May 29, 2007

SAN DIEGO - The San Diego State men's soccer team signed seven student-athletes to National Letters of Intent, head coach Lev Kirshner announced on Tuesday. The list includes two U.S. National Team Pool players as well as three Region IV ODP selections.

"When combined with our last two ranked recruiting classes, our 2007 incomers will make this the deepest and most talented Aztec soccer team that we've had in quite some time," Kirshner said. "The greatest quality of this class is its ability to make us a more intelligent soccer team, while maintaining the ability and athleticism necessary to compete effectively in the Division I game."

Pedro Adan (5-8, 140), from local Preuss HS in San Diego County, comes to The Mesa with a host of accolades, including first-team all-CIF honors the past two seasons (2005-06, '06-07). Adan, a central midfielder, was the leading goal scorer in San Diego County in the 2006-07 season with 29 tallies. He also added 11 assists. Adan is the fourth-leading scorer in CIF history with 95 goals.

Gemechu Abraham (5-9, 160), from Beaverton, Ore., brings national team experience to San Diego State and will add to an already talented backfield. Abraham was a member of the U.S. U-17 National Team Pool and was a Region IV ODP starter. He captained the Oregon ODP team and was a member of Top Drawer Soccer's "Players to Watch" list. Abraham also garnered all-Metro League accolades in 2006.

From Suffield, Conn., Cheikh Khadim Diouf (6-2, 160) played for Suffield Academy where he captained the 2006 team and led the 2005 squad to its fifth New England Championship. Diouf, a midfielder, was an adidas ESP participant and NSCAA Regional All-American selection in 2005. He also was a 2005 all-state selection.

Kellen Frye (5-11,165), a 2003 U.S. National Team Pool member, comes to San Diego State from club power Colorado Rush and Chatfield HS, where he played with fellow signee Morgan Maestas. A defender, Frye is a three-time Region IV ODP player (2003-05) and four-time Colorado ODP player (2003-06). He was named first-team all-Colorado and was a first-team 5A all-state selection in 2006. Frye was also a three-time all-conference player.

Maestas (6-1, 165) will look to add to the rich tradition of Aztec goalkeepers when he comes to The Mesa in the fall. Maestas, who joined Abraham on the Top Drawer Soccer "Player to Watch" list, was a Colorado ODP player in 2005 and a member of the Colorado Rush. He is a three-time all-state selection (2004-06) and two-time first-team all-conference (2005-06) honoree.

Another Coloradoan joining the Aztecs is midfielder Raymundo Reza (5-9, 155). A Region IV ODP player for two years (2004-05), Reza played for the Colorado ODP from 2003-05. A member of the Colorado Rush along with Frye and Maestas, Reza scored the second-most goals in Colorado of all 5A players. Reza also starred on the football team at John F. Kennedy HS, where he was a first-team all-league kicker.

Santigui Tounkara (5-9, 155), the fourth Colorado Rush signee from Kirshner's class, was a standout at Gateway HS. Tounkara played for the Quebec Provincial team in 2004.

San Diego State is coming off a 9-6-4 season that saw the squad advance to the NCAA tournament for the second consecutive season. The Aztecs finished runner-up in the Pac-10 with a 5-2-3 record in just their second season.