George Washington University Athletics
Men's Soccer Announces 2008 Recruiting Class
2/18/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Feb. 18, 2008
WASHINGTON, DC - George Washington men's soccer head coach George Lidster has announced six commitments for his 2008 recruiting class, which includes U.S. U-17 National Team resident Brice Carr, Gatorade's reigning Washington, D.C. Player of the Year Yoni Berhanu, Canadian U-17 National Team member Dave Thompson and a trio of Massachusetts All-State selections.
"This year's incoming class may prove to be one of the best this program has seen in many years," said Lidster, who enters his 21st season at GW in 2008. "This class boasts two players who have played internationally, one of the top players in the DC area and three great talents from one of the best youth teams in the country. This class covers every position on the field and we feel every player coming in can compete for significant playing time. The class, as a whole, is capable of making an immediate impact."
The Colonials are set to return 18 letterwinners from last season's 9-8-2 team, which marked the program's first winning season since 2004.
Brice Carr
Defender
Milwaukee, WI
IMG Academy - FC Milwaukee
6-1 - 185
adidas/NSCAA Youth Boys All-America selection in 2007 and 2004 ... Member of United States U-17 National Team residency program at IMG Academy in 2007 ... Alternate for 2007 U.S. U-17 World Cup Team ... Three-year starter at Marquette University High School ... Helped Marquette to state championship in 2005 ... 2006 First Team Wisconsin All-State ... Led FC Milwaukee club team to back-to-back regional championships and national final appearance in 2007.
Lidster on Carr: "Brice will bring great presence and composure to our team. He has a great feel for the game and plays his role with great consistency. He has a lot of experience against top U.S. and international players, which will benefit us greatly."
Theo Terris
Midfield
Concord, MA
Concord-Carlisle High School - FC Greater Boston Bolts
5-10 - 150
Boston Globe's 2007 Division 2 Player of the Year ... 2007 Massachusetts Division 2 All-State selection ... Three-time First Team Dual County League All-Star ... Two-time Eastern Massachusetts All-Star ... Helped Concord-Carlisle High to 2006 state championship and 38-3-5 record over final two seasons ... Finished scholastic career with 37 goals and 25 assists ... High school and club teammate of GW recruit Mike Burke ... Member of four-time Massachusetts State Cup champion FC Greater Boston Bolts club team ... Led Bolts to regional and national championships in 2005, regional title game appearance in 2006 and regional semifinal appearance in 2004 ... Club teammate of GW recruit Ryan Ruffing.
Lidster on Terris: "Theo brings a great mind for the game. He is an incredibly technical player who shares the ball well. He has been a leader on a national championship youth team (Greater Boston Bolts), and we are confident he will bring that same leadership to GW.
Ryan Ruffing
Defender
Westborough, MA
Westborough High School - FC Greater Boston Bolts
6-2 - 185
2007 Massachusetts Division 1 All-State ... Two-time Central Massachusetts All-Star ... MetroWest Daily News and Worcester Telegram and Gazette All-Star in 2006 and 2007 ... 22 goals and 20 assists in two seasons at Westborough ... Two-year member and captain of FC Greater Boston Bolts club team ... Club teammate of GW recruits Theo Terris and Mike Burke ... Also ran track and holds school records in 100, 200, 300 and 400-meter dash and 4x200m relay ... Chose GW over Old Dominion, Boston University and Connecticut.
Lidster on Ruffing: "Ryan is really coming into his own as a player. What excites us is he is a great all-around player who plays with ferocity."
Yoni Berhanu
Forward
Potomac, MD
Sidwell Friends School - Bethesda Mavericks
5-10 - 140
2007 Gatorade Washington, DC Player of the Year ... 2007 First Team All-Met selection by The Washington Post ... Three-time First Team All-Mid-Atlantic Conference selection ... 2007 Washington Examiner First Team All-Metro ... 2006 honorable mention All-Met pick by The Washington Post ... Scored school-record 40 goals and had 19 assists as a senior in 2007 ... Finished four-year scholastic career with 79 goals and 73 assists ... Helped Sidwell Friends School to at least a share of three MAC championships ... Team captain of Maryland state finalist Bethesda Mavericks club team.
Lidster on Berhanu: "Yoni is a special talent. He is an electric player who possesses on the ball skill that can't be taught. He has a great nose for the goal and is one of those players who will punish opponents if they hesitate."
David Thompson
Defender
Potomac, MD
The Bullis School - Potomac Academy
5-9 - 165
Helped The Bullis School to pair of Interstate Athletic Conference titles as four-year starter for the Bulldogs ... Named All-IAC in 2006 and 2007 ... Played several international matches with U-17 Canadian National Team in 2007 ... Three-year starter for Potomac Academy club team, coached by GW assistant Bryan Davis.
Lidster on Thompson: "David has great defensive ability. He is a punishing tackler and has great overall speed. We look forward to seeing great things from David in his time at GW.
Mike Burke
Forward
Concord, MA
Concord-Carlisle High School - FC Greater Boston Bolts
6-0 - 180
Boston Globe 2007 All-Scholastic Team ... 2007 Massachusetts Division 2 All-State selection ... Two-time First Team Dual County League All-Star ... 2007 Eastern Massachusetts All-Star ... Helped Concord-Carlisle High to 2006 state championship and 38-3-5 record over final two seasons ... Member of four-time Massachusetts State Cup champion FC Greater Boston Bolts club team ... Led Bolts to regional and national championships in 2005, regional title game appearance in 2006 and regional semifinal appearance in 2004 ... High school and club teammate of GW recruit Theo Terris ... Club teammate of recruit Ryan Ruffing.
Lidster on Burke: "Mike is a very gifted and versatile soccer player who is capable of playing nearly every position on the field. He has a tireless work rate and overall desire to be a great player.
