Feb. 10, 2003
Notre Dame, Ind. –
University of Notre Dame men’s soccer coach Bobby Clark has announced the signing of seven highly-regarded prep standouts to national letters of intent. Three of those players have been members of the U.S. national team program and are current members of the under-18 national squad. Joining the Irish program beginning in the fall of 2003 will be goalkeeper Chris Cahill (Louisville, Ky./St. Francis DeSales) central defender Greg Dalby (Poway, Calif./Poway), midfielder Ian Etherington (Temecula, Calif./Chaparral HS), forward Justin McGeeney (Ames, Iowa/Ames), midfielder Ryan Miller (Barrington, Ill./Barrington), forward Brian Murphy (Granger, Ind./St. Joseph’s) and forward/midfielder Nate Norman (Rochester, Mich./Rochester Adams).
“These seven players comprise a fabulous recruiting class for us,” Clark says. “All the individuals we identified early on in the recruiting process decided to come to Notre Dame. We were looking for players who would come in and give up depth as well as have an impact immediately. We’re very excited to have all of them join our program.
“I think we’ve been very successful with our recruiting efforts the past two seasons. This year’s class adds tremendous depth to our team and continues to move the program in the direction that we want to go.”
Chris Cahill…6-6…190…Goalkeeper…Louisville, Ky./St. Francis DeSales HS
Four-year starter at St. Francis DeSales…registered seven shutouts in his senior season and a 1.4 goals against average…helped team to three consecutive district championships…led team to a 17-5 record during final prep season in advancing to the final eight of the state championship, in addition to sectional, regional and district crowns…first team all-state selection in his senior season after earning honorable mention honors in the three years prior to his final campaign…three-time all-regional and two-time all-district honoree…three-time captain…plays for the Mockingbird Valley under-18 club team…former member of the Javanon S.C. club team which captured the ’98 and ’99 State Cup championships…a four-time academic all-state pick…won the JROTC National Scholar-Athlete award as a junior…named to the Colt Cup all-tournament as a junior and senior…attended Notre Dame Elite Camp and was a three-time all-star at the camp.
Clark on Cahill: “Chris is big and tall player with a lot of potential. He has been coming to the Notre Dame camp for a few years. He is a good athlete who is going to give us tremendous depth in goal. With Chris Sawyer (a junior in ’03) and Justin Michaud (a rising sophomore) already established within our program, Chris will have time to settle in and become acclimated to our system. We are expecting him to be an impact player for us in the future.”
Greg Dalby…6-0…174…Central Defender…Poway, Calif./Poway HS
Ranks as one of the premier prep players in the country and arguably one of the best defenders nationally…a fixture within the US national program the past two years…Parade Magazine High School All-American in 2002…current member of the under-18 National Team…will graduate from Poway after just three years…in current high school season has seven goals and six assists in 14 games…three-year starter…first team all-California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) selection in 2002 after earning second team honors as a freshman…recipient of all-league honors each of the past two seasons…two-time member of all-North County team…earned all-North County MVP honors as a freshman…toured France and Spain with U.S. under-18 national team in May of ’02…shares captain position on that team…has participated in four national team training camps since April of ’01…alternate on under-17 U.S. Word Championship team in ’01…played in USASA Amateur Soccer Festival…Top 22 Select Team for the adidas Elite Soccer Program (ESP)…named Defensive MVP of that squad…three-time member of adidas All-America Team…captain of Region IV ODP team and a member of that team since 1998…also captained the Cal State ODP squad and a five-year mainstay on that team…led Cal State ODP to national championship in ’02…named to the Top 11 All-Tournament team at the FC Borgaro Tournament in Italy…under-16 U.S. National Team member in 2000…extensive international soccer experience and has traveled to Italy, France, Germany, Costa Rica, Australia and Spain…has played for four different club teams – San Diego Surf (2000-03 and 1998-99), La Jolla Nomads (1999-00), Rancho Bernardo Select (1996-98) and San Diego Soccer Club (1996-98)…National Team teammate of two other Notre Dame signees – Nate Norman and Ian Etherington.
