Springfield MO Soccer

PRESS RELEASE

The Missouri State men’s soccer team has received commitments from 13 student-athletes for the 2008-09 school year. The large group of signees features two goalkeepers and a host of midfielder/forwards for Bears head coach Jon Leamy, who enters his 17th year this fall.

Kory Dowell, St. Louis, Mo.
Bayless High School senior forward/midfielder Kory Dowell is the school-record holder for career goals (117), assists (78) and points (312). A first-team all-state selection his senior year, scoring 27 goals, 16 assists and 70 points, Dowell was a four-time first-team all-conference and all-district choice. A three-time conference mvp, Dowell was a two-time St. Louis Post-Dispatch all-metro honorable mention selection.

David Buckenheimer, Beaver, Pa.
David Buckenheimer is Beaver High School’s career scoring leader with 92 goals and 87 assists. The forward/midfielder led Beaver in assists in each of his four seasons and was on two Section 5 – Class AA championship teams. The Section 5 – Class AA Player of the Year as a senior, Buckenheimer ‘s 2007 all-region selection was the first in school history. He was a three-time all-section and all-district performer.

Connor Sullivan, Mansfield, Texas
Connor Sullivan joins the Bears following a standout career at Mansfield High School. The 6-foot-3 goalkeeper enters his senior season as a two-time fi rst-team All-District 4-5A selection.

Edin Sabic, Erie, Pa.
Edin Sabic, a native of Zagreb, Croatia, enjoyed a standout high school career at Cathedral Preparatory School. Sabic was a member of four District 10 and Region 6 championship teams and was a 2007 all-state and All-Region II selection as a senior. He was a four-time all-metro and all-district choice.
Editors note - Sabin was featured in his local paper recently after is committing to MSU.

Michael Lapira, Lake Charles, La.
Forward Michael Lapira was a member of St. Louis Catholic High’s 2007 state championship team. Lapira was selected to the 2007 NFCAA/Adidas High School Boys All-Region VI Team. Other awards bestowed upon Lapira include: first-team all-district, district offensive mvp and all-state; state finals most valuable player; state of Louisiana most valuable player.

Anthony Cantele, Wichita, Kan.
Anthony Cantele established the Kansas state record for goals scored in a career (118) in his four-year career at Kapaun Mt. Carmel High School. The high scoring forward led his team to two fourth-place and two second-place state finishes. He was a three-time first-team all-state, all-region, all-city and all-metro selection.

Heath Melugin, Springfield, Mo.
High-scoring center midfielder/forward Heath Melugin led Kickapoo High School to a third-place state finish in 2007. Melugin wrapped up his Kickapoo career atop the following categories: career points, career assists, points in a season, assists in a season, and second in career goals (115) and goals in a season (55). A first-team all-state selection in 2007 and second-team choice in 2005 and 2006, Melugin was a four-time all-district, all-conference and all-region pick. The 2007 first-team all-Midwest selection and three-time all-Ozarks choice, Melugin was a two-time district most valuable player and three-time Kickapoo MVP. Melugin was a four-time Region II ODP club team member which competed internationally.

Cameron Miller, Woodstock, Ga.
Midfielder/forward Cameron Miller enters his senior season as a starter and all-county selection in each of his previous three years. Millers’ extensive club soccer experience includes four years as a member of RPL Region III NASA 08 Elite squad, which won its regional in 2007. Miller is also a four-year member of the YES – Team Georgia ODP team.

Gerard Barbero III, Marietta, Ga.
Midfielder Gerard Barbero III enters his senior season at Lassiter High School as a three-year starter and reigning high school offensive player of the year. He was a teammate of fellow signee Cameron Miller of the RPL Region III Nasa 08 Elite squad which won regionals in 2007 and a member of the YES – Team Georgia ODP team.

Thomas Vania, Kennesaw, Ga.
Three-year starter Thomas Vania enters his senior season at North Cobb High School looking to improve upon his team’s fourth-place state finish a year ago. The defender was also a member of the 2007 Atlanta Cup championship team.

Jordan Hoffman, Chesterfield, Mo.
Three-time all-Suburban South selection Jordan Hoffman was a 2007 second-team all-state and St. Louis all-metro pick. Parkway Central’s leading goal-scorer this season with 27, Hoffman led the St. Louis area with 11 game-winning goals in 2007.

Jordan Barnes, Florissant, Mo.
First-team all-state and St. Louis all-metro forward Jordan Barnes will join the Bears this fall. Barnes was selected Christian Brothers College High School’s offensive most valuable player in 2007.

Nikolas Markos, Hartland Wis.
Two-time all-state goalkeeper Nikolas Markos recorded 49 shutouts in his four-year career at Arrowhead High School. A two-time all-conference selection and member of three regional high school championship teams, the 6-foot-2 Markos compiled a 0.31 goals against average in high school.