University of Connecticut Athletics
Connecticut Men's Soccer Announces Recruiting Class
4/23/2001 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Shavar Thomas, a native of Jamaica, originally committed to enter the University of Connecticut in the fall of 2000. Thomas instead elected to return to Jamaica and play for his country's national team. Prior to last year, Thomas attended the Hotchkiss School in Lakeville, CT, where he played under head coach Chris Downs. He is a member of the Jamaican Olympic Team and is expected to play for Jamaica in the 2002 World Cup. He represented Jamaica in the Pan-American Games in Vancouver in 1999. The center back was the 1999 Connecticut Player of the Year, the Connecticut Youth Club Player of the Year and earned High School All-American honors.
Andrew McLeod comes to UConn from Meridian Community College in Meridian, MS. McLeod, a versatile player who plays as a midfielder and back, was named the 2000 NJCAA National Player of the Year after scoring 27 goals and recording eight assists. He was also honored as a First Team All-American and was named to the NJCAA All-Tournament Team and the All-West Team. He is a member of the Jamaican Youth National Team.
Damani Ralph is also from Meridian Community College and a native of Jamaica. Ralph holds school records for goals in a season with 37 and goals in a career with 59. He was named the Most Valuable Player of the NJCAA Tournament while picking up All-Tournament Team honors. He was also a NJCAA Second Team All-American.
Joe Coyle is a defender from Princeton, NJ. and attends the Hun School. He was chosen to go to Europe with the Region I team in April and is a member of the Mercer United Warriors Club team that finished second in Region I in 2000.
Ian Quattrocchi is a forward from St. Louis, MO attending St. John Vianney High School. A member of the U-16 United States National Team, he is also a member of his ODP Regional team and a prospect in the ODP Regional pool. He played for the Missouri State team and has participated in the adidas ESP camp. Quattrocchi plays for the Busch Soccer Club.
Jose Sura hails from Brentwood, NY and plays for Brentwood High School. He has captained the New York O.D.P State team for two years and was named All-County and League MVP during his junior year while earning All-State, All-County and League MVP honors during his senior campaign.
Another New York native, Steven Behonick, attends Connetquot High School. A goalkeeper, Behonick started for the West Babylon Panthers National Youth Championship team in 2000. He played for the ENYSA Cup Championship team in 1995, 1996 and 1998 and his team was a finalist in 1994, 1997 and 1999. He has played on the Region I semifinalist team in 1998 and the County finalist team in 1999.
Two Connecticut natives will join the Huskies in the fall. Peter Lechak bolsters the goalkeeping corps. Lechak was named to the 2000 Connecticut All-State team as a standout at Hall High School. He is a member of the U.S.S.F. Regional Team and plays for the West Hartford Wolves. Nicholas Varholak from Southbury, CT is a versatile player from Holy Cross High School. He plays in the midfield and also has experience at forward and sweeper. He is a starter for the Connecticut State ODP team and plays for the West Hartford Wolves.
"I am very pleased with the announcement that these nine talented student-athletes have committed to the university," stated head coach Ray Reid. "They will be an asset to the program and will help maintain the competitive standards surrounding UConn soccer."
