UVA Men ink Six for 2012-2013

Official Virginia Press Release:

Six Sign Letters of Intent to Join Virginia Men's Soccer


CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - Virginia men's soccer head coach George Gelnovatch has announced the signing of six highly-touted student-athletes to National Letters of Intent for the 2012-13 school year.
Zachary Carroll (Grand Blanc, Mich.), Brian James (Sunrise, Fla.), Shane O'Neill (Fairview, Colo.), Marcus Salandy-Defour (Kensington, Md.), Scott Thomsen (Brick, N.J.) and Todd Wharton (Glen Allen, Va.) all have signed on the dotted line to become Cavaliers beginning in the 2012-13 academic year.

The class already has earned national acclaim, with a No. 2 national ranking from Top Drawer Soccer. All six players in the class are ranked on the ESPNHS Class of 2012 150 College Prospects list.

"We believe that this class is very talented - on paper it looks fantastic," Gelnovatch said. "I also happen to know that there is more to winning and having a great team than just talent. We will work diligently with these signees, as well as our current players, on the intangible things that make great teams."

The student-athletes join the renowned Virginia program, which has won six national championships and 14 ACC titles. UVa has appeared in 31-consecutive NCAA tournaments - the longest current streak in the nation.

Following are brief bios on each of the 2012-13 signees.

Zachary Carroll
Grand Blanc, Mich./Grand Blanc HS
6-3, Defender• Ranked No. 7 on ESPNHS Class of 2012 150 College Prospects list
• Tabbed No. 8 on College Soccer News Top 150 Recruits list
• Ranked No. 15 in the TopDrawerSoccer 2012 National Top 100
• Named Michigan's 2011 Mr. Soccer
• Played on 2011 United States U-17 World Cup Team
• Tied for second on that squad with nine international appearances, including five starts
• Part of Development Academy Select Team at 2010 Winter Showcase
• Scored 34 career goals and added 29 assists in high school

Brian James
Sunrise, Fla./American Heritage HS
5-10, Midfielder• Ranked No. 24 on College Soccer News Top 150 Recruits list
• No. 49 on ESPNHS Class of 2012 150 College Prospects list
• Ranked No. 89 in the TopDrawerSoccer 2012 National Top 100
• Named to ESPNHS Winter All-America boys' soccer first team in 2011
• Led nation with 44 assists as freshman during 2008-09 season
• Posted national-best 36 assists during his junior year (also scored 15 goals)
• Guided American Heritage to 2009 and 2011 state championships
• Two-time Palm Beach Post High School Player of the Year

Shane O'Neill
Louisville, Colo./Fairview HS
6-2, Midfielder• Ranked No. 123 on ESPNHS Class of 2012 150 College Prospects list
• Named West MVP of 2011 High School All-American Game
• Named to All-Colorado Boys Soccer Team and Class 5A All-State Team in 2011
• Honorable mention all-state in soccer and basketball as a junior
• Scored 48 goals and added 27 assists in Fairview career - both are school records
• Member of U.S. Development Academy's Colorado Rapids U-15/16 and U-17/18 teams

Marcus Salandy-Defour
Kensington, Md./Georgetown Prep
5-9, Forward/Midfielder• Ranked No. 25 on ESPNHS Class of 2012 150 College Prospects list
• Tabbed No. 18 on College Soccer News Top 150 Recruits list
• Four caps with U-18 Men's National Team
• Member of MLS SUM CUP championship team
• U.S. Development Academy select team
• Four-year starter at Georgetown Prep
• Three-time IAC first team
• Two-time First-Team All-Gazette
• All-Met honorable mention
• Three-year member of Maryland ODP Team
• Two-time Region I team
• Played four years with DC United Academy

Scott Thomsen
Brick, N.J./Christian Brothers Academy
5-10, Midfielder/Defender• Ranked No. 32 on ESPNHS Class of 2012 150 College Prospects list
• No. 58 on College Soccer News Top 150 Recruits list
• Ranked No. 76 in the TopDrawerSoccer 2012 National Top 100
• U-18 Men's National Team Pool
• National Team Experience at U-14, U-15, U-17
• Captain of New York Red Bulls U-18 Academy Team
• First-Team All-State
• Central Jersey Player of the Year

Todd Wharton
Glen Allen, Va./Deep Run HS
5-11, Midfielder • Ranked No. 21 in the TopDrawerSoccer 2012 National Top 100
• No. 52 on College Soccer News Top 150 Recruits list
• Ranked No. 54 on ESPNHS Class of 2012 150 College Prospects list
• 2011 NSCAA All-America honoree
• Played for the Richmond Strikers Academy program and led the team in goals and assists
• Was captain for last two years
• Played nine of his 11 years in travel soccer with the Strikers
• All-state, all-region, all-district and all-metro selection for Deep Run High School
• Four-year starter at Deep Run
• Led Deep Run in assists last three years and set the all time single-season scoring record as a junior (24 goals), breaking the record previously set by former UVa standout Brian Ownby (19)
• Named District Player of the Year and team MVP as a junior
• Member of the U-14 and U-15 National Teams (2007-2009) and trained at the U-17 National Team residency camp (2010)