May 1, 2008

VILLANOVA, Pa. - A deep and talented collection of 10 athletes comprises Villanova men's soccer class of 2008, it was announced today by new head coach Tom Carlin.

"We believe this class is among the best in the nation," stated Carlin, named head coach in January. "We have added two ESP invitees/attendees, two Gatorade High School State Players of the Year, a U18 National Pool Player, a NSCAA All-New England Selection, and three other players who potentially will make an immediate impact on the 2008 squad. Most importantly, we have added proven student-athletes who will make a positive impact on and off the field for the Villanova University community.

"This class will add size, athleticism, talent and much needed depth to an already seasoned core group who was able to achieve instant success last year with a 9-2 record in the first 11 games, a victory over No. 1 ranked Duke, a No. 23 national ranking, and a Big East Tournament berth."

Below are thumbnail sketches of each incoming Wildcat freshman:

Chris Bresnahan

Height: 6-2

Weight: 185

Position: Goalkeeper

High School: Gonzaga College High School (Washington, D.C.)

Club Team: RFC 89 (based in Northern Virginia)

Personal: Two-Time Defensive MVP of Gonzaga Soccer Team (2006 and 2007 seasons)

Team Captain of Gonzaga Soccer Team (Senior year, 2007 season)

All-Met Honorable Mention (Washington DC region)

Team: Gonzaga Soccer Team was the Washington Catholic Athletic

Conference (WCAC) Champions for both the 2006 and 2007

seasons. The Gonzaga Soccer Team was ranked #25 in the nation

this past year. The RFC 89 Club Team has been nationally ranked for several

years (ranked as high as No. 4)

Carlin on Bresnahan: "Chris impressed the staff at our soccer camp so much that we felt he would be a great addition to the 2008 class. His size, athleticism and technical ability is a real strength. He plays on a very competitive club and high school team so we know that he is a proven winner. He will compete for a spot in net right away."

John Fogarty

Height: 6-3

Weight: 172

Position: Goalie

H.S.- Ocean City High School

Club- Pittsgrove F.C.

Individual- Three-year letter winner, two-year starter, first team all Cape Atlantic league junior and senior year; first team all south jersey junior and senior year, goalkeeper of the year junior and senior year, 1st team all state junior and senior year H.S.- '05 '07 South Jersey champions, '05 '07 South Jersey Coaches Tournament Champs, '05 State Champs, Undefeated '05

Carlin on Fogarty: "John played a big role in his high school team's run to the New Jersey State Championship. He is a big and powerful goalkeeper. His shot stopping ability and leadership qualities will help him compete for a spot in goal right away."

Kevin Garcia

Height: 6-2

Weight: 186

Position: Central or outside defender

High School: St. Francis Preparatory/ B.W. Gottschee

Individual

Jan 2006 BU15 National Super Y - League Identification Camp

Jan 2005-2006 Storm Academy Y-league- Captain

Jan 2006 Bu15 Super Y-league regional player

2006-2007 Eastern New York U17 ODP Team

2005-2006 Eastern New York U16 ODP Team

2004-2005 Eastern New York U15 ODP Team.

2007- St. Francis Prep High School Varsity Team-Captain

2006 - St. Francis Prep High school Varsity Team- Led SFP to first undefeated city championship.

2006- Led SFP to First Undefeated League Champions

2007- led SFP to Back-to-back League Champions

U-18 National Pool/Regional Team.

August, 2005: Training with Sante Fe youth team in Bogotá, Colombia

2004- St. Francis Prep JV Soccer Team- ALL STAR AWARD

2005- St. Francis Prep Varsity Soccer Team-ALL STAR AWARD

2005- All-Queens Team

2006- St. Francis Prep Varsity Soccer Team- MVP

2006- All-Queens Team

2007- St. Francis Prep Varsity Soccer Team- Best Defender/MVP/ 3-Year Award

2007- Queens PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Carlin on Garcia: "Kevin 's size and athleticism will be a welcome addition to our back four. He has recently spent time with the U18 national pool, and several years with the ODP and Region 1 team so we expect his playing experience at that level to help him make an immediate impact. We were very impressed with his performance with the Region 1 team. We think he could be one of the top defenders in the Big East in the next few years."

