University Park, Pa. -- Penn State men's soccer coach Barry Gorman has announced the signing of nine recruits and the addition of one transfer to the program for the 2006 season. Joining the reigning Big Ten Champions is a group composed of four midfielders, three defenders, one defender/midfielder, one forward, and one goalkeeper. The class is heavily regionally based with seven players having roots in Pennsylvania or New York. Two recruits from abroad provide an international tinge.
"I think the recruiting class is very good, top to bottom," said Barry Gorman, the 2005 Big Ten and NSCAA/adidas Mid-Atlantic Region Coach of the Year. "I believe it gives us a lot of depth in terms of each position. We have people coming in who will challenge incumbents for their position and will also allow us to strengthen and fill a couple of holes created through graduation."
Defender Robert Bohlen, a native of Port Jefferson, N.Y., was an adidas ESP Selection, an honor bestowed upon the nation's top 150 H.S. players. In 2005, Bohlen earned All-League recognition in leading St. Anthony's H.S. to a league and state championship.
"Bobby is a good, strong central defender. He is a physical presence," said Gorman. "It will be nice because we will be able to break him in gently rather than throwing him in the deep end, given the fact that we have all of our defenders coming back."
Frank Costigliola, a midfielder from Dix Hills, N.Y. and graduate of Commack H.S., was part of the U.S. U-14 National Team Pool and the Region I Olympic Development Pool. Costigliola also played on the Eastern New York Olympic Development Team and was a teammate of Robert Bohlen on the HBC Arsenal Club Team.
"Frank is a live-wire in the midfield. He is good attacking player who can give us goals from a midfield position. He likes to get forward, get in the box, and take shots. He is aggressive and assertive and I look for him to do well," said Gorman.
Goalkeeper Liam Fitzwater's resume features an impressive array of soccer accomplishments including earning 37 career shutouts and amassing a 56-8-3 overall record at Blue Mountain H.S. in his hometown of Schuylkill Haven, Pa. The son of a former Division III soccer national champion at Lock Haven University, Fitzwater was a 2004 and 2005 Pennsylvania All-State selection and a 2005 NSCAA/adidas Regional All-American honoree. Last season, he was named the Republican and Herald Area Player of the Year and was recognized on the Schuylkill League First Team. In 2004, Fitzwater received MVP honors at the Penn State Blue Chip Camp.
"Liam is a good, young goalkeeper. He will learn a lot as an understudy to Conrad Taylor," said Gorman. "I look for Liam to develop and, again, we will not have to rush him in."
The lone newcomer to arrive at Penn State as a transfer is junior defender/midfielder Chris Germani. A starter at North Carolina as a freshman, Germani's burgeoning collegiate soccer career was temporarily halted by a knee injury. The 5-7, 150 lb., Yardley, Pa. native was a NSCAA/adidas All-American in 2004 and a Parade All-American in 2003 at Pennsbury East H.S. As a member of the FC Delco club team, Germani won four state championships and two Region I titles.
"Chris has been unlucky the last couple of years with the timing of injuries, so we are looking for a fresh start from him," said Gorman. "He is a wide flank player in our estimation and he may bring a little extra to our left side of attack. We are excited about having him here."
Daniel Martini and Jacobo Vera will lend an additional international presence to the diverse Penn State roster. Martini, a midfielder, is from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil while Vera, a forward, hails from Pamplona, Spain.
"Martini is a very skillful, clever midfield player. He had a very good understanding of the game and has the ability to open up games with passes. He will bring a little something extra to our team, a little bit of flair and imagination," said Gorman.
"Vera scores goals and has been doing so in the under 19 league in Spain throughout his high school career," said Gorman. "He brings a savvy and an understanding that is sometimes lacking in the American player. Vera is a player who always seems to be in right place at the right time to score goals and he can put opportunities away."
Local product Andrew Parr, a defender from Hummelstown, Pa., was a member of Olympic Development Program (ODP) teams that won regional championships in four consecutive years and national championships in 2002 and 2004. Parr represented the Region I ODP team in games played abroad in Belgium, Costa Rica, and Italy. For his prep playing achievements, the Lower Dauphin H.S. graduate was named a Big 11 All-Star by the Harrisburg Patriot News.
"Andy Parr is a composed and cultured defender who has a lot of experience playing against top-flight, quality competition," said Gorman.
Midfielder Vincent Salvatico is coming off a season as a high school senior in which he was named Pennsylvania All-State and to the NSCAA/adidas Regional All-American team and led his Great Valley H.S. team to a District I-AA Championship and to the I-AA state finals. From Chester Springs, Pa., Salvatico played his club soccer with Super Nova F.C.
"Vincent is a flank midfielder who likes to get at people and can take people on one-on-one," said Gorman. "He can cross the ball and is a good, solid performer who has a lot of speed to offer. We are looking forward to him making the transition to this level."
Nathan Scott joins the Penn State program boasting a wealth of club playing experience. A native of Glendale, Ariz., Scott won three straight titles (2000-03) playing with the Sereno Golden Eagles. He also captained the Arizona Olympic Development Program team.
"Nathan is a very smooth defender. He comes from a very good club program," said Gorman. "He is a kid who needs to put on a little muscle to play at this level but intellectually he will be able to handle it."
Midfielder Alex Wentzel is fresh off a stellar 2005 prep season at Exeter Township H.S.; one after which he was named a NSCAA/adidas Scholar All-American, Regional All-American, and national All-American. Following the 2004 and 2005 seasons, he was a Pennsylvania All-State selection and was honored as Berks Player of the Year. Last year, Wentzel helped his club team, Philadelphia Soccer Club Coppa, to a state championship and his ODP team to a national championship.
"Alex likes to get after things but, most likely, we will play him as a flank midfielder," said Gorman. "He has good speed and good technique. I look for him to be a bit of a dark horse; he may surprise quite a few people."
Penn State is coming off a historic and unprecedented 2005 season. For the first time in program history, the Nittany Lions went undefeated and untied in the Big Ten, captured the conference regular season title, and defeated national powerhouse Indiana twice in the same season. A third Big Ten Championship led to a No. 11 seed in the NCAA Championship. Penn State then advanced to the third round after defeating Seton Hall at Jeffrey Field. Head coach Barry Gorman returns nine of 11 starters from that team and 15 letterwinners overall.
The Nittany Lions kick off the 2006 season on Fri., Aug. 25 when they take on Furman at the Ohio State Classic in Columbus, Ohio.
For more information on Nittany Lion men's soccer, visit the official website of Penn State athletics at www.GoPSUsports.com.
2006 Penn State Men's Soccer Recruiting Class
Robert Bohlen Defender Port Jefferson, N.Y.
Frank Costigliola Midfield Dix Hills, N.Y.
Liam Fitzwater Goalkeeper Schuylkill Haven, Pa.
Daniel Martini Midfielder Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Andrew Parr Defender Hummelstown, Pa.
Vincent Salvatico Midfield Chester Springs, Pa.
Nathan Scott Defender Glendale, Ariz.
Jacobo Vera Forward Pamplona, Spain
Alex Wentzel Midfield Reading, Pa..
Transfer: Chris Germani, Defender/Midfielder, Yardley, Pa.