Men's Soccer Announces Incoming Student-Athletes

Central Connecticut men's soccer coach Shaun Green has announced his incoming student-athletes for the 2011 season.  The Blue Devils will welcome 16 young men to campus this August for the Fall semester.  The group includes eight first year freshman and eight transfer students with collegiate playing experience.

The group of transfer students includes Reece Wilson, Alpha Dioubate, Mamoudou Dioubate, Steven Bailey, Nick Cianci, Ian MacDonald Wilkins, Onua Thomas Obasi and Janilson Silva.  Here is a quick look at the incoming transfers…

Wilson is a 6'1" forward who earned All-American Honorable Mention recognition at William Carey University.  Also seeing time up front for the Blue Devils will be Alpha Dioubate who captained the Monroe College soccer team to the final round of the NJCAA Championship a year ago.  Joining them will be Obasi, a 6'3" left side striker and a member of the English National Futsal Team.

Cianci will strengthen the Blue Devil midfield, he spent last season at Providence College where he earned recognition as Big East Rookie of the Week.  Silva is a 6' midfielder from Massasoit Community College, who returned to the pitch after serving in the United States Military.

On the backline for the Blue Devils will be Mamoudou Dioubate and Bailey, both helped captain the Monroe College Team to the final round of the NJCAA Championship last season.

Ian McDonald Wilkins will look for playing time in the Blue Devil net.  Last season he was named a NJCAA First Team All-American and a NSCAA Second Team All-American while playing for Schoolcraft Community College.

The group of high school players includes Stephen Walmsley, Chris Wild, Tiago Martins, Josh Chao, Josef Abele, Nick Taglianetti, Bilal Afolabi and Eddie Bogle.  Here is a look at the incoming freshman…

Walmsley is a midfielder from Perth, Australia, who has experience playing at the National Training Center and has proven himself on the national level in Australia.  Martins will also seek time in the midfield and front line for the Blue Devils.  He was an All-State, All-New England and All-American Selection at Naugatuck High School.  Taglianetti will see action in the midfield and on the backline this Fall, he earned All-Housatonic Conference Honors at Sheehan High School in Wallingford, CT.

Afolabi will see time up front for Central he earned All-Conference Honors at nearby Windsor High School.  Bogle earned All-Conference Honors at Weaver High School in Connecticut, and spent last season at CCSU, but did not play for the Blue Devils.  After a strong Spring of training he is ready to suit up for the Blue Devils this Fall.

Abele is a goaltender from Manchester, CT, who earned All-State Honors last Fall at East Catholic High School.  Joining him on defense will be Chao a New Bedford, MA, native who earned recognition to multiple all-star teams as a high school senior.  The final player is Wild a 5'10" left back and striker from South Berwick, Maine.  He earned Boston Globe player of the year honors while in high school and was the MVP of the Eastern Independent League.

The men's soccer season is set to kickoff on August 26, against Vermont.