Brian Hessemer

Height: 5-9

Weight: 155

Position: Center back, Defender, Midfield

High School: Scotch Plains-Fanwood HS, Scotch Plains, New Jersey

Club: Players Development Academy (PDA) - Zarepath, NJ

Individual Accomplishents/Awards

• Union County Player of the Year for both the coaches' poll and The Star Ledger selection.

• NSCAA/Adidas East Region All-American

• FirstTeam All-State, All-Section, and All-County

• First Team The Courier News All-Area Team

• Selected to New Jersey North II H.S. All-Star team

• Selected to the New Jersey H.S. All-Star team for the Red Bulls High School Cup that played the New York All-Stars at Giant Stadium

. HS & Club Team Honors/Awards

• 4-year Varsity starter and two-year captain at Scotch Plains-Fanwood H.S.

• Three H.S. county championships and two state final appearances.

• Two-time H.S. Team MVP

• Played club soccer at the Players Development Academy (PDA) which won four State Cup finals and one Region 1 championship

Carlin on Hessemer: "Brian was another recruit who caught our eye at our soccer camp. Brian is a very tough defender. His technical ability and versatility will make him an asset to our team as a back or a midfielder."

Eduardo Jimenez

Height: 5-10

Weight: 140

Pos: center midfielder

High School: John A. Ferguson Senior

Club: Miami FC-Kendall

Individual Accomplishments/Awards

Adidas ESP Participant, Puerto Rican U18 National Team, Concacaf-World Cup Qualifiers(Caribbean) Most Valuable Player, Florida State ODP Team

HS & Club Team Honors/Awards

Four year Varsity Letter Recipient,Dallas Cup Champion, 2-time Florida State champion, 2-time Region 3 Finalist, Disney Showcase Finalist.

Carlin on Jimenez: "Eduardo really impressed our staff at Adidas ESP. His technical ability, field awareness, and non-stop engine will add a much needed dimension to our team. We expect Eduardo to be able to contribute immediately. His experience with the U18 Puerto Rican National team will help him as he makes the transition to the Big East."

Matt Margiotta Height: 6'2"

Weight: 180

High School: Salesianum School

Club: FC Delco

Individual Accomplishments/Awards: All State Selection as Soph. and Junior, Team leader in assists Jr. and Sr. year,2007 Gatorade State Player of the Year,and DE coaches' POY, NSCAA National All-American.

HS and Club Accomplishments: 4 time DE state champions, all 4 years ranked in national top 25, 2 time regional champion with Hockessin Blizzard, currently at FC Delco (2007 Region 1 champs)

Carlin on Margiotta: "I have watched Matt play central back, outside back, outside midfielder, defensive midfielder, attacking midfielder and forward for Delco and Salesianum. His versatility combined with his size, athleticism and field awareness will enable him to be a vital part of our team. He is one of the two Gatorade State High School Players of the Year in our '08 class. He has performed in a lot of big games throughout his career and he always finds a way to make it happen when it counts the most."

Will Ogden

Height: 6-0

Weight: 175 pounds

Position: Forward

High School: Byram Hills High School

Club School: Eastern F.C.

Individual:

2007-2008 Gatorade New York State Player of the Year

NSCAA Adidas All-American

All-State First Team

Journal News Athlete of the Season

Section 1 Player of the Year

League MVP

All County, All Section (2006 and 2007) All League (2005, 2006, 2007)

Byram Hills High School Athlete of the Season

Con Edison Athlete of the Week

64 goals, 39 assists during high school career

Byram Hills H.S: -Team Captain

- Helped Byram Hills to a 45-2-1 record during Junior and Senior campaigns

-Led team to NY Class A State Title in 2007 with 25 goals and 17 assists, and scoring game winning goals in both the state semi-final and final.

-Scored 24 goals and added 16 assists Junior year, when they were New York state Class A Finalists

Eastern F.C: Team Captain 2003-2008

US Club Soccer Regional Champions 2005

Carlin on Ogden: "Will has scored a lot of goals throughout his high school career and we expect for him to be able to do the same at Villanova. His size, athleticism and grit will provide our attack with a much needed hard-nosed target forward. We see him as a player who has his best days in front of him. He is our second Gatorade High School Player of the Year."

