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Feb. 4, 2005

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Wake Forest head coach Jay Vidovich has announced the signing of 11 players for the 2005 men's soccer season. The group, which includes three All-Americans and three players from regional club power CASL, ranks as one of the deepest recruiting classes in the nation.

"I am extremely excited about this recruiting class," Vidovich said. "These players are truly winners both on and off the field. They bring an outstanding level of individual talent as well as a wealth of experience. Together, they have already won a staggering number of games and championships in their careers. Bobby Muuss has brought in a great class to help ensure the future success of the program."

Cline Beam
Midfielder / 5-9 / 175 / Augusta, GA / Richmond Academy
Named NSCAA/adidas Youth All-American in 2003 and 2004 and a first team All-American by StudentSportsSoccer.com... earned one letter at Benedictine HS before finishing up high school career at Richmond Academy... named All-Augusta each of his last three seasons at Richmond Academy... also earned a pair of letters in cross country and one in football... as a kicker on the football team, booted a city record 52-yard field goal... helped Richmond Academy to the 2004 Georgia 3AAA State Championship... played club soccer for the Concorde Fire... attended adidas ESP Camp... member of the Georgia Olympic Development Program since 1997... member of the 1986 Region III ODP squad... captured the U-16 National Championship in 2002 with the Concorde Fire.
"Cline is a great soccer player," Vidovich said. "He gives us versatility in the way we can attack and defend. He'll be a great ball winner, he brings a great physical dimension to the team."

Evan Brown
Defender / 5-11 / 164 / Raleigh, N.C. / Millbrook HS
Three-year letterwinner at Millbrook HS... three-time academy all-conference... twice named All-Pac VI Conference... earned all-region as a senior... earned Most Valuable Player his senior season... finished ninth on the all-time Millbrook HS scoring list... helped Millbrook to a pair of conference titles and a State Championship appearance... plays club soccer for Capital Area Soccer League (CASL) for head coach Bruce Talbot, along with fellow Wake Forest signees Will Clayton and Joseph Russell... captured four State Championships, a Regional Championship and a National Finals berth... captured a pair of Disney Soccer Showcase Titles with current Deacon Steven Curfman. "Evan has some great versatility about him," Vidovich said. "He's got a great brain for the game, great tenacity and we look for him to make contributions early on in the program."

Will Clayton
Midfielder / 5-10 / 155 / Durham, N.C. / C.E. Jordan HS
Four-year letterwinner at C.E. Jordan HS... named All-Piedmont Athletic Conference (PAC VI) in 2002, 2003 and 2004... named all-region in 2003 and 2004... earned all-state honors in 2004... served as team captain his final two seasons... named the PAC VI Player of the Year in 2004... helped high school to conference championships all four years... as a freshman helped high school to the North Carolina 4-A State Championships... plays club soccer for Capital Area Soccer League (CASL) for head coach Bruce Talbot, along with fellow Wake Forest signees Evan Brown and Joseph Russell... member of the 1986 Olympic Development Program State team in 2001-03... participated in the adidas Elite Soccer Program in 2002... helped CASL to back-to-back championships at the North Carolina Youth Soccer Association Tournament and the Disney Soccer Showcase with current Deacon Steven Curfman.
"Another CASL player, a soccer junkie," Vidovich said. "He's a very sound technical player with a great mind for the game. He must adapt to the physical level of college soccer as he comes to Wake Forest."

Sam Cronin
Midfielder / 5-10 / 165 / Winston-Salem, N.C / Mount Tabor HS
Named 2003 NSCAA Youth adidas All-American... a hometown product and letter winner from Mount Tabor HS... named all-conference, all-region, all-state and the Metro Conference Player of the Year... led the team in goals, assists and points each of his last two seasons... helped high school team to the 2002 4-A State Championship... 1986 Region III All-Star... member of the National Honor Society... an all-conference kicker in football... actually kicked a field goal with each foot in the same game... brother, McNeil, played soccer at Furman... brother, Colin, currently runs cross country at NC State and another brother, Hugh, plays soccer for the Wolfpack.
"We're excited to have a local player with his ability and versatility," Vidovich said. "He's made for Wake Forest soccer and should have a great future here."

Jamie Franks
Midfielder / 5-8 / 150 / Medford, N.J. / Shawnee HS
Four-year starter at forward for Shawnee HS... New Jersey High School Player of the Year... named a 2004 NSCAA/adidas High School All-American and a two-time NSCAA/adidas Youth All-American... member of the U-18 USA National Team... three-time first time All-New Jersey... three-time South Jersey Offensive Player of the Year... named South Jersey Player of the Year by Philadelphia Inquirer, Courier Post, Burlington Times... scored 72 goals and added 56 assists over career... helped Shawnee to a 99-4-3 record over his four years... led Shawnee to a pair of New Jersey State Championships (2001 & 2003)... helped club teams Medford Speed and PDA Conquisdedors to a total of six New Jersey State Cup Championships... two-time adidas ESP Camp All-Star... played high school and club soccer with Maryland midfielder Stephen King.
"Jamie is a great soccer player," Vidovich said. "He reads the game so well, he can initiate the counter for us, he's very skilled. As he adapts to the physical aspects of college soccer he'll be a great quarterback type player for our team."

