June 19, 2009
CHICAGO- UIC head men's soccer coach John Trask and his staff officially unveiled the Flames' incoming crop of newcomers on Friday, June 19.
"I'm extremely excited about this incoming class," said Trask. "When I reflect on what we have returning and what we have coming in, I feel that this class will complement a group who has already accomplished many things here at UIC. My assistant, Sean Phillips, has done an outstanding job coordinating this large class. With a large core of upperclassmen, we felt the need to bring in a group who will make up the majority of our team in the years to come.
"While we rarely recruit for positions, I feel that the balance and strength of this group will be apparent from the first day of preseason and, as I've reminded our returnees, competition breeds success," Trask said. "I can't wait to see our first intrasquad scrimmage."
The 11 student-athletes joining the UIC men's soccer team this fall are:
Josh Beard (Schaumburg, Ill./Schaumburg H.S.)
Felipe Carrasco (Iowa City, Iowa/Shattuck St. Mary's H.S. of Faribault, Minn.)
Phil Galounis (New Lenox, Ill./Lincoln-Way Central H.S.)
Zach Kaleta (Barrington, Ill./Barrington H.S.)
Piotr Kikolski (Harwood Heights, Ill./Maine South H.S.)
Tim O'Conner (St. Louis, Mo./St. Louis University H.S.)
Ned Pavlovic (Northbrook, Ill./Glenbrook South H.S.)
Joe Radice (St. Louis, Mo./Chaminade College Preparatory School)
Alex Rickett (Northville, Mich./Northville H.S./ Maine)
Ivan Stanisavljevic (Belgrade, Serbia/Sportska Gimnazija)
Zach Tierney (Wildwood, Mo./Christian Brothers College H.S./ New Mexico)
Beard is a versatile 5-foot-8, 155-pound player who can man any position. At Schaumburg he was a two-time all-state and All-Midwest Suburban League selection who scored 19 goals and set a school record for single-season assists with 21 as a senior in 2008. He also participated in the U.S. U-18 Men's National Team Camp this past April and was featured in a story on ESPN.com last fall.
"Josh is an outstanding young man and soccer player from the Chicago area," said Trask. "Josh comes to us from the much-heralded Sockers FC program, led by David Richardson, which has produced so many great players. Josh will come and compete immediately for playing time and enhance our team's attack."
Carrasco is a 5-foot-9, 165-pound athlete originally from Iowa City, but played the majority of his prep career for Shattuck-St. Mary's in Faribault, Minn. There he helped the Sabres win a U.S. Club Soccer Regional Championship in 2008.
"Felipe was identified by the coaching staff at UIC Soccer Camp," said Trask. "Felipe is a very mature young man who can play multiple roles and brings winning intangibles to be a great player here at UIC."
Galounis is a 5-foot-11, 180-pound midfielder/forward who garnered all-state honors at Lincoln-Way Central as the team's leading goal-scorer.
"Phil joins us from the Chicago Magic AS Monaco Academy program," Trask said. "He is a natural leader and has a great background in the game. Phil has competed at the highest level of club soccer in the U.S. His knowledge and technique is not often found in many players his age."
Kaleta is 6-foot-2, 175-pound back who cut his soccer teeth with Top Talent and Chicago Sockers FC.
"Zach is a very good defender from Sockers FC," said Trask. "He is a player for whom we have very high hopes. His ability to read the game and stop opponents from getting good opportunities is his strength. Zach will be encouraged to attack from the back, and we feel he has all the tools to become an excellent defender here at UIC."
Kikolski is a 6-foot-3, 215-pound keeper who was an All-Central Suburban Conference pick at Main South and also played for the Chicago Fire Academy under coach Larry Sunderland.
"Piotr is a young man who could develop into a great goalkeeper here at UIC," Trask said. "Sean Phillips, who has an eye for young goalkeepers, feels that with some fine tuning and dedication to the position, Piotr should challenge for playing time in the near future."
O'Conner is a 5-foot-9, 165-pound front man who helped St. Louis University High rattle off the nation's longest winning streak last season as a first team all-state and all-metro forward.
"Tim continues the fine tradition of players joining us from the soccer hotbed of St. Louis," Trask stated. "Being a standout player at St. Louis University High School and a member of the prestigious Lou Fusz SC, where he played for Don Popovic, gives him the background to make a great impact here."
Pavlovic is a 6-foot, 165-pound mid/forward who garnered All-Central Suburban League accolades while at Glenbrook South.
"Ned is another Sockers player whose best soccer is in front of him," said Trask. "His passion and dedication for the game should provide a great future for him. Ned will be a player to whom we look to create and score goals. With a little seasoning, we feel he can have a great impact on the program."
Radice is a 5-foot-10, 160-pound forward and midfielder out of Chaminade Prep in St. Louis, joining fellow Chaminade products and UIC forwards Matt Spiess and Kevin Stoll as Red Devils now wearing the Red and Blue of the Flames.
"Joe is another St. Louis soccer product who has soccer in his veins," said Trask. "His dad played for some of the great Quincy teams of the past. He has the courage to ask for the ball no matter how intense the pressure is around him. Joe will fit in well with the way we try to play possession soccer with creativity and an ability to play out of trouble."
Rickett is a 5-foot-10, 150-pound forward who spent the last two seasons at the University of Maine, where he was a constant in the Black Bears' Starting XI.
"Alex joined us this past spring semester and will look to compete for playing time in the front of the team," Trask said. "Alex grew up in Michigan and played for the Michigan Wolves, a top academy program around Detroit. His ability to unbalance the other team with pace or trickery will be a good addition to our team this fall. We are extremely pleased that Alex sought us out and look forward to having him with the program for the next couple of years."
Stanisavljevic is 5-foot-7, 165-pound Belgrade-bred product who played for one of the top clubs in the Serbian U-19 First Division, Radnicki Novi Beograd.
"Ivan is another in a long line of players from the former Yugoslavia who will be joining the team," said Trask. "He is a tremendous talent who will be looked at to spearhead the attack. His passing ability and creativity in the attacking third will allow him to be an impact player for us this fall."
Last but not least is Tierney, who is a 6-foot-1, 175-pound back who played the past three seasons for New Mexico, where he was a two-time All-Mountain Pacific Sports Federation pick and a 2007 NSCAA/adidas All-Far West Region selection for the Lobos. He is also another former St. Louis prep star to join the Flames, having been a two-time NSCAA High School All-American at Christian Brothers and a club standout for Lou Fusz SC.
"Zach is on everybody's radar at the next level, and we feel that his one season with us will be something to remember," Trask said. "He is an outstanding defender and a very clean player on the ball who will continue the UIC tradition of playing out of the back and allowing defenders the freedom to get forward and help with the attack."
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