San Francisco -  (Two Star Class Ranking) - Erik Visser has added an eleven member recruiting class that is heavy on netminders.  The class includes freshmen goalkeepers Brendan Roslund from Denver, Colorado, Ryan Newland from Truckee, California, and Joseph Vitale from Las Vegas, Nevada, and senior transfer Franco Carotenuto from Phoenix, Arizona out of Grand Canyon University.   With nine starters returning, the Dons look to be well positioned to build on the success of the 2008 team that won the West Coast Conference title with a 7-4-1 mark in league play and earned the program’s thirty-first invitation to the NCAA Tournament.  San Francisco will likely lean heavily on senior forward Conor Chin for offensive firepower in 2009.  Chin, who led the Dons in scoring for the past two seasons and was named the 2008 WCC Player of the Year, had a brilliant 2008 campaign during which he tallied a total of seventeen goals including six game-winners.  Junior Bryan Burke (1g, 3a), who was a 2008 Second Team All-WCC selection, also returns up-top.  Other returning forwards include juniors Rafai Eddy, Jonathan McMullen, and Jeff Penna and sophomore Daniel O'Donnell.  The San Francisco midfield looks to be deep with the return of Second Team All-WCC selections Jonathan Levi (3g, 3a) and Leon Williams (2g, 4a) as well as defensive midfielder Victor Cortez who has two years of starting experience under his belt.  Senior Jamie Rodriguez is among other returning linkmen who should be in the mix in 2009.  The backline, which was relatively young last year, looks to be a team strength heading into the 2009 campaign with the return of junior Justin Warren and sophomores Victor Wennberg (0g, 2a), Omar Elmasri, and Jared Cruz (0g, 1a).  Senior Justin Kendro (0g, 1a) and sophomore Adam Nowak and senior transfer Kyle Dagan from Notre Dame should also be in the hunt for playing time in the back.  Due to the graduation of Jeremy Coupe and Eric Conner the goalkeeping position is  the biggest unanswered question facing Visser in 2009.  Look for the Dons to suffer some growing pains early in the 2009 with tough non-conference contests with New Mexico, California, and Brown among others before beginning West Coast Conference play in October.  If the Dons fare well in September they should be primed and ready for WCC play and another chance to make a mark in NCAA Tourney play.

 

Brendan Roslund - Denver, Colorado - Goalkeeper - Denver Christian - Participated in the Colorado Rapids Development Academy - All –Metro selection - All-State - U-18 U.S. National Team Pool.

 

Franco Carotenuto - Phoenix, Arizona - Goalkeeper - Grand Canyon University -  Senior transfer from Division II Grand Canyon -  Two-Time Pacific West Goalkeeper of the Year - Sereno S.C.

 

Ryan Newland - Truckee, California - Goalkeeper - Truckee High School - Two-time All-State selection - Played for the San Juan Lightening - Two-time All-League and All-Region selection.

 

Joseph Vitale - Las Vegas, Nevada - Goalkeeper - Bishop Gorman High School - Two-time All-State selection - Played club for the Las Vegas Premier.  

 

Kyle Dagan - Westlake Village, California - Defender - Notre Dame - Senior transfer from Notre Dame where he appeared in 23 matches for the Irish - Played club for So Cal United.

 

Cody Barnett - Las Vegas, Nevada - Defender - Bishop Gorman High School - Helped Bishop Gorman secure four consecutive Nevada Regional titles. 

 

Nick Rihn - Glendale, California - Midfielder - Francis High School - All-CIF Second Team selection - Played club with Real So. Cal. 

 

Vinny Caloiaro - Saratoga, California - Midfielder - Archbishop Mitty High School - All-Western Catholic Athletic League selection - Played club for the De Anza Force.

 

Gabriel Goldsmith - Oakland, California - Midfielder - Head-Royce High School - Played club for Marin FC - Helped high school team secure four consecutive league championships.

 

Oscar Englund - Stockholm, Sweeden - Forward - Frans Schartau - Competed for Division III Huddings IF in Sweden.  Should challenge for playing time.

 

Gijs Niehe - Bussum, Holland - Forward - Sinnt Vitus College Bussum - Spent fourteen seasons competing for BFC-Bussum.