Men’s soccer coach Tim McClements walks to the bench before the Mustangs’ game against the University of Central Arkansas last semester. (Casey Lee)
Mustangs head coach Tim McClements announced Monday the addition of four high school players to the team’s 2009 recruiting class, two of whom are ranked among the top 100 in the nation.
Though not high in quantity, McClements isn’t worried about any lack of impact by the group.
“This is a well-balanced class,” he said. Aside from goalie, “It will give us depth at every position.”
Defender/forward T.J. Nelson plays for the North Texas Strikers ’91 club team in addition to his Sachse High School team. He scored 18 goals last season and was named the District 10-5A Offensive Player of the Year.
The Garland native is ranked as the No. 45 player by the Web site topdrawersoccer.com on its National Top 100 list.
Defender Bryan Ponce, ranked No.92 on the list, is the latest of a line of players to come to SMU after time, with the celebrated Mission Viejo Pateadores Soccer Club in California, including current goalkeeper Eric Corbin.
Forward Ben Hill plays for the Dallas Texans club soccer team and his hometown’s Coppell Cowboys, who have a record of 9-2-3.
“He brings something different,” McClements said. “He’s a physical forward who has the ability to play both ways.”
Hill was honored last month as a member of the 2008 National Soccer Coaches Association of America and of the Adidas Boys High School All-America team.
Midfielder/forward Blake Milton will join the Mustangs after playing for Klein Oak High School as well as the Texas Soccer Club near Houston.
“This class will add to what we already have,” McClements said.
These players join three midfielders who signed with the team in January: Tate McMullen, Basile Riboud and Josue Soto.
Soto is a transfer student who spent two years at Campbell University in North Carolina, where he recorded 45 points on 14 goals and 17 assists. The Monterrey, Mexico native was named the Atlantic Sun Conference Freshman of the Year before ranking as the team’s second-leading scorer as a sophomore.
Another transfer, Tate McMullen, comes to SMU after two years at the University of San Francisco. The Flower Mound Marcus High School graduate has the ability to play both midfield and forward.
“These players are high in quality,” McClements said. “They will work their way into the system,” McClements said.
The Mustangs went 10-5-2 last season before falling to the University of South Carolina, 3-0, in the Conference-USA Tournament.
