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April 27, 2006

MILWAUKEE - Marquette soccer head coach Louis Bennett has announced his first ever recruited class to the school. The group is eight players deep and includes a Swedish talent and several local players with strong prep and club experience.

The incoming class includes: Mehdi Eslami (Fox Point, Wis.), John Ferguson (Dunlap, Ill.), Michael Greene (Brooklyn Park, Minn.), Tim Jallow (Uppsala, Sweden), Matt Lamale (West Des Moines, Iowa), Tom Lynn (Libertyville, Ill.) Hector Navarro (Milwaukee, Wis.), Brian Odem (St. Louis, Mo.), and William Von Rueden (Mequon, Wis.)

"The 2006 recruiting class is a larger class than normal," head coach Louis Bennett said. "When we are finished, the class could number as many as 12 players. This incoming class has a huge opportunity to gel with our existing 16 man squad and form the heart of Marquette Soccer and establish the new Marquette soccer brand. With this class we have addressed many of the immediate team needs looking for players to fit our system."

Mehdi Eslami, MF/F, Fox Point, Wis. (Nicolet)

Eslami will play at Marquette after a career at Nicolet where he was a four-year letterwinner. He was first team All-North Shore Conference in his final three seasons and led Nicolet in scoring each of those three years. He was named North Shore Conference Player of the Year following his junior and senior seasons as well. He owns the school record for goals scored with 79 and was his conference's leading scorer as a sophomore and junior. Additionally, Eslami was an All-Area and All-State selection as a senior, earning second team All-State and All-Area honors as a junior. He was chosen to play in the 2006 Wisconsin All-Star Game. He also had a successful club career, playing for FC Milwaukee, winning state titles in 2001, 2002 and 2004.

Bennett on Eslami: "Mehdi has 'street player' qualities although he has a more traditional soccer pedigree. He plays his club soccer with FC Milwaukee and high school at Nicolet. His ODP experience also showed his potential. His ability to blend in with the opposition defense then pop-up and score goals is one of his unique qualities. A solid summer preparation will allow Mehdi a good opportunity to make and take goal scoring chances at college like he did in club and high school."

Eslami on coming to Marquette: "Marquette has a great new coaching staff and is bringing in some strong players. Marquette competes in one of the best and most competitive soccer conferences in the nation, the BIG EAST. Also, Marquette gives me the opportunity to stay close to home and play soccer collegiately."

John Ferguson, MF, Dunlap, Ill. (Dunlap)/Coastal Carolina

Ferguson comes to Marquette following two seasons at Costal Carolina. He started 15 matches and played in 27 over his two year span with the Chanticleers. In those two years, Coastal Carolina advanced to the NCAA tournament twice. While at Coastal Carolina, he was named to the Big South Conference Academic Honor Roll. Prior to his time at Coastal Carolina, Ferguson was a four-year varsity starter at Dunlap High School, where he was team captain and Most Valuable Player as a senior. He was selected Second Team All-State by the Chicago Tribune and Second Team All-Academic by the Chicago Fire. Ferguson was also named Peoria Journal Star All-Area and mid-Illini Conference First Team honors as a sophomore, junior and senior. He was named Second Team All-Conference and Rookie of the Year as a freshman. He also ran track at Dunlap his sophomore year, when he went to the state meet in the 4x200- and 4x400-meter relay and was named team MVP. Ferguson was also a member of the National Honor Society, High Honor Roll, Student Council and served as class president. He also led his club team, the SFC `86 Premier, to two state titles, and he also won state, regional and national titles with the Chicago Magic in 2003.

Bennett on Ferguson: "John is the oldest and most experienced player of the incoming 2006 class. His two years playing at Coastal Carolina will help him acclimatize to MU and the Marquette style soccer. He will be in a pool of players looking to solidfy a defensive structure and or create a productive midfield as he can play at the back or in midfield."

Ferguson on coming to Marquette: "I chose Marquette for its nationally respected academic programs and for the opportunity to face the challenges of playing in the BIG EAST."

Michael Greene, F/MF, Brooklyn Park, Minn. (Osseo)

Greene was an All-Conference selection and league MVP. He was a two-time All-State and All-Conference selection and was named his league's Rookie of the Year. He was also a goal scorer in the state section semifinal game, leading his team to a sectional runner-up spot. He also plays club for Wings Soccer Club.

Bennett on Greene: "Michael is a Liberian refugee that has been living in Minnesota for two and a half years. He is quick, tough, hard to mark and ambitious in and around the goal area. As a striker his ability to beat players and shoot on goal will address some of the goal scoring and goal making issues. A virtual unknown unless you went to see Osseo High School play because Michael ran track which reduced his club ball to playing in the local men's league. It is going to be very interesting to see Michael in a Marquette jersey."

Greene on coming to Marquette: "I chose Marquette because it is Jesuit and I like the size and location of the University. Plus the soccer program is so strong."

Tim Jallow, D, Uppsala, Sweden (IK Sirius)

Jallow is an accomplished player with lots of speed that can make an impact early on the Marquette program. He plays with IK Sirius in Uppsala and has led his team to the quarterfinal round in the Swedish National Youth Championships in 2005. His brother, Antou, was a standout for Bennett when he was head coach at Wis.-Milwaukee.

