Aug. 17, 2007

NEWARK, NJ - New Jersey Institute of Technology men's soccer reported for preseason training on August 15, welcoming a strong group of freshmen to the start of practice for the 2007 season.

Although the nine freshmen play positions all over the field, head coach Pedro Lopes and his staff placed special emphasis on recruiting players who would make an impact on offense.

With the exception of a couple of matches, the 2006 Highlanders had trouble generating enough goals to win consistently. Down the stretch, NJIT held nine of its last 10 foes to two goals, or less. Despite an amply strong defense, the Highlanders were limited to two wins and two ties in that stretch.

Said Lopes: "We tried to recruit players with a team attacking approach and the ability to score."

Here is a look at the incoming freshmen:

Frank Carr, a forward from Monroe Township (NJ) High School, was The Star-Ledger's choice as Middlesex County Player of the Year and the Home News Tribune Athlete of the Year.

Carr amassed 24 goals and 14 assists as a senior, helping his team to a 21-5 record and was named all-state second team, all-Central Jersey first team and all-star game MVP. The four-year varsity starter notched seven multi-goal games and recorded at least one point in 19 games. Said Lopes: "He is a great addition to our team. Frank typifies the image of a New Jersey soccer player--strong, technical and a blue-collar worker."

The nine-man freshman class includes two pair of high school teammates-- Frank Vogas and Chico Lugo from Clifton (NJ) High, and Brian Caine and Oshane Moodie from Coral Glades High in Florida. All four could bolster NJIT's chances right away.

Vogas has always been one of those players with the intangible ability to finish plays and score goals. At Clifton, he was a four-year starter and made all-Passaic County in each of his last three years. Shining on the big stage, he scored the first goal of the match playing for the North team in the state all-star game sponsored by the MLS Red Bulls at Giants Stadium.

Lugo is a hard-working player in the middle of the field who is not afraid to take on defenders and brings his understanding of working with Vogas from their years together throughout high school.

Caine and Moodie share the common heritage of having been born in Jamaica before moving to Florida. And they have a pre-existing tie to NJIT through their high school coach Hernan "Chico" Borja, who starred for the Highlanders before going on to a pro career that saw him start alongside world-class greats on the Cosmos and also start regularly for the United States National Team throughout the 1980's.

Moodie is a defender who was honored by the Miami Herald on its all-Broward County teams in both soccer and track and field. In soccer, he was first-team all-county after picking up five goals and five assists. An intense competitor, he was captain of his high school team from his sophomore year on and also captained a national championship club team at the under 16 level. "Oshane is technical, has great speed and a great desire to win at everything he does," said Lopes.

Caine, who was a varsity starter throughout his high school career, also saw great success at the club level, playing on teams at two age levels that reached the Florida Cup finals and semifinals, respectively. Versatile enough to play forward or midfield, Caine, too, is expected to challenge for playing time right away at NJIT.

The other four freshmen-- Tom McLoughlin, Pat Amato, Stefan Corbosiero and Arto Altincatal -- all reside in New Jersey.

McLoughlin, another forward, played on strong teams at Randolph (NJ) High. If past performance is the best predictor of future performance, Tom can be a plus for NJIT. He was the team's leading scorer as both a junior and a senior. He also led his club team in scoring.

Amato played in another strong program at Montclair Kimberly Academy and earned New Jersey prep all-state honors. Blessed with good size, he can help NJIT either as a forward or on defense.

Corbosiero, who comes from Seton Hall Prep, has shown a scoring touch in high school, on the club level and in competition in Portugal. He, too, is expected to be in the mix for the 2007 Highlanders.

Altincatal, who played at Paramus Catholic High and resides in Lodi, will add to the team's depth in goal.

As he leads NJIT men's soccer into its third year of full NCAA Division I championship eligibility, Lopes expects his newcomers to blend with a group of tested young veterans.

"Any time you can keep your nucleus together for two or three years, that's a good thing," said Lopes. "The combination of the nucleus with these new players will continue the development of this program."

NJIT opens the season on August 31 at 3 pm in New Rochelle, NY, at Iona. After two games in California at San Diego State and the University of San Diego, the Highlanders will come home for the Lubetkin Field opener on Friday, September 14, against Long Island University.