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| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Mark Mentone, SID (973) 596-8324 NJIT MEN’S SOCCER SIGNS FIVE TO LETTERS OF INTENT Quintet To Become Part Of Program’s First Division-I Recruiting Class NEWARK, N.J. – New Jersey Institute of Technology head men’s soccer coach Pedro Lopes announced today the signing of five high-school seniors to national letters of intent. Daniel Bautista of Freehold, Dalton Carofilis of Monroe Township, Collin Cunning of Belfast, Maine, Robert Herrera of Dover, Delaware, and Ryan Sutherland of Harrisville, Rhode Island are part of the first Division-I recruiting class in NJIT history. The Highlanders recently reclassified their men’s soccer program to NCAA Division I from Division II effective with the 2004 season. “We are very excited with the players that have committed to NJIT,” Lopes said. “We lost a large number of players to graduation, and with this recruiting class I feel that we have brought in a solid group of players. With our program moving to Division I this fall, we wanted to create a competitive environment at all practices and make sure that every starting position not be easily attained, but earned.” Carofilis, Cunning, and Sutherland will join returnees René Cevallos and Joe Trimarchi in competing for the starting goalkeeper position vacated by the graduated Jason Manzi. Carofilis was a four-year starter and two-year captain for Monroe Township High. He recorded 29 career shutouts and was an all-division selection, leading his team to a division title. He plays club soccer for the Central Jersey Riptides, who reached the state quarterfinals last year. He intends to major in information technology. Cunning, 6-foot-4, was an all-conference selection for Belfast Area High, where he also played basketball. He played for the Blackbear United Football Club, and reached the regional championships in 2003. He has impressed the NJIT staff with his range and technical skills. The 6-foot-2 Sutherland had 25 shutouts out of 52 career starts for Burrilville High. He was chosen all-division three times and academic all-state as a senior. He played for the top club team in Rhode Island, the Bayside United Strikers, and won a state championship in 2003. Sutherland is the starting keeper for the Rhode Island Olympic Development Program (ODP) 1986 age group and was a regional pool player in 2002. He plans to study architecture. Bautista is a two-year letterwinner for Freehold Township High, helping his team advance to the Group IV New Jersey Central finals. He plays for the Toms River Elite Jets. According to Lopes, his technical ability will allow him to fight for a starting spot. Herrera was a four-year starter for Caesar Rodney High, and was named all-state as a senior. He is a member of the Delaware ODP and was selected to the Region I pool in 2003. He has played for the CDSA Dragons Soccer Club for the last 10 years. A National Honor Society member, he intends to major in architecture. The NJIT men’s soccer program has a .555 winning percentage in its 52-year history, including the NAIA national championship in 1960. The Highlanders have made 17 postseason appearances and can boast of 17 all-Americans. They start play in the Atlantic Soccer Conference this fall. NJIT is a public, scientific and technological research university enrolling more than 8,800 students. The university offers bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees to students in 80 degree programs. NJIT ranks ranks among the top schools of U.S. News & World Report’s list of national doctoral universities. The Highlanders’ athletics department sponsors 14 NCAA Division-II varsity sports plus Division-I men’s soccer. |
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