Drexel University Athletics
Men's Soccer Adds a Host of Newcomers For 2010 Season
8/5/2010 3:52:55 PM | Men's Soccer
Philadelphia – Drexel Men's Soccer Head Coach Doug Hess has rounded out his squad for the 2010 season, his first in University City, with ten new faces. Among the new players who will suit up for the Dragons this season are Khalid Alansari (Doha, Qatar), Tal Bublil (Kfar-Mass, Israel), Manuel Cazares (Panama City, Calif.), Matthew DiDomenico (Commack, N.Y.), Mark Donohue (Houston, Texas), Phillip Hagerty (Centerville, Ohio), Jarrod Neser (Johns Creek, Ga.), Pentti Pussinen (Tampere, Finland), Ken Tribbett (Centennial, Colo.), Brandon Zeller (Toms River, N.J.).
“We are excited about adding this large group of young men to the mix here at Drexel. By bringing in such a large group, we feel we have added some much needed competition in all areas of the field. We are confident this group will strengthen our team and help us in competing in the Colonial Athletic Association. They are a diverse group with some solid soccer backgrounds and are all dedicated to impacting our environment here at Drexel.”
Tal Bublil, Matthew DiDomenico, and Jarrod Neser are a trio of imposing defenders who will help to strengthen Drexel's back line. Bublil is a 6-foot-1 defender from Israel who was the second leading scorer for his Hapoel-Herzelia club team.
DiDomenico is a 6-foot-1 All-State defender from Commack, N.Y. His Massapequa Aces club team was back to back New York State Cup Champions in 2008 and 2009. Additionally, DiDomenico was a member of the Eastern New York ODP team, as well as the 1992 Region I ODP team. Neser is a transfer from Georgia Southern who played his club soccer for the Norcross Fury Gold in Johns Creek, Ga. He helped his team win the Georgia State Cup title in 2009 and advance to the USYSA Region III Finals. He played four seasons of varsity soccer at Northwood High and captained his team to the Georgia State High School Championship in 2009.
Goal keeper Pennti Pussinen brings his talents to West Philadelphia from Finland. He is a two-year veteran of the U19 Finnish National Team, including participation in the UEFA U-19 Championships qualifying campaign. Additionally, Pussinen competed for the last several years with FC Ilves and was an academy player for Tampere United.
At midfield, Drexel will add a number of talented players who will help to give the Dragons depth this season. Manuel Cazares is a skilled distributor of the ball who was a First Team All-City selection at Daniel Pearl Magnet School in Panama City, Calif. He was also a member of the LAFC USSF Development Academy U18 team which advanced to the USSF Academy playoffs this past June. Prior to that, Cazares played for the Chivas USA Development Academy.
Also joining Hess' first recruiting class are Ken Tribbett, Brandon Zeller and Khalid Alansari. Tribbett is a two-time All-State midfielder from Colorado where he attended Grandview High. He played club soccer for the Colorado Rush Auxerre USSF Development Academy U18 team who also advanced to the USSF Academy playoffs this summer as the Frontier Division Champions. Tribbett was also named the MVP of the State Cup Tournament four times and captained his 2008 Colorado Rush team to the Colorado State Cup title.
Zeller is a sophomore transfer from Costal Carolina University. The Toms River, N.J. native played one season at Costal Carolina in 2008, when he made two starts and saw action in eight matches for a strong Chanticleers team. In addition to being a First Team All-State midfielder at Toms River High, Zeller also played eight seasons of club soccer for the Match Fit Chelsea FC USSF Academy team and helped the squad to three straight New Jersey State Cup championships from 2005-07. In 2006, he won
the Nike Joga 3 v 3 National Championship and represented the United States at the World Championships in Brazil. As a result of his involvement, Zeller was pulled into training with the US Under-17 National Team.
Alansari joined the Dragons' roster this past semester through spring try-outs. The Doha, Qatar native will join the strong crop of midfielders next fall. He played for Qatar Sports Club where he won back to back Qatar Championships prior to his time at Drexel and was also selected for both the U15 and 16 age groups for the Qatar National team.
Mark Donohue and Phillip Hagerty round out Drexel's crop of newcomers this season and both will compete for time up front. Donohue is a British national who comes to University City from The Awty International School in Houston, Texas. Donohue helped Awty to a District Championship and a trip to the state semifinals as a junior and followed it up with a 41-goal, 15-assist performance in his senior season. He played club soccer for the Albion Hurricanes Blue 92 Boys team and most recently for the Houston Dynamo USSF U18 Academy team.
