IRVINE, Calif.- UC Irvine men's soccer head coach George Kuntz has announced his recruiting class for the fall of 2008 Tuesday. The student-athletes have each signed National Letters of Intent to play for the Anteaters this fall.

"We are prepared to continue the tradition of excellence with the men's soccer program at UC Irvine, said Kuntz. "We are very excited about our returning and recruited athletes in 2008.This class is one of the best recruiting classes in the nation this year. We have bolstered our program with players that are Olympic Development Players, All-Americans, Junior College National Champions, Junior College State Champions, Club Soccer USYSA State, Regional, and National Champions, and High School 1st team all State Players from California and Arizona.

"We graduated only one starter from a team that started the season well with a 5-1-2 record. The team played a school record nine overtime games resulting in two wins and five ties during that time span.

"During the off-season we have concentrated on technical, tactical, and functional training for our student/athletes. We have worked directly with our strength and conditioning coaches to develop a plan to get our young players prepared for the rigors of playing the physical level that we encounter in the Big West Conference. We have seen a total commitment in the off-season from our players and the cohesiveness, work ethic, and growth of this team hasbeen fantastic. I am extremely proud of how they represent themselves as student athletes and have committed themselves to the game.

"We return all conference 2006 Big West Midfielder of the year and pre-season All-American Matt Murphy (Mater Dei HS, Irvine Strikers SC), our top scorer in 2006 and 2007. Additionally, we return several key players from last years squad, Kevin Santora, JT Terrazas (Irvine HS, Pateadores SC), Rafael Macedo (South Gate HS), David Sias (Fountain Valley HS, Wolfpack SC), Kyle Schmid (Irvine Strikers SC), Shane Westbrook, Amani Walker (Surf SC), Spencer Thompson (Pros SC), Gray Bailey, (Huntington Beach HS, Wolfpack SC), Michael Willrich (San Diego CC), and goalkeeper Pat Barton.

"There is great potentialin our recruiting class this year.The players we have recruited fit well within our exciting attacking style, system of play, and compliment our team in many tangible and intangible ways. We have added some strong attacking players particularly at the forward and midfield positions.Thisrecruiting classadds size, speed, and skill to an already talented groupreturning next year. Most importantly these are fine individuals that will represent themselves well at the University of California, Irvine as students and as athletes. We will add to the class as we get closer to the season."

2008 UC Irvine Men's Soccer Class

CarlosAguilar- Forward

2006 graduate of Palmdale High
2006-2007 Taft College
Achievements:

'05-'06 1st team All-Golden League (PHS)
'05-'062ndteam All CIF(PHS)
'05-'06 Golden League Champions (PHS)
'05-'06 Division I CIF Semi-finalists (PHS)
'06 State Finalists (Taft College)
'06 CVC Champions (Taft College)
'06 1st team All Central Valley Conference(Taft College)
'07 CVC Champions (Taft College)
'071st team All Central Valley Conference
'07 State Champions (Taft College)

Taft College Coaches Angelo Cutrona and Lorne Howlett

Coach Kuntz "Carlos is a proven goal scorer at the college level, has helped earn his Taft College team a state championship and scored two big goals in the final. He is clever, is skillful, quick, and can find the back of the net. The Big West Conference has had its share of goal scorers and we feel that Carlos can become one of the next great goal scorers of our league. He has the ability to adapt quickly and thrive with the pace and the environments in our conference.

Elmer Avelar - Goalkeeper

High School Achievements

Selected as one of the two freshmen to make varsity freshman year and the only freshmen captain in 24 years. Made all C.I.F as a sophomore and as a junior and first team all-league as a freshmen. Did not appear as a senior due to U.S Academy League.