Bennett on Jallow: "The 6-foot-2 Swedish player is quick and soccer smart. He plays at the center of defense. His strength and understanding of crucial defensive shapes and structures will be invaluable for the college game. His ability to match up with top powerful fast forwards is a huge upswing for any central defender. He's a player that is suited and will enjoy the BIG EAST and developing at Marquette."

Jallow on coming to Marquette: "The coaching staff and their prior relationship with my brother, Antou, and assistant coach Khaled El-Ahmad are part of the reasons I'm coming to Marquette. The opportunity to play and represent Marquette University in the best league in the nation, the BIG EAST, and the academic standards Marquette is known for is also a reason I am coming to Marquette."

Matt Lamale, MF, West Des Moines, Iowa (West Des Moines)

A three-year letterwinner at West Des Moines, Lamale was team captain as a senior and was a first-team all-conference selection that year. He was also a state all-tournament team selection. It was on the club level where he was a stand out. He played for the Des Moines Menace and helped the club to multiple state titles. He was also a five-time Iowa ODP team member and an alternate selection to the regional ODP team.

Bennett on Lamale: "Matt is a quick aggressive outside midfield forward that is very well suited to our system. He has bounced back from a knee injury during his high school junior year with a big appetite for success. His experience and preparation with his club and youth teams will be valuable to acclimating to the college game."

Lamale on coming to Marquette: "Marquette offers a perfect mix of academics, soccer and offers a perfect location and size."

Tom Lynn, MF/F, Libertyville, Ill. (Libertyville)

Lynn was named one of the top soccer players in the Chicago area by the Chicago Tribune as a senior, and the Chicago Daily Herald named Lynn to their all-area team. He was also named to the Chicago Fire MLS All-State All-Academic Team Special Mention list. Lynn scored 25 goals and added seven assists in his senior year as he led LIbertyville to a regional final spot for the third straight year. His club experience consists of playing for FC United Select, where he helped the club to a second place finish in the Northern Illinois Soccer League in 2005. Lynn also comes from a long background of family members who have attended Marquette.

Bennett on Lynn: "Tom is someone we're looking forward to making the transition to the college game. He comes from an excellent club background. If he can make that transition quickly, he could be one of the players fighting for playing time."

Lynn on coming to Marquette: "I knew I was going to college for engineering and to play soccer. Marquette provides the best of both worlds with a world-class engineering school and a BIG EAST soccer program, all at a Jesuit university. For someone who lives and breathes soccer, it's a dream come true."

Hector Navarro, MF, Milwaukee, Wis. (Riverside)

Navarro was a second-team All-State selection and league Most Valuable Player at Milwaukee Riverside. He was a first-team All-Conference selection as senior and was a second-team selection as a junior. He was his league's Freshman of the Year in his first season. Navarro plays club for the Simba Lions.

Bennett on Navarro: "Hector has been successful at both Regional and State ODP. Playing high school soccer at Riverside, his club soccer with Milwaukee's Simbia Lions and also in the Milwaukee Hispanic Men's League, he has true street soccer player characteristics. He shows flair, creativity, vision, and at times is both unpredictable and is unconventional, which we see as strengths. Once he gets his playing 'machismo' on the college field and a comfort with college life, he will add a different dimension to the squad."

Navarro on coming to Marquette: "I wanted to stay near home and Marquette had everything that I was looking for, a good learning environment and they now play in one of the best soccer conferences in the country.

Brian Odem, D/MF, St. Louis, Mo. (University)

Odem was a first-team All-Conference and second team All-Metro and All-State selection following his senior season. His team went 23-4-2 and recorded 19 shutouts, all of which he was an integral part. In club play, he was part of a state championship team in 2001, 2002, and 2003 for the Lou Fusz Soccer Club and was an Region II ODP Participant in 2001 and 2002, helping his team win the Region II Championship and a National Runner Up spot.

Bennett on Odem: "Brian had always wanted to come to Marquette, and after seeing him play I realized his great potential to play and succeed in this environment. Having a player of his soccer and educational background is vital to the foundation of the program. He is a good technical player who can play as an outside or inside defender, left or right. He defends with intelligence and distributes the ball well. His leadership and success with SLUHS along with travel and rigors of club soccer with the Lou Fusz SC has given him both a great base and even bigger potential to become a quality Marquette and BIG EAST player."

Odem on coming to Marquette: "Marquette University blends academic excellence and athletic competitiveness exceptionally well. To be a part of the BIG EAST will be a one of a kind experience. Also a Jesuit education and cold weather, to which I'm partial, will make it all the better."

William Von Rueden, D, Mequon, Wis. (Marquette)

Von Rueden was a first-team all-state player as well as an All-Area team member and All-Area Player of the Year. He was an NSCAA All-American and State Player of the Year. He plays club for the Brookfield Soccer Club and was a member of the State ODP and Regional ODP teams.

Bennett on Von Rueden: "Anytime you can attract a player that has accomplished so much success and recognition at the high school, club level and at the Olympic Development Program level, it helps the realistic expectation of an incoming class. Billy was selected as the Wisconsin High School Player of the Year and an All-American because of his defensive work and his leadership. It is those talents plus his ability to effectively play across the back line or defensive midfield that enhances his fit at Marquette."

Von Rueden on coming to Marquette: "The combination of a good education, great soccer and great coaching is why I decided to come to Marquette."