Men's Soccer Releases 2010 Recruiting Class

PEMBROKE – Five in-state products, as well as players from New York, England and Jamaica, comprise the 8-member 2010 UNCP men's soccer signing class released Thursday afternoon by head coach Phil Hindson.

The class – Hindson's first since beginning work at UNCP in January – is comprised of four midfielders, a pair of forwards, one defender and a goalkeeper. Two of the student-athletes will play for UNCP in 2010 having already gained collegiate soccer experience at other institutions.

“I am very happy with the class that (assistant coach) Chad (Steuck) and I have been able to assemble in a short period of time,” Hindson said. “These student-athletes bring a great deal to the program both on the field and in the classroom.

“We are eager to get started in the fall and still hope to add a few more players before then. Added to what is already in place, we expect to be a competitive team in the fall.

The Braves will open up the Phil Hindson era on September 2 when they suit up to host Wingate in a 7 p.m. contest at Varsity Grounds. Admission to all 2010 home soccer matches is free.

2010 UNCP MEN'S SOCCER SIGNING CLASS

RICARDO ARIAS
Forward/Midfielder, 5-9, 165
Tarboro, NC/Tarboro HS
ATHLETIC ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Prepped at Tarboro High School for coach Leshawn Jenkins … Scored 138 points on 61 goals and 16 assists as a prep senior en route to leading the Vikings to a 19-3-1 record, including a perfect 10-0-0 mark in the Eastern Plains Conference … Team was ranked as high as No. 6 in the state – its highest listing in school history … Earned third-straight all-state, all-region and all-conference, while also being decorated with conference, area and region player of the year laurels … Missed receiving all-American accolades by a single vote … Also named team most valuable player, as well as a state games east team bronze medalist … Selected to participate in NCCA East/West All-Star game, as well as NCSCA North Carolina/South Carolina all-star event … Amassed 166 goals and 50 assists during four-year prep career … Helped lead Vikings to cumulative 75-9-6 record during prep career and is currently second on state's all-time scoring list … Also lettered as a kicker with the Tarboro football team.
PERSONAL: The son of Racquel Arias and George Pitino … Has an older brother, Victor, and a younger brother, Franklin … Victor a former collegiate soccer player at Louisburg College, as well as a former tennis coach at East Carolina … Born in country of Honduras … Undecided on a major at UNCP.

ANDREW BROWN
Midfielder, 5-11, 152
Montego Bay, Jamaica/East Tennessee State
ATHLETIC ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Has two previous collegiate stints at East Tennessee State and Monroe CC … Played in all 17 games, including 15 starts, for ETSU last season and helped lead the Bucs to a 6-8-3 record in their second season of competition … Started in all 17 games for the Bucs as a sophomore, scoring six points on one goal and a team-best six assists … Logged an assist on the program's first-ever game-winning goal against Wofford … Played in 10 games as a freshman at Monroe (2007) … Was a member of the U20 Jamaican national team in 2007-08 … Played for Cornwall College in Montego, Jamaica, for seven seasons (1998-2005).
PERSONAL: Son of Dawn-Marie Rowe … Expects to major in business management at UNCP.

PAYNE CLARK
Midfielder, 6-0, 155
Apex, NC/Apex HS
ATHLETIC ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Prepped at Apex High School for coach Kevin Todd … Played club soccer for Triangle FC and coach Oronde Ash … Scored 28 points on eight goals and 12 assists as a prep senior in leading the Cougars to a 16-6-0 record … Earned second-straight all-conference nods, as well as all-region laurels as well … Scored 21 points on six goals and nine assists as a junior and played integral role in pacing Apex to a 15-5-2 clip and the conference title … Led Triangle FC in both assists and minutes … Competed with the state of North Carolina Olympic Development Program for three years (2004-05, 2009), including a role on the 2009 Region III ODP Championship squad … Was selected as a part of the Super Y League region pool.
PERSONAL: Son of Denise and Andy Clark … Has an older brother, Drew, who is a rising senior on the Wingate soccer team … High school teammate of fellow UNCP signee Ryan Hanson … Expects to major in criminal justice at UNCP.

