What is developed in Maryland stays in Maryland. At least that’s the mentality of local college soccer coaches in the 2007 recruiting process.
University of Maryland-Baltimore County men?s coach Pete Caringi is excited about his 2007 recruiting class ? and rightly so, after inking three products from the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association champions. Archbishop Curley’s B.J. Quigley, Dusting Dzwonkowski and Sean Rothe will join Caringi’s program this coming fall.
“We’re really happy with the class and we’re not done,” Caringi said. “There are still a couple kids we’re looking at.”
Caringi, who played in college with Rothe’s father at the University of Baltimore, is excited about adding this year’s class to a strong recruiting class from last year. The Retrievers went 5-9-3 overall with a 2-4-2 mark in America East Conference play in 2006.
The same can be said for the University of Maryland women. The Terps went 5-9-4 in 2006 but will welcome at least four local talents for the 2007 season. All-Examiner midfielder Erika Theisen of the state champion River Hill soccer team will be heading to College Park.
“This is going to be a good year for a freshman class as far as getting playing time,” said Brian Song, Theisen’s high school coach and All-Examiner coach of the year. “I don’t know about starting, but they’ll be an influence years to come.”
Theisen will be joined by Annesia Faulkner (St. Vincent Pallotti) and goalkeeper Wendy Balogun (Eleanor Roosevelt). First-team All-Examiner defender Alissa Bourne of Glenelg will try to walk on at Maryland.
Severna Park’s Samantha Young will reportedly play for Towson, though the Tigers have yet to name a new head coach to replace Leslie Wray.
The Towson men have received just one letter of intent, that of DeMatha product Brenden Gregoire.
