BOSTON – The Boston University team welcomes nine to the squad for the 2007 season, head coach Neil Roberts announced today. The newcomers hail from up and down both coasts as well as Texas.

Temitayo Akiwsanya, Daniel Chu, and Richard Gadbois will come to BU from the West Coast. Akiwsanya, a midfielder from Sacramento, played for the California North Olympic Development Program (ODP) team for four years. He is a two-time member of the Region IV ODP team as well as a two-time All-City honoree and a three-time All-Conference selection for JFK High School.

A native of Irvine, Chu played for the California South ODP team. He received All-Conference first team honors three times and was named Team Offensive MVP for his high school squad for three straight years. Chu was a seven-year member of the Irvine Strikers.

Gadbois, a Corona del Mar, Calif. Native, will boost the backfield. He was a club teammate of Chu and a two-time state cup champion with the Irvine Strikers. Gadbois led his teams to the Patedores Cup and Nomads Cup title games in 2005. He was also named to the Orange County All-Star team.

Stephen Frazier, also a member of the defense, hails from Round Rock, Texas. Frazier totaled 51 career goals in his high school career and earned First Team All-District twice. He played for three years for the Lonestar SC club, a 2006 State Cup runner-up and the same club as current Terrier, Jin Oh.

Matt McFarland, a back from Bradenton, Fla., was a 2006 adidas ESP participant as well as a two-time captain and 2006 Team MVP for IMG Academy. McFarland is one of four players to graduate from the academy with a Division I scholarship. He is also a former four-year captain of the Irvine Strikers and a teammate of classmates Chu and Gadbois.

Aaron O’Neal, a forward from Virginia Beach, Va., was a member of the First Team All-State as a junior, a two-time state finalist, and a two-year member of the Virginia state team. He also played in the Triangle Friendlies All-Star Game in 2006.

Jack Orr, a back from Ridgefield, Conn., was a three-time Western New England Prep School All-Star. He was selected to the All-State team twice and was named to the 2006 NEPSAC All-Star team. His club team, Beachside FC, was the 2004 State Cup club champions.

Twins Matt and Ryan Shea, a back and a midfielder respectively, are natives of Hanover, Mass. Matt was a member of the Super Y National Team pool and an Boston Globe and Boston Herald All-Star. He finished his high school career with 73 assists. Ryan totaled 76 goals and 69 assists at Hanover High School. Both Sheas competed for the MPS Crusaders, capturing regional and national US Club Soccer tournament titles. They were also two-time Region I (East) champions in the Massachusetts ODP.

The Terriers return 18, including five starters, from a team that went 10-4-5 and made it to the America East semifinals before falling to eventual conference champion Binghamton in penalty kicks.