PAUL FREEMAN
Forward, 6-0, 140
Wilkesboro, NC/Wilkes Central HS
ATHLETIC ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Prepped at Wilkes Central High School for coach Mike Sloan … Played club soccer for Greensboro Soccer Academy and coach Marc Nichols … Scored 38 points on 10 goals and 18 assists as a prep senior in leading Wilkes Central to a deep run in the state playoffs … On-field performance earned him all-conference nods … Scored 22 points on five goals and 12 assists as a junior.
PERSONAL: Son of Karen and Scott Freeman … Has a twin sister, Emily … Maintains a 4.222 cumulative grade point average at Wilkes Central and ranks 16th in his 167-member senior class … Club teammate of fellow UNCP signee Ryan Hanson … Expects to major in chemistry at UNCP.

RYAN HANSON
Goalkeeper, 6-1, 170
Cary, NC/Apex HS
ATHLETIC ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Prepped at Apex High School for coach Kevin Todd … Played club soccer for Greensboro Soccer Academy and coach Chris Little … Played in 13 games as a prep senior, including nine as a goalkeeper, in leading Cougars to a 16-6-0 record … Compiled a 5-1-0 record and a 0.51 goals against average between the pipes en route to his second consecutive honorable mention all-conference laurels … Recorded a 9-1-1 record and a 0.61 GAA as a prep junior … Compiled a 20-6-4 record, a 0.77 GAA and 17 shutouts during his career with Greensboro YSO … Selected to 2008 Super Y National Select team, was a two-time (2006, 2008) participant with the state of North Carolina Olympic Development Program and helped lead his squads to a semifinal finish at the NCYSA state cup, as well as a national finalist spot in the 2007 U.S. Club tournament ... Also helped lead the U16 squad to the 2009 club national championship in Los Angeles.
PERSONAL: Son of Delores and Ronald Hanson … Has two older twin brothers, Troy and Tyler … High school teammate of fellow UNCP signee Payne Clark and club teammate of fellow UNCP signee Paul Freeman … Undecided on a major at UNCP.

BRETT LUCCIA
Midfielder, 5-6, 150
Charlotte, NC/Ardrey Kell HS
ATHLETIC ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Prepped at Ardrey Kell High School for coach Jeff Merendo … Played club soccer for Charlotte SA and coach Richard Butler … Scored 40 points on 10 goals and 20 assists as a prep senior and captained Ardrey Kell to a 20-3-0 record … Decorated with second-straight all-conference, all-area and all-region laurels, as well as a spot on Charlotte Observer's all-Observer team … Scored 31 points on eight goals and 15 assists as a prep junior in pacing AKHS to an 18-5-0 clip…Has appeared in a majority of the outings for Charlotte SA since its inception.
PERSONAL: Son of Mary and Steve Luccia … Has a younger brother, Nick … Maintains a 3.5 cumulative grade point average at Ardrey Kell High School and ranks in the top half of his 450-member senior class … Expects to major in business administration at UNCP.

ZACK MACNABB
Midfielder, 5-11, 155
Clay, NY/Cicero HS
ATHLETIC ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Prepped at Cicero High School for coach Mike McCaffery … Played club soccer for both Cicero/North Syracuse FC and coach Mike McCaffery, as well as Empire United Soccer Academy and coach Tom Bonus … Captained Cicero to a 17-0-1 mark as a prep senior en route to second-straight all-league and all-area laurels … Helped lead North Stars to a 16-1-1 mark as a prep junior … Was also an all-league standout in lacrosse at Cicero … Helped lead Cicero/North Syracuse club organization to the state cup.
PERSONAL: Son of Pamela and Terry MacNabb … Has two older brothers, Josh and Nathan, and two older sisters, Sara and Lizzie … Father was a standout lacrosse player at Cornell and brother, Nathan, was a cross country/track & field performer at Mansfield … Expects to major in physical education at UNCP.

STUART RODGERS
Defender, 6-1, 165
Retford, England/Maine
ATHLETIC ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Has two previous collegiate soccer stints at Texas-Brownsville (2008) and Maine (2009) … Helped lead UT-Brownsville to the Red River Conference regular season and tournament championships … Prepped at Lincoln College Preparatory School for coach John Priestly … Played club soccer for Rossington Main FC and coach Ian Wilson … Served a five-year stint as team captain at Lincoln … Led Lincolnshire Schoolboys to national quarterfinals and played senior season as a member of the Lincolnshire County FA squad … Earned seven “Man of the Match” awards as a member of Rossington Main … Is also an accomplished tennis player and serves as Level I tennis coach at Wheatley Tennis Club.
PERSONAL: Son of Lesley and Vincent Rodgers … Has a younger sister, Harriet, and two older sisters, Laura and Alice … Certified as a Level 3 personal trainer … Expects to major in physical education at UNCP.