Feb. 14, 2008

EASTON, Pa. - The Lafayette men's soccer program has announced that 10 players will join the team as members of the Class of 2012. The players hail from six different states and include three forwards, three midfielders, two defenders and two goalies.

Head coach Dennis Bohn, who is entering his eighth season at the helm of the program, believes this class consists of talented student-athletes who will have an immediate impact on the program.

"This recruiting class certainly met our staff's goals in terms of athleticism, competitiveness and character. Bryan Laut, our recruiting coordinator, did a tremendous job of helping to organize this group," Bohn said. "We believe that these talented young men understand the tradition of excellence associated with Lafayette men's soccer on the field and in the classroom as well as our vision for the future of the program."

The first recruit, Adam Allers (Exton, Pa./Downingtown East) is a midfielder from Exton, Pa. He was a four-year starter at Downingtown East and served as team captain his junior and senior seasons. Allers was selected to the Ches-Mont League All-County first-team his final two years. As a junior, he received the High School Coaches Award and was tabbed as the team's Most Valuable Player as a senior.

Allers is also playing club soccer for Montgomery United S.C. During the past seven years, his club teams have produced five state championships. Allers also played for and captained the Reading Rage Super Y League team that was a 2005 national finalist.

Luke Calvano (Eastampton, N.J./Rancocas Valley) is a defender who played four seasons at Rancocas Valley High School. He served as team captain his senior year and earned First Team All-South Jersey Honors from the South Jersey Soccer Coaches Association (SJSCA), Philadelphia Inquirer and Courier Post. He was also a New Jersey Soccer Coaches Association All-State selection following his senior season.

Calvano plays club soccer for the three-time New Jersey State Cup Champion Match Fit Academy. He is also a member of the New Jersey '90 ODP team.

Stirling duBell (Jamison, Pa./Central Bucks West) played forward for Central Bucks West. He was the team's Most Valuable Player as a junior and the squad's leading goal scorer. Stirling also helped guide his Central Bucks team to the playoffs his sophomore and junior seasons.

In addition, duBell earned a spot on the Eastern PA '90 ODP team and also plays club soccer for Montgomery United S.C.

Elias Hajjar (Fairfax, Va./Robinson) is a four-year member of the soccer team at Robinson. The Fairfax, Va. native was a two-year captain of his squad and earned first team all-district and first team all-region honors as a junior. In addition, he was an All-Met and All-State Honorable Mention following his junior campaign.

A midfielder, Hajjar plays for the Reston FC '89 club team, a squad that has been ranked as high as number four in the country, and also competed with the Virginia `89 ODP Team.

Graham Heydt (Northbrook, Ill./Glenbrook North), a goalkeeper from Northbrook, Ill., played four seasons of varsity soccer at Glenbrook North. His squad was ranked fourth in the state in 2007 and won conference championship titles in 2006 and 2007. He was the co-captain and Most Valuable Player as a senior. Heydt finished his career with 25 shutouts and a 0.63 goals-against average in his two seasons as the starting goalkeeper. Following his senior season, he was a first team all-conference selection and earned All-State Honorable Mention.

Heydt also competes at the club level with FC United.

Jake Johnson (Niskayuna, N.Y./Niskayuna) is a midfielder who played four years at Niskayuna High School, served as captain his senior season and was a two-time Most Valuable Player. Johnson was named to the Suburban Council First Team in 2006 and 2007 and was a New York Section II First Team honoree those same years. He also earned a spot on the Albany Times Union All-Area Team in 2006 and 2007.

At the club level, Johnson currently plays for the Clifton Park Premier and is also a member of the Black Watch, N.Y. Super Y League team.

Michael Klemens (Newark, Del./Tatnall School) earned four varsity letters as a goalkeeper at the Tatnall School. He was a first team all-conference honoree from 2005-07 and earned team Most Valuable Player honors as a senior. Klemens was also chosen to play in the 2007 Delaware High School All-Star game.

At the club level, Klemens plays for Hockessin SC and their Super Y League team.

Wayne Maminski (Philadelphia, Pa./Father Judge) was a four-year starter for Father Judge. He was a three-time First Team All-Catholic honoree as well as Catholic League Most Valuable Player his senior year. He was recently named the Philadelphia Inquirer Southeastern Pennsylvania Player of the Year and was named to the 2007 Pennsylvania All-State Team. He leaves Father Judge as the school record-holder in goals scored and assists. This past fall, he helped guide Father Judge to its first Catholic League championship in 31 years and the number one ranking in Southeastern Pa.

Maminski also plays for the FC Delco Hammerheads club team which has won five Eastern Pa. state championships and four regional titles. His club team also won the US Youth Soccer national championship in 2006 and 2007.

Shane Pruitt (Venetia, Pa./Peters Township) played four seasons of varsity soccer at Peters Township. He made the switch from back to forward prior to his junior season and finished his career with 50 goals and 27 assists. His team won the 2007 PIAA AAA State Championship and he scored the game winning goal in the final game. Pruitt was named the NSCAA State Player of the Year and Gatorade State Player of the Year as a senior. He was an all-state selection and was tabbed as the Section V Player of the Year in 2006 and 2007.

Pruitt is currently plays for the three-time Pennsylvania West state champion Beadling Soccer Club, is a member of the Pennsylvania West '90 ODP team and was selected to the Region 1 ODP Pool for the past two years.

Rocco Schiaffino (Massapequa, N.Y./St. Anthony's) is a defender who received All-State honors his senior season at St. Anthony's and was tabbed the team's Most Valuable Player. Prior to the start of his senior season, Schiaffino was named to New York Newsday's Top 20 Players to Watch List. He was an all-league selection following his junior and senior seasons.

Schiaffino currently plays club soccer for the Massapequa Revolution and serves as team captain. Massapequa was a 2006 New York State finalist. He also plays Super Y League for the New York Rough Riders and was selected to the SYL National Camp.

The Leopards are coming off a 2007 season in which they finished with an overall record of 10-4-6, marking the fifth-straight season with 10 or more wins. The team also advanced to the Patriot League Tournament championship game for the fourth time in five years, capturing the title in 2003 and 2005. Lafayette ended the 2007 season ranked fourth in the NSCAA's Mid-Atlantic Region. In addition, the team finished the year ranked fifth in NCAA Division 1 in team defense with a 0.56 goals-against average.

Player  Pos.    Hometown/Highschool    Adam Allers M   Exton, Pa./Downington East    Luke Calvano    B   Eastampton, N.J./Rancocas Valley    Stirling duBell F   Jamison, Pa./Central Bucks West    Elias Hajjar    M   Fairfax, Va./Robinson    Graham Heydt    GK  Northbrook, Ill./Glenbrook North    Jake Johnson    M   Niskayuna, N.Y./Niskayuna    Michael Klemens GK  Newark, Del./Tatnall School    Wayne Maminski  F   Philadelphia, Pa./Father Judge    Shane Pruitt    F   Venetia, Pa./Peters Township    Rocco Schiaffino    B   Massapequa, N.Y./St. Anthony's