Clark on Dalby: “Greg is without question the best central defender in the country. He is a very complete player and can also play as a midfielder. Greg is a strong defender and is extremely creative with the ball. The most striking part of his game is his calm demeanor and composure on the field, especially when the game is on the line. He is one of the most accomplished high school players in this year’s recruiting class. His style of play allows Greg to dictate the tempo of a game.”
Ian Etherington…5-8…125…Midfielder…Temecula, Calif./Chaparral HS
Enjoyed outstanding junior year at Chaparral in which he scored 10 goals and dished off 16 assists while leading his team to an overall record of 21-1-1 mark and the Southwestern League championship with an undefeated 8-0-0 mark…helped prep team post an 18-2-5 mark and 5-2-1 record in league in winning Southwestern League crown…joined Greg Dalby and Nate Norman as a member of U.S. National under-18 team in 2002…three-year member of Cal South ODP team and Region IV ODP squad…earned NSCAA All-America honors in 2001…has played 10 years of club soccer and been a member of several teams – Murrieta Soccer Club, La Jolla Nomads and Surf Soccer Club…played on team which captured the Snickers USYSA National Cup Region IV championship in both ’99 and ’00, the Snickers USYSA National California-South State Cup crown in ’97, ’99 and ’00 and the North American Nike International Premier Cup title in ’99…was on club team which won Nomads Thanksgiving Tournament championship tour times ( ’96, ’97, ’98 and ’99)…also led club team to Surf Cup championship in ’99 and NHB Cup crown in ’00…finalist at Dallas Cup in ’97…played on teams which have traveled to England, Spain, France, Holland, Belgium and Thailand…played on same high school team as current Irish freshman Cody Rizzo, a member of the baseball team.
Clark on Etherington: “Ian is a little guy with a lot of heart. I expect that he will be a sparkplug for us this season. He is a good, technical player with a tremendous appetite for the game. Ian has a strong knowledge of the game and good insticts around the ball. His national team experience is a tremendous asset and will greatly benefit him when he gets to Notre Dame.”
Justin McGeeney…5-8…165…Forward/Midfielder…Ames, Ia./Ames HS
Will conclude final scholastic season in the spring…three-year letter winner heading into senior season…has 25 career goals to his credit…earned first team Central Iowa Metropolitan League (CIML) all-conference honors as a midfielder…led team in scoring with 13 goals during his junior season and copped second team all-state accolades…netted 11 goals as a sophomre and was a second team all-conference honoree..led his Ames High School team to CIML conference crowns in 2000 and 2001…finished fourth in state during his freshman year…starting forward on West Des Moines Attack club team…has helped that team capture four straight state titles…member of Iowa ODP State team since 1996 and has captained that squad the past five years..also a Region II participant in the ODP pool team (2000-03)…attended Notre Dame Elite Camp in the summer of ’02.
Clark on McGeeney: “Justin came to our camp last summer and we (Notre Dame coaching staff) were greatly impressed with his skills and are excited to have him join our program. His greatest asset as a player is the way in which he can find space for himself on the field. A left-sided player, he is very quick to the ball and a tough player to defend. Justin is a very aggressive player.”
Ryan Miller…5-11…160…Midfielder…Barrington, Ill./Barrington HS
Concluded stellar prep career as the school’s fourth all-time leading scorer with 100 points…also ranks fourth all-time with 36 goals and and third with 28 assists…leading scorer as a senior with 21 goals and 13 assists…captained team and was selected Best Offensive Player…helped prep squad compile a 21-6-2 mark while finishing third in state championships and third in Mid Suburban League race…led Barrington to a 60-15-7 mark in three seasons of competition…team advanced to regional finals during his sophomore year with a 19-3-4 record and finished second in conference race with a final 9-1-1 mark…as a freshman, his team posted a 20-6-1 ledger and was a sectional finalist…did not play with his high school team during his junior team and concentrated on playing with the Sockers F.C. club team…second-leading scorer at Barrington as a sophomore, netting 13 goals and dishing off 10 assists…named team’s rookie of the year as a freshman…all-state selection as a senior…played on ODP regional team in 2002-03…ESP All-Star in ’02…member of ODP state team from 1998-02 and served as team captain…MVP of ’02 of Tampa Bay Sunbowl after leading the Chicago Sockers F.C. team to championship title…helped Chicago Sockers F.C. capture Youth national championship, the Disney Showcase crown in ’01…advanced to Dallas Cup Super Group in ’02 after an appearance in quarterfinals the previous year…has attended Notre Dame Soccer Camp.
