Rast announces 2010 class
By Mike Kaufmann
Even though it's the offseason, men's soccer head coach Cameron Rast hasn't had time to rest.
That's because in order to maintain one of the nation's most successful soccer programs, Rast is busy all year long, whether or not the team is in action on the field.
With that in mind, Rast hit the recruiting trail hard, and recently announced the signing of five nationally ranked players who will enroll at Santa Clara in the fall.
Perhaps the most important thing that Rast does during his so-called "down time" is recruiting. Recruiting is the quintessential aspect of a top-flight program, and thus requires his full attention.
Much of the recent success of the men's soccer team, which includes a top-three West Coast Conference finish each of the past four years, can be attributed to the solid recruiting classes of the past years.
The sixth prominent signing, Amaechi Igwe, began taking classes during the winter quarter, but will contribute to the team next season.
The newcomers will help a team that is losing 10 letter winners, including First-Team All-American and WCC Player of the Year Mehdi Ballouchy, who became the second overall pick in the Major League Soccer SuperDraft. Last season, the Ballouchy-led Broncos finished second in WCC play and made it to the second round of the College Cup, before falling to Cal on penalty kicks.
The 2006 class has been labeled one of the more prominent recruiting classes in Santa Clara history. Each of the six players who headline the class of 2010 is a top prospect, recognized by studentsportssoccer.com as a player to watch in their respective state.
Additionally, each player has won at every level they have played at, a characteristic that cannot be easily taught.
In fact, aside from Igwe, who played on the Under-17 national team, each recruit won a state title in some fashion, whether it be for their respective high schools or club teams.
Being freshmen, it is likely that these new recruits will not see a great deal of playing time, but their contributions on the practice field could be enough to enhance the team's productivity. The more the bench pushes the starters, the more opportunities the team will have to develop.
Igwe is possibly the most intriguing recruit, as his family is rich with soccer talent. His brother, Kelechi, played for the Broncos over the past four seasons while his sister, Chioma, stars for the California Golden Bears and also has Under-19 national team experience. Of the six, Igwe is likely to be the most ready to contribute this upcoming season, due to the fact that he has played international games and has also started taking classes at Santa Clara.
The potential for Santa Clara men's soccer is apparent, but Rast's long term success will be determined by his ability to pile up strong classes in the future. The class of 2010 will try to help get the Broncos past the second round of the NCAA Tournament and back to the College Cup.
Contact Mike Kaufmann at (408) 551-1918 or mlkaufmann@scu.edu.