Club Achievements

Three time National State Cup Champion

Three Time Regional Champion

Three time U.S National Champion

Two Time Golden Glove Winner

Captain of Real So Cal National Champions

'07 Dallas Cup Finalist

Club - Real So Cal- Coached by Alberto Bru

Coach Kuntz "Elmer is a technically sound goalkeeper that is quick and agile with good hands. He first caught our eye through watching his club team capture National Cup, Regional Championship, USYSA National Championship three times with him receiving the 'Golden Glove' award as the best goalkeeper of the National Championships. The position is about making saves and Elmer is one of the best young keepers we have seen in a long while at keeping his team in games with key saves. Goalkeepers need experience in big games and Elmer has played in many more than most players his age. Being the best goalkeeper twice in a national tournament sets him apart from many. We look forward to his adapting to the college game.

Daniel Chavez - Midfielder

Education:

Graduation: June 2008

High School: Santa Ana High School

Location: Santa Ana, California

Honors:

2008 Orange County Register All-County Second Team
2008Sunset League MVP
2005-2008 Santa Ana High School Varsity Soccer

(Captain and starter)

2006 SAHS Defensive Player of the Year (sophomore)

2007 SAHS Most Valuable Player (junior)

2007 SAHS Golden west League - 1^st team

2007 SAHS CIF-SS Division III - 3^rd team

2006-2007 90 ODP pool

South Coast Bayern - Club Coach: Vishtasp Farhadi

Coach Kuntz "Danny has been a proven winner and leader in every environment we have seen him. He is very skillful, versatile, and has great vision. He is a local player who we think has impacted Orange County with his play as a central midfielder. He has the ability to change the tempo of games with his ability to play himself out of tight spaces.

Victor Chinchilla - Goalkeeper

2006 graduate of Palmdale High

Transfer from Taft College

Achievements:

'05-'06 16 shutouts (PHS Record)

'05-'06 Golden League Champions (PHS)

'05-'06 Division I CIF Semi-finalists (PHS)

'06State Finalists (Taft College)

'06 CVC Champions (Taft College)

'07 CVC Goalkeeper of the year (Taft College)
'07CVC Champions (Taft College)

'07 State Finals MVP

'07 State Champions (Taft College)

'07 California Community College Athletic Association Athlete of the Month

Taft College Coaches Angelo Cutrona and Lorne Howlett

Coach Kuntz "Victor was recommended to us by alumnus Lorne Howlett who has seen him play for two years at Taft Junior College. Victor has the ability to help preserve a lead and to shut teams out. His leadership and shot stopping ability helped win the state junior college championship for Taft. He can do the simple things well, can pull off magical saves, is fearless, and not afraid to lead. Victor has very good hands, is quick, and very good in critical situations. He may make an immediate impact for our program in goal. He was the best goalkeeper in the state last year at the junior college level.

Irving Garcia- Midfielder/Forward

Yavapai College:
NSCAA/adidas Men's Junior College Division I All-American Team (2007)
ACCAC/Region I Player of the Year.(2007)
NJCAA All-American First Team (2007)
NJCAA National Champions (2007)

San Luis High School:
5A Div.II All State First Team (2005-2006)
5A Div.ll Gila Valley Player of the Year (2005-2006)
4A All State First Team (2004-2005)
4A Skyline Region Player of the Year (2004-2005)

Club:
Yuma Golden Cats coached by Toni Tellez

Yavapai College coached by Mike Pantelione and Hugh Bell

Coach Kuntz "Irving is a player who will bring quite a bit of excitement to our team and conference. He was the most sought after junior college midfielder in the country this year. After leading his Yavapai College team to a National Championship in 2007, gaining 1^st team All-American honors, and MVP for the Arizona Junior Colleges he brings a level of creativity seem rarely at this level. Irving should make an immediate impact in our program and will create many scoring chances for our team through his ability to do the things that few players can do with the ball.

Andy Martinez- Forward

San Clemente HS - Andy was a four year high school varsity player.

2008 - Orange County Register All County First Team

2006 - Junior- He was San Clemente High School offensive MVP, was selected to the 1st team South Coast League, and was 2nd Team All CIF.

2007 Captain - Senior year scored 30 goals breaking his previous record of 21.

Over four years Andy scored 69 goals and had 19 assists.

2007 Senior - He was the South Coast League MVP and 1st Team All CIF.

2007- Senior HS Leading per game goal scorer in Orange County.

