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University of North Carolina Athletics
Tar Heel Men's Soccer Team Adds Eight In 2010 Recruiting Class
February 28, 2010 | Men's Soccer
Feb. 28, 2010
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Seven high school seniors and Santa Clara transfer Jalil Anibaba highlight another top-notch recruiting class for the Carolina men's soccer program as announced Sunday by veteran UNC head coach Elmar Bolowich.
The Tar Heels add a total of eight new players to its already stellar roster, which returns eight starters that helped lead the Tar Heels into the past two NCAA College Cups. The Tar Heels will return their top six scorers for the 2010 season, but they also lost two starting defenders to the 2010 MLS Draft.
With the loss of Zach Loyd, chosen fifth overall by FC Dallas, and Jordan Graye, taken in the fourth round by D.C. United, Coach Elmar Bolowich thinks some of the freshman might be able to play big roles on defense in this upcoming season.
"I see some freshman being able to step in and make a contribution right away with the loss of our two defenders," said Bolowich. "We are getting three seniors back due to medical hardships and I think we will have a very balanced team this season."
Anibaba, a defender from Davis, Calif., was selected as a consensus All-Freshman first-team pick in 2007 as well as being a consensus preseason All-America in 2008. Joining Anibaba as new Tar Heels in 2010 are midfielder Glen Long (Greensboro, N.C.), midfielder Rob Lovejoy (Greensboro, N.C.), goalkeeper Brendan Moore (Roswell, Ga.), forward Carlos McCrary (Roswell, Ga.), defender Chibuzo Odenigwe (Richmond, Texas), defender Anton Sealey (Nassau, The Bahamas) and defender David Walden (Richmond, Va.).
Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Hometown Previous School Club Team
Jalil Anibaba D 6-0 170 Davis, Calif. Santa Clara Univ. Davis Legacy
Glen Long M 6-0 170 Greensboro, N.C. Page Triangle United
Rob Lovejoy M 5-11 155 Greensboro, N.C Page Triangle United
rendan Moore GK 6-2 190 Roswell, Ga. Centennial Concord Fire
Carlos McCrary F 5-10 175 Roswell, Ga. Centennial Concord Fire
Chibuzo Odenigwe D 6-2 185 Richmond, Texas William B. Travis Dallas Texans
Anton Sealey D 6-2 197 Nassau, The Bahamas St. Stephens Lonestar 92 Red
David Walden D 5-9 165 Richmond, Va. Collegiate Richmond Strikers
Jalil Anibaba, D, 6-0, 170, Davis, Calif. (Santa Clara University)
Played for Santa Clara for two seasons at both defender and midfielder, starting 40 out of 41 matches • West Coast Conference Freshman of the Year in 2007 as well as All-WCC First Team in 2007 • Top Drawer Soccer All-Freshman First Team in 2007 • Soccer America Preseason All-America in 2008 • Also named to All-WCC Second Team in 2008 • Started all 22 games freshman year and led team with 2,035 minutes played • In July 2007 played in Pan American Games with U.S. team in Brazil • Has made multiple appearances with the U.S. U18 and U20 teams • Played for Davis Senior High School in Davis, Calif. • Was named Gatorade California Player of the Year for soccer for 2006-2007 • Named Delta Valley Conference MVP in 2006-2007 as a senior after scoring 16 goals and dishing out 12 assists.
Glen Long, D, 6-0, 170, Greensboro, N.C. (Page)
Member of the 91 NC Olympic Development Team from 05-08 (won Region III in 08, national semi-finalists) • Selected for 07-08 Region III ODP team• Member of Triangle United 91 Gold • Helped team to U16 and U17 State Cup championships as well as Region III championship •. National semifinalists in 08 with Triangle United • National Runnerup in 09 • Team captain in 07 and 08 with Triangle United • Played in Barcelona, Spain with U17 CASL in 08 • Selected as Team Captain of 2009 Disney Chelsea All-Star Team • Member of Page High School varsity soccer team 06-09 • Varsity team captain in 08 and 09 • Helped lead team to 4A State Championship in 09 • All-Conference member in 07-09 • All-Region Member 07-09 • Selected to All-State team in 2008.
Rob Lovejoy, M, 5-11, 155, Greensboro, N.C. (Page)
Two-time member of the NCHSAA All-State team • Named once to the All-Region squad • Three-time All-District member • MVP of the 2009 4-A NCHSAA state championship game • Captain of high school team senior year • Helped lead Triangle United to two state championships • Made one national championship appearance with Triangle United • Member of the 2007 North Carolina ODP team.
Brendan Moore, GK, 6-2, 190, Roswell, Ga. (Centennial)
Member of the 2009 Disney Showcase All-Star Team • Invited to US Men's U17 Team Camp in 2008 • Selected for ODP Region III '92 Team • Member of the 2008 Barcelona & 2007 Madrid teams • Member of ODP Region III Team 05-07 • Member ODP Team Georgia 03-07 • Holds Centennial High School record for most career shutouts with 21 • Captain of Centennial varsity in 2010 • Captain of Concorde Fire Elite '92 03- 06• Helpd lead Centennial varsity to 2009 Georgia state championship game • 2009 Sysco Cup Champions • 2008 State quarterfinalist • Member of Concorde Fire Elite '91 • Georgia state champions 2006 & 2007• 2008 adidas Shootout champions • 2008 Disney Showcase Finalists • 2008 Atlanta Cup finalist • 2008 Surf Cup finalist.
Carlos McCrary, F, 5-10, 175, Roswell, Ga. (Centennial)
Helped lead his team to Dallas Cup championship in 2006 • South Cobb County high school Most Outstanding Offensive Player in 07, 08, and 09 • MVP of South Cobb County in 2008 • Leading Goal Scorer in 07, 08, and 09 • Member of the '91 ODP Team in 2002, 2003 and 2006.
Chibuzo George Odenigwe, D, 6-2, 185, Richmond, Texas (William B. Travis)
Plays for Houston Dynamo Academy as well the Dallas Texans • 2008 U19 Dallas Cup champion • 2007 U19 Dallas Cup runnerup • 2009 U17 MLS Cup participant • 2008 U17 MLS Cup participant • Played on team which took fifth place at 2009 USYS National Championships • 2009 USYS National League 2nd place team member.
Anton Sealey, D, 6-2, 197, Nassau, The Bahamas (St. Stephens Episcopal)
Youngest member of the 2007 Bahamas National Olympic Team • Youngest Member of 2008 Bahamas full National Team for 2010 World Cup • Member of 2008 Disney Showcase All-Star team • Co-captain of the 2009 Disney Showcase U18 champions with Club Lonestar 92 Red.
David Walden, D, 5-9, 165, Richmond, Va. (Collegiate School)
Standout midfielder and outside back for the Richmond Strikers for the past 10 years • Helped lead his club team to qualify for the 2009 Academy playoffs • Captained Richmond Strikers U18 Academy Team.
