technical ability that comes to mind when you think of Brazilian players," said Reasso. "He is the kind of player that can dictate the tempo of a game and his experience should really help our young team."
Carroll, a sophomore transfer, joins the Scarlet Knights after two seasons at Loyola Marymount University. A two-time member of the Dean's List at LMU, Carroll redshirted his first season with the Lions before seeing action in 20 games in 2007, scoring one goal and one assist on the year. A native of Cheyenne, Wyo., Carroll set the single-season scoring record at East High School as a first team All-State pick his senior year.
"Josh is a very mature player who can play in the back and in the midfield," said Reasso. "Having been a starter at Loyola Marymount he brings experience and a competitive edge to our team and he will fight for a starting job right away."
Mostafa comes to the Banks as a junior and his experience on the international level should prove valuable for the Scarlet Knights during the 2008 season. A member of the U-20 Egyptian National Team, Mostafa played his club ball with the Shooting Stars in Cairo.
"Taha will be a junior next year and comes with a wealth of playing experience," said Reasso. "He is a winger and has spent time with the Egyptian U-20 National team."
"We are looking forward to getting going this spring and adding these transfers to what we already considered to be a great returning group," Reasso concluded.