Milk Cup (Ireland)- One of the worlds most prestigious youth tournaments - Runner-up for Golden Boot with (5) goals- Scored goals versus Manchester United (England), Bayern Munich (Germany), Benefica (Portugal), Shamrock Rovers (Ireland)

Club Team - South Coast Bayern - Club Coach: Vishtasp Farhadi

San Clemente HS Coach- Mike Pronier

Coach Kuntz "Andy offers a different dimension to our attack speed. He is one of the fastest forwards in California and has goal scoring ability. His ability to score big goals when games are on the line is his forte. He has scored against the best defenders in California, the United States, and Europe his age. He is truly one of the best forwards to come out of California this year. We are excited about his potential and the fun fans in Orange County will have watching him play.

Everett Pitts- Defender/Forward

Won the U.S. Club Regional in Las Vegas in 2006, and participated in the U.S. Club National Cup in North Carolina.

Finalist in the California Cup in Premier flight in 2007.

Play in the Premier league with South Coast Bayern.

First team All-Sierra League

Captain of Ayala High School Soccer team

South Coast Bayern - Club Coach: Vishtasp Farhadi

Coach Kuntz "Everett is a young senior in high school. We feel that he has unlimited potential as a defender in our conference. Already at 6'4 Everett has the athleticism, good size frame, tenacious pressuring ability, heading, and distribution to make his mark at the position. He matches up will with our conference opponents and we see him continuing to develop into one of the premier defenders in our conference.

Norberto (Norby) Rodriguez- Midfielder/Forward

* USYSA National Champions 06 (Iowa)

* Region IV Far West Champions 06 (Idaho)

* Cal South National Cup Champions 06-Game winning

goal

* USYSA National Champions 05 (Orlando)

* Region IV Far West Champions 05 (Colorado)

* Cal South National Cup Champions 05-Game winning

goal

* 2007 Ventura County All League First Team

* 2007- Division 1 All CIF first team

* 2007- Marmonte League Offensive MVP

Club - Real So Cal V Coached by Alberto Bru

Thousand Oaks HS V Coached by Mark Teitjen

Coach Kuntz "Norby was one of the first players to commit to us last fall. We feel we can continue to build the left midfield and forward positions with his help. Norby is naturally left footed, skillful, with a lethal shot Norby has been an integral part in his club teams ability to win three national championships. He has twice been voted the 'Golden Boot Award' for the best scorer in the USYSA National Championship Tournament. He has played in many big games throughout the United States and won more titles than any team in California during the last three years. Norby will help our team will have many attacking options this year.

James Turner- Midfielder/Defender

Personal Achievements:

Team Captain of OC Kings U16, U17, & U19
Team Captain of Mission Viejo Soccer Club U15 & U14

Team Captain of MVHS, 2006-2008

MVP of South Coast League 2007

First Team All South Coast League 2007

Diablo of the Year Award 2007

Athletic Scholar MVHS 2005-2006

Spirit of the Diablos Award 2004, 2005, 2006 (Academics)

Club OC Kings- Coached by Thomas Dooley

Mission Viejo HS- Coached by Roger Castle

Coach Kuntz "James is truly one of the best defensive players in Orange County this year. He is a born leader, has skill, speed, vision, strength, size, and the best part of his game is his ability to connect. We feel that he will make quite an impact in our program and in our community during his time at UC Irvine.

UC Irvine Men's Soccer Signings

Carlos Aguilar- JR- Forward- Taft College

Elmer Avelar- FR- Goalkeeper- Burbank HS

Daniel Chavez- FR- Midfielder- Santa Ana HS

Victor Chinchilla - JR- Goalkeeper- Taft College

Irving Garcia- JR- Midfield/Forward- Yavapai College

Andy Martinez- FR- Forward - San Clemente HS

Everett Pitts- FR- Defense- Ayala HS
Norberto Rodriguez- FR - Midfield/Forward - Thousand Oaks HS

James Turner- FR - Midfield/Defense- Mission Viejo HS