Stephen Paresi

Height: 5 ft. 8 inches

Weight: 155

Position: Midfield

High School: Byram Hills

Club: FC Westchester 90

Individual Accomplishments/Awards: Senior Co-Captain for High school, team MVP as a senior, MVP of the state tournament in 2007, 2006 All- league, 2006 All-section, 2007 All-league, 2007 All- section, 2007 All-county. (2007 All-State and All-American Nominations), 2005 Super Y regional team (National ID camp 1/05), five year New York East ODP Player- Regional Semi-finalists 2006, 2007 Empire State Hudson Valley Region Team Player

High School Team Honors and Awards: 2004 League Champs, 2006 League Champs, 2006 Section 1 Class A Champs, 2006 Regional Champs, 2006 Class A States Finalists, 2007 League Champs, 2007 Section 1 Class A Champs, 2007 Regional Champs, 2007 Class A State Champs.

Club Team Honors and Awards: Potomac Tournament Champions 2006, Super Y National playoffs 2006 and 2007, ENY

Premier League Champs 2004

Carlin on Paresi: "Steve is yet another recruit who attended our summer camp last year. Steve's quickness, work rate and technical ability stood out at camp. His energy and passion for Villanova will help him potentially make an impact on our team in '08."

Uche Ukoha

Height: 6-0

Weight: 165

Position: Midfielder

High School: Mt. St. Joseph HS

Club Team: Baltimore Bays '91

HS & Club-

05 MIAA Champions

06, 07 MIAA Final Four

07 All Conference

07 2nd Team All State

07 2nd Team All Metro

07 2nd Team All City

03, 04, 06 MD State Cup Finalists

05, 07 MD State Cup Semifinalists

06 Regional Semifinalists

06 Region 1 Premier League Champions

Played with Potomac Cougars Premier in 2006

Individual-

Competed internationally in England, Holland, Germany, Brazil, Spain, Japan, South Korea, and France.

04-07 MD ODP Team

06 ODP National Champions

05, 06 Region 1 ODP Champions

04 Super Y League ODP National Camp

07 Adidas ESP Invitee

07 U17 Nigerian National Team Player Pool Trained with PSV Eindhoven of Holland in the summer of 2006

Carlin on Ukoha: "Uche is a great passer of the ball. His elusiveness throughout the midfield will help as we build the attack from the midfield. His field awareness and creativity will be weapons that we potentially may need throughout the season. Uche has spent some time with the Nigerian National team and we hope to draw from that experience."

Anthony Yeboah

Height: 6'0

Weight: 180

Position: Forward

High School: Deering High School, Portland, ME

Club: Coastal SC

Individual Accomplishments/Awards:

Four-Year Letter Winner at Deering HS

Starter as Freshman

Captain (Senior Year)

2005 Team Offensive MVP

2005 Regional All Star, 1st Team

2005 SMAA Conference All Star, 1st Team

2006 Team Offensive MVP

2006 Regional All Star, 1st Team

2006 SMAA Conference All Star, 1st Team

2006 All-State Western Class A, 1st Team

2006 All State, All Classes, 1st Team

2006 Maine Sunday Telegram All State Team, 1st Team, All Classes

2007 SMAA Conference All Star, 1st Team

2007 SMAA Conference Offensive "Player of the Year"

2007 Regional All Star, 1st Team

2007 All-State Western Class A, 1st Team

2007 All State, All Classes, 1st Team

2007 Maine Sunday Telegram All State Team, 1st Team, All Classes

2007 Maine Sunday Telegram Boy's Soccer "Player of the Year"

NSCAA All-New England Selection 2007

2007 Western Maine Board of Approved Soccer Officials, Harold Charlton Memorial Award Winner

Set single season scoring record at Deering HS with 31 goals.

All time points leader at Deering HS with 60 goals and 33 assists.

2007 State Champion in indoor 55m Hurdles.

HS & Club Team Honors/Awards:

Coastal SC, State Champion 2002-2007

Coastal SC, NE Sub-regional League Champions 2005 & 2007

Coastal SC, 2007 Region 1 Finalist

Carlin on Yeboah: ""Anthony is a tremendous athlete. Not only did he set the single season scoring record at his high school with 31 goals but he also was the state champion in the indoor 55m hurdles. He will bring a much needed scoring threat to the forward position. His size, speed and ability to stretch the field will make him a dangerous weapon for our attack."