March 2, 2006 - Rider signs seven
March 2, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Men’s College Soccer
Rider Signs Seven
LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ—The Rider University men’s soccer team has signed seven recruits for the 2006 season, Rider head coach Russ Fager announced.
“With this year’s signing date came a lot of excitement for the Rider University men’s soccer program,” Fager said, “with seven outstanding athletes committing to Rider.”
Cameron Bertel, a senior at Manheim Township High School, Tom Dunn and Dan Toomey, seniors at Rancocas Valley Regional High School, Brad Lefort of Chittenango, NY, Christian Rota, a senior at Neshaminy High School, Nico Tramontana, a senior at Sacred Heart High School, and Matt Bronczyk, a senior forward at Moorestown High School, have signed national letters of intent to further their education and athletics careers at Rider.
Bertel is a three-year varsity defender who led Manheim Twp. to back-to-back League and District Championships while earning First Team All League honors. Bertel plays club soccer with the FC Delco Crunch, PA State Champions, USYSA Director’s Cup National Champions, Score at the Shore Champions, and Dallas Cup Finalist.
“Cameron is six feet tall and brings with him a wealth of experience and talent,” said Fager. “He is a proven leader with the ability to have an immediate impact on the program and the MAAC. As a central defender he will command the center of the field and strengthen the team with his speed and technical ability out of the back.”
Dunn was a four-year midfielder/forward for Rancocas Valley, where he captained the team to three consecutive Burlington County Liberty Division Championships and the New Jersey Group IV Championship Game in 2004. Dunn played club soccer with the Match Fit Raiders and was a three-time New Jersey State ODP player and a two time Region One ODP Pool player. He also earned varsity letters in track and swimming. He is a member of the Spanish national Honor Society and is an honor roll student. “Tom will enter the program and bring with him a tremendous work ethic along with an exceptional technical ability,” said Fager. “He can play in the center of the field or move to the flanks where his speed and endurance will make him an immediate scoring threat. He loves to attack defenders one-on-one and will break down almost any defense with his speed and passing.”
Lefort “is a big (6’2”), strong forward,” said Fager. Lefort was a three year starter for the two-time NYS Champion Chittenango Bears, scoring 73 goals with 26 assists. Lefort was twice named All-League and All-Central NY and was named the Player of the Year as a senior. Lefort plays club soccer with the CNY Seige and Chittenango Strikers, and is also a three year starter on the varsity basketball and tennis teams, twice earning All-League honors in both sports while being a member of the National Honor Society and was a member of the American Legion Boys State. “Brad will provide for us something we have been lacking for three years, a big, strong forward with lots of speed and a nose for the goal,” said Fager. “He is one of those players that just knows where to be to find the back of the net and has been successful doing that his entire career. We expect him to add to a very strong recruiting class and make an impact on the first team in his first couple of games.”
Rota led Neshaminy to the PIAA State semi-finals and a pair of Suburban National League Championships. As a senior Rota compiled 20 goals and 13 assists and was a member of the Bucks County Courier Times Golden First Team, Suburban 1 First Team All League, Suburban 1 National Conference Player of the Year and a Suburban 1 Scholar Athlete. Christian also earned PIAA State honors as well as being named to the Region 1 All American Team. “Christian is a 6’1” forward who loves to play the game like only a few athletes I have watched in the past couple of years,” said Fager. “He has such a great creative flare on the field that he is fun to watch. He always knows where everyone is on the field and has the knack of finding the back of the goal in a variety of ways. He is going to be a very special player for us as a freshman and for the next four years.”
Toomey was twice a First Team All County, All South Jersey and All State selection at Rancocas Valley, leading his squad to the 2004 State Championship, and he also lettered in golf. Toomey scored 36 career goals and had 30 assists, and plays club soccer with Match Fit on of the premier club teams in New Jersey. “A forward at 6’0”, 185 pounds, Dan will be a handful for any defender in the league,” Fager said. “While he is a very versatile athlete, we see him contributing for us up front and causing all sorts of problems for opposing defenses. He is technical and has good pace, but his biggest strength is in his ability to be dangerous in the box. He always seems to find a way to get his foot or head on the ball at just the right time.”
Tramontana was named to the Cape Atlantic Second Team and the National Conference Senior All Star Game as a senior, his fourth year on the Sacred Heart varsity. A five year member of the NJ ODP Program who served as captain this past year, Tramontana was a member of the Region I ODP Soccer Pool as a Defender in 2003 and 2004. “Nico brings with him a tremendous amount of experience and savvy,” said Fager. “He has just come off a year where an injury kept him sidelined for quite some time, but he fought back to rehabilitate himself and is not 100 percent healthy again. He moves well with the ball in the attack and has a solid knowledge of team defending.”
Bronczyk is a three year varsity performer at Moorestown and led the Liberty Division with 16 goals in 2005, when he was selected to the Burlington County Soccer League First Team and was an All State Honorable Mention. “Matt possesses the speed and technical ability to become a real strong player on the Rider squad,” said Fager. “He also has the right mental attitude on the field. He is fearless and loves to take players one-on-one and break them down with his quick dribble and speed. We are looking to play him either up front as a forward or at the outside as a wide midfielder where he can use his speed to get down the flank and turn the corner for us.” Bronczyk is an Academic Scholar who will major in Secondary Education and History at Rider.
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