Clark on Miller: “Ryan is really a sleeper in this year’s recruiting class. He was somewhat of an unknown until he attended the ESP Camp where he earned all-star honors as one of the top 150 attendees at the camp. Ryan has emerged as a terrific prospect because he is such a versatile player and can play a number of positions very well. He is a terrific defender and midfielder, but can also play up front.”
Brian Murphy…6-0…175…Forward…Granger, Ind./St. Joseph’s HS
Capped outstanding prep career at St. Joseph’s with a stellar senior season in which he scored 45 goals and dished off 22 assists…tallied 14 game-winning scores during final scholastic season…holder of seven school records – career points (226), career goals (88), career assists (50), career game-winning goals (26), single-season goals (45), most game-winning goals in a season (15) and single-season assists (22)…led high school team to best single season record in school history in 2002 with a 19-1-1 mark…helped team capture sectional and regional crowns en route to a semi-state appearance…team set school marks for most goals scored (115) and fewest goals allowed (12) in a season at St. Joseph’s…named the Male Team of the Year by the Northern Indiana Soccer Association…in 2001, was a member of squad which finished with a 19-2-1 record and won sectional and regional titles, in addition to earning a spot in the semi-state finals…helped St. Joseph’s compile a 54-13-11 mark in four seasons…named the 2002 Northern Indiana Player of the Year…second team all-state honoree in ’02 after earning third-team honors in ’01…four-time all-district honoree…six-year starter and co-captain of Junior Irish Premier Team…has helped that team capture three Indiana state titles…finished as the runner-up of the Midwest Regional National League in both ’99 and ’00…a starter in 2002 for the Indiana Invader of the Premier Development League (PDL) and played with several current members of Irish team…nominated for rookier of the year in the league in ’02.
Clark on Murphy: “It is great to have a local player like Brian join our program. I feel that he is going to make a great contribution to our program. We haven’t had a player from the South Bend area on the team since I have been here, so I am extremely excited that Brian is coming to Notre Dame. He is a hard-nosed individual who knows where to find the goal. He is very competitive and willing to work hard. I expect that Brian will continue to get better and better with each season.”
Nate Norman…6-1…170…Forward/Midfielder…Rochester, Mich./Rochester Adams HS
Teammate of Greg Dalby and Ian Etherington on under-18 national squad…a yearly member of the US National Team program since ’99…a three-time NSCAA High School All-American…scored 45 goals and dished off 46 assists during his career at Rochester Adams…netted seven goals and had eight assists in senior season…limited to playing in just nine games because of an injury…had 16 goals and 15 assists as a junior in which he led his team to a 21-2-1 record as state runner-up…team capured Oakland Athletic League championship as well as district and regional titles…as a freshman, he was a member of state championship team which produced a 21-2-1 mark and won both district and regional crowns…also led team to district title in his sophomore season…helped high school team compile a 64-16-9 record in four seasons…four-time all-state, all-regional, all-county and all-district honoree…named to the Michigan Dream Team in ’01 and ’02…has been a member of the Vardar III Soccer Club Team since 1995 and has been a member of two State Cup championships (’00 and ’02) with that squad…a member of the Michigan state ODP program for seven years…played on the US Youth Soccer Region II regional team for six years.
Clark on Norman: “Nate is one of the top high school forwards in the country and is going to have a big impact on our program at Notre Dame during his career. He is a good decision maker who plays with a great deal of composure at all times on the field. Nate has a good understanding of the game. He is expecially effective on the field when the ball is played to him and he can control the tempo of the game.”