Hagerty is a sophomore transfer from Houston Baptist University where he saw action in 15 games, started two, and scored one goals as a freshman. The midfielder hails from Dayton, Ohio. A four-year letterwinner at Centerville High, Hagerty also played club soccer for the Ohio Galaxies and participated in the Ohio Olympic Development Program. Hagerty's leadership helped the Galaxies reach the Ohio South state cup semifinals during his captaincy.
The Dragons open their 2010 campaign on Sept. 1 when they host Canisius at Vidas Field in a 7:00 p.m. match.
“We are excited about adding this large group of young men to the mix here at Drexel. By bringing in such a large group, we feel we have added some much needed competition in all areas of the field. We are confident this group will strengthen our team and help us in competing in the Colonial Athletic Association. They are a diverse group with some solid soccer backgrounds and are all dedicated to impacting our environment here at Drexel.”
DiDomenico is a 6-foot-1 All-State defender from Commack, N.Y. His Massapequa Aces club team was back to back New York State Cup Champions in 2008 and 2009. Additionally, DiDomenico was a member of the Eastern New York ODP team, as well as the 1992 Region I ODP team. Neser is a transfer from Georgia Southern who played his club soccer for the Norcross Fury Gold in Johns Creek, Ga. He helped his team win the Georgia State Cup title in 2009 and advance to the USYSA Region III Finals. He played four seasons of varsity soccer at Northwood High and captained his team to the Georgia State High School Championship in 2009.
Goal keeper Pennti Pussinen brings his talents to West Philadelphia from Finland. He is a two-year veteran of the U19 Finnish National Team, including participation in the UEFA U-19 Championships qualifying campaign. Additionally, Pussinen competed for the last several years with FC Ilves and was an academy player for Tampere United.
At midfield, Drexel will add a number of talented players who will help to give the Dragons depth this season. Manuel Cazares is a skilled distributor of the ball who was a First Team All-City selection at Daniel Pearl Magnet School in Panama City, Calif. He was also a member of the LAFC USSF Development Academy U18 team which advanced to the USSF Academy playoffs this past June. Prior to that, Cazares played for the Chivas USA Development Academy.
Also joining Hess' first recruiting class are Ken Tribbett, Brandon Zeller and Khalid Alansari. Tribbett is a two-time All-State midfielder from Colorado where he attended Grandview High. He played club soccer for the Colorado Rush Auxerre USSF Development Academy U18 team who also advanced to the USSF Academy playoffs this summer as the Frontier Division Champions. Tribbett was also named the MVP of the State Cup Tournament four times and captained his 2008 Colorado Rush team to the Colorado State Cup title.
Zeller is a sophomore transfer from Costal Carolina University. The Toms River, N.J. native played one season at Costal Carolina in 2008, when he made two starts and saw action in eight matches for a strong Chanticleers team. In addition to being a First Team All-State midfielder at Toms River High, Zeller also played eight seasons of club soccer for the Match Fit Chelsea FC USSF Academy team and helped the squad to three straight New Jersey State Cup championships from 2005-07. In 2006, he won
Alansari joined the Dragons' roster this past semester through spring try-outs. The Doha, Qatar native will join the strong crop of midfielders next fall. He played for Qatar Sports Club where he won back to back Qatar Championships prior to his time at Drexel and was also selected for both the U15 and 16 age groups for the Qatar National team.
Mark Donohue and Phillip Hagerty round out Drexel's crop of newcomers this season and both will compete for time up front. Donohue is a British national who comes to University City from The Awty International School in Houston, Texas. Donohue helped Awty to a District Championship and a trip to the state semifinals as a junior and followed it up with a 41-goal, 15-assist performance in his senior season. He played club soccer for the Albion Hurricanes Blue 92 Boys team and most recently for the Houston Dynamo USSF U18 Academy team.
Hagerty is a sophomore transfer from Houston Baptist University where he saw action in 15 games, started two, and scored one goals as a freshman. The midfielder hails from Dayton, Ohio. A four-year letterwinner at Centerville High, Hagerty also played club soccer for the Ohio Galaxies and participated in the Ohio Olympic Development Program. Hagerty's leadership helped the Galaxies reach the Ohio South state cup semifinals during his captaincy.
The Dragons open their 2010 campaign on Sept. 1 when they host Canisius at Vidas Field in a 7:00 p.m. match.
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