Mike Lahoud
Midfielder/Forward q 5-8 / 140 / Reston, VA / W.T. Woodson H.S. Three-year letterwinner at W.T. Woodson HS... standout and captain of the Reston Football Club from 1996-present under head coach Richie Burke... helped the Reston FC to the State Cup Finals each of the past five years and three consecutive State Cup Championships... member of the Olympic Development Program since 1999... recently named 2004 Reston Football Club Player of the Year. "Mike comes from a great competitive club program," Vidovich said. "He's a very dynamic player with great athleticism and will be a positive impact on the program."

Justin Lichtfuss
Defender / 5-11 q 150 / Owings Mills, MD / McDonogh HS
Named a third team All-American by StudentSportsSoccer.com... earned four letters at McDonogh HS for head coach Stephen Nichols... named all-state first team during junior and senior seasons... captured the 2004 Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association Championship... ranked as high as fifth nationally in 2004... played club soccer with the Casa Mia Bays, also coached by Stephen Nichols... part of back-to-back United States Youth Soccer Association National Championship teams in 2003 and 2004... reached the USYSA National Finals in 2002... also participated in lacrosse and track in high school.
"Justin has won a championship at every level at which he's played," Vidovich said. "He's one of the most competitive players with Casa Mia Bays and that competitiveness should help us improve as a team."

Joseph Russell
Midfielder/Defender / 5-10 / 160 / Swansboro, N.C. / Swansboro HS
Earned four letters at Swansboro HS... high school teammate of current Demon Deacon forward Mark Ellington... three-time all-conference selection... earned all-area and all-region... led conference in assists as a junior (18)... led conference in goals (29), assists (21) and points (79) senior year... helped team to four conference championships and a 2003 North Carolina State Championship... plays club soccer for Capital Area Soccer League (CASL) for head coach Bruce Talbot, along with fellow Wake Forest signees Evan Brown and Will Clayton... helped CASL to three North Carolina Youth Soccer Association State Cup Championships (1998, 2003, 2004)... club also captured a 2003 U.S. Club Soccer Regional Championship.
"Joseph comes from a great soccer program at CASL," Vidovich said. "He'll develop to be a very good player for Wake Forest. He's a tough kid, great at winning balls, and he has the athleticism that we're looking for."

Ben Ryan
Defender / 5-10 / 160 / USAFA, CO / Air Academy HS
Earned a pair of letters at Air Academy HS... in the summer of 2004 played with former Demon Deacon and current New England Revolution defender James Riley for Colorado Springs in the PDL... also earned a couple letters for the track team (member of 4x100 and 4x200 relay squads)... president of his high school's branch of the National Honor Society... awarded the Principal's Honor Roll after achieving a 4.0 grade point average... member of the Colorado Olympic Development Program from 2000-04... captured the 2004 ODP National Championship... father, Greg, former All-American at SMU and went on to play for the New York Cosmos, Chicago Sting and Tulsa Roughnecks of the North American Soccer League.
"Ben is a competitive player," Vidovich said. "He's got a great soccer background and we believe he'll challenge for a spot as a starting defender for us next year."

Marcus Tracy
Forward / 6-1 / 170 / Sandyhook, CT / Newtown HS
Named a NSCAA/adidas All-American in 2004 and named a first team All-American by StudentSportsSoccer.com... earned four letters at Newtown HS for head coach Brian Neumeyer... named the 2004 Connecticut Player of the Year... served as team captain in 2003 and 2004... finished as the school's all-time leading goal scorer with 100 career tallies... helped Newtown HS to the Connecticut High School State Championship... ranked as high as 12th nationally by the NSCAA... led all of Connecticut in goals in 2003 and 2004... member of the National Honor Society... played club soccer for Beachside of Connecticut... captured the 2003 and 2004 Open Cup State Championship... brother, Ryan plays soccer at Pennsylvania.
"He's an attacking player with unbelievable potential," Vidovich said. "We're very excited for the opportunity to work with him, he can have a great future here at Wake Forest if he can adapt to the demands of playing the game in the ACC."

Andrew Wright
Forward / 6-3 / 190 / Madison, MS / St. Joseph Catholic HS
Earned one letter at St. Joseph Catholic HS... named All-State in 2004... helped school to its third consecutive Mississippi State Championship... also earned a pair of letters in football... owns the state record with a 102-yard interception return for touchdown... named all-state in football in 2002... played club soccer for Jackson Futbol Club... served as team captain for each of his four years... helped club to the U-17 State Championship... club reached as high as #24 in the 2004 U.S. Club Soccer National Rankings... member of the Mississippi Olympic Development Program since 2000... member of the National Honor Society.
"Andrew is a physical presence," Vidovich said. "We hope that if he can adapt to the pace of the ACC, we have big expectations for him to score a lot of goals for Wake Forest."

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