The Dawn of a New Era

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DAWN OF A NEW ERA: 2010 VCU MEN'S SOCCER PREVIEW

RICHMOND, Va. – The dawn of a new era in VCU Men's Soccer will begin Friday when the Black & Gold travels to Charlottesville to face defending national champion University of Virginia. The 2010 Rams will feature a fresh look that includes first-year Head Coach Dave Giffard and 18 newcomers as VCU returns just six starters from last year's 5-10-2 squad. After accepting the job on Dec. 31, 2009, Giffard and his staff quickly got to work and assembled a highly-touted recruiting class less than four months later.

The VCU roster will once again include senior captains Thomas Hupper (right) and C.J. Gehin-Scott, while fellow returning starters Alberto Fonseca, Matthew Scott, Brad Seymour and Gabriel Rodriguez are each back for their second season with the Rams.

Joining the returners is a recruiting class highlighted by a crop of talented international standouts including Romena Bowie (Saint Mary, Jamaica), Jose Carlos Castillo (Guatemala City, Guatemala) and Jason Johnson (Saint Anne, Jamaica). Hailing from Manchester High School in Jamaica, Bowie and Johnson were each selected to the Jamaican Senior National Team Camp, after leading their squad to a runner-up finish in 2010 DaCosta Cup competition. Meanwhile, Castillo, who spent two months in the Guatemala Senior National Team Camp in 2009, boasts 45 caps for the Guatemala Youth National Teams.

Along with international talent, VCU will welcome a pair of Division I transfers, three Division II standouts and a host of local products.

"I'm very excited about our 2010 recruiting class," Giffard said. "To be able to put together a class like this, with as much talent and depth as we have after arriving in January, is exciting. It's a testament to the hard work of our staff and everyone involved with recruiting student-athletes here at VCU. These players will be a great first class for us as we begin the rebuilding of our program. The mix of new players and returners should make for an exciting group this fall."

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