Feb. 10, 2003

MILWAUKEE - The old adage goes, "winning programs don't rebuild, they reload." The nationally-recognized University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee men's soccer team seems to have taken the saying to heart as eight players have announced their intentions to play soccer at UWM. Head coach Louis Bennett once again capitalized on the talent-rich Milwaukee area with six Wisconsin recruits while another two will head south from Minnesota.

"We have assembled some of the best players in Wisconsin and Minnesota and more importantly the best players most suited and capable of playing for UWM soccer," Bennett said. "We have continued our commitment, given our national profile and ability to recruit anywhere, to staying to the philosophy of recruiting top local Wisconsin and Minnesota players if available."

Two Panther recruits, Steve Sperl and Steve Bode, come directly from the Milwaukee area as Sperl prepped at Wauwatosa West while Bode played for four-time state champion Marquette High in Milwaukee. Sperl earned First-Team All-State honors at Wauwatosa West in addition to NSCAA All-America and All-Region mention. On the local front, Sperl was named First-Team All-Area, All-Conference and Conference Player of the Year.

Meanwhile Bode, who joined Sperl on the NSCAA All-Region V team, finished an accomplished high school career with First-Team All-State, All-Conference and Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel All-Area honors. On the club level, Bode played on the National NSCAA Midwest All-Region team the past two seasons.

In addition to the two Milwaukee recruits, Bennett added Jeff Derer from Madison LaFollette, Garrett McCabe from Janesville Craig High School, Daniel DaPra from St. Catherine's High School in Racine while Dale Weiler will head to UWM from Hudson, WI. The six Wisconsin-recruits will join Minnesota-natives Craig Mallace from Mendota Heights, Minn. and Dan Horst from Stillwater, Minn.

"I expect all eight players to compete for playing time right away and that says something about their individual skills and abilities," Bennett noted. "We capitalized on the strong Milwaukee area while once again branching out throughout the state and up into Minnesota. Even though we compete on a national level its nice to be able to grab this type of talent close to home."

Derer is a talented and aggressive goal-scorer who was a three-year starter at LaFollette High in Madison. A strong club level player, Derer did not play for his high school team this fall as he spent time touring and competing overseas in Holland. McCabe comes to UWM from Janesville Craig after turning down Big Ten Conference programs Wisconsin and Indiana. An All-Big Eight Conference performer, McCabe was also named the Big Eight Player of the Year in 2002.

Another First-Team All-State performer, DaPra comes to UWM following a standout career which saw him score 43 goals, 19 of which came this past season. DaPra was named the Lakeshore Conference Player of the Year in 2002 as well as gaining First-Team All-Racine County honors. Weiler, the final Wisconsin recruit, played high school ball at Hudson High School and club soccer for the St. Croix Red Storm. Weiler finished his four year HHS career as the school's leading scorer while garnering All-State, All-Area, and Conference MVP accolades.

An accomplished club player who was born in Scotland, Mallace won the Minnesota State Title for the Sibley Sting in 2001. A two-time All-Conference honoree, Mallace played for the ODP State Select team in Minnesota three years running. Horst follows a long-line of Twin City area standouts to play at UWM, including World Cup star Tony Sanneh. Horst was named the Player of the Year in the state of Minnesota by the St. Paul Pioneer Press and is a two-time All-State performer. A member of the St. Croix Red Storm on the club level, Horst played for the 2000 and 2001 Regional ODP and Minnesota State teams.

"It is going to be excting and a lot of fun developing these players and assimilating them into our style of play and the men's soccer doctrine," noted Bennett. "We already have a talented team returning and adding these players will add a lot of the same potential talent with some added dimensions and depth to our squad."

Milwaukee will return its top three scorers and eight starters from the record-setting 2002 squad which finished the year 19-2-1 after advancing to the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history. The eight recruits will join All-Horizon League performer Tighe Dombrowski and league Player of the Year, Antou Jallow.

2003 UWM SOCCER RECRUIT PROFILES

Steve Bode Height: 6-0, Weight: 170 Hometown/High School: Milwaukee, Wis./Marquette 2002 National Soccer Coaches Association All-Region V member Greater Metro Conference Player of the Year in 2001 and 2002 First-Team All-State in 2002 Two-Time All-Greater Metro Conference and Two-Time All-Area Four-time state champion at Marquette High School

Louis Bennett on Bode: "Steve is a quality player whose strength, style and technique allow him to influence games. He has the ability to play at the back or the midfield in our system. His ability and speed to pick-up the roles and responsibilities of the various positions will reflect how quick he gets into the mix for playing time."

Steve Sperl Height: 6-1, Weight: 190 Hometown/High School: Wauwatosa, Wis./West 2002 NSCAA All-American and All-Region V member 2002 Woodland Conference Player of the Year First-Team All-Conference, All-Area First-Team Wisconsin All-State performer

Louis Bennett on Sperl: "Steve is one of the best high school and youth club players I have seen at simply putting the ball on target which more often than not results in goals. Once he adjusts to college life, the pace of the game and obtains first hand insight to the Panther brand of playing I believe he will do what he has always done...score goals."

Garrett McCabe Height: 6-1, Weight: 165 Hometown/High School: Janesville, Wis./Parker 2002 Big Eight Conference Player of the Year Two-Time First-Team All-Big Eight Conference played for the Brookfield club team three-time letterwinner at Janesville Craig

Louis Bennett on McCabe: "Garrett is one of two high-profile left-footed player in our recruiting class. He is quick and athletic and has shown the ability to play both ends of the field. Running at players, range, and good up and down speed are all qualities Garrett possesses."

Dan DaPra Height: 5-11, Weight: 160 Hometown/High School: Racine, Wis./St. Catherine's Three-year letterwinner for St. Catherine's in Racine Lakeshore Conference Player of the Year as a senior First-Team All-Racine County and First-Team All-Conference Scored 43 goals and added 51 assists in his varsity career

Louis Bennett on DaPra: "Dan is a player that will work well in attacking situations, especially from wide and as he adapts to the balance required in the Forward/Midfield position he will fit nicely into our system. His ability to feel comfortable about crossing and finishing from either the left or right side of the field is an added bonus."

Jeffery Derer Height: 5-11, Weight: 158 Hometown/High School: Madison, Wis./LaFollette Three-year starter at LaFollette High in Madison Two-time All-Conference and All-Region performer Played soccer in Holland this fall with a touring club team

Louis Bennett on Derer: "Jeff is a player who opted to train and play in Holland in the fall of his senior year. Playing with the NEC junior team will have given him experience playing against different styles and mentalities. He is a tricky, wiry player that also can play at both ends of the field on the right hand side."

Dale Weiler Height: 6-2, Weight: 170 Hometown/High School: Hudson, Wis./Hudson All-State performer at Hudson High School Big Rivers Conference Most Valuable Player two years running Three-year starter and two-time First-Team All-Conference Holds the school record for most goals in one season

Louis Bennett on Weiler: "Dale is a Wisconsin resident that played most of his soccer in Minneapolis. His athleticism, agility, and speed are assets that allowed him great success at creating goals at the club and high school level."

Craig Mallace Height: 6-0, Weight: 170 Hometown/High School: Mendota Heights, Minn./Henry Sibley Four-year starter at Henry Sibley High School Two-Time All-Conference performer at the High School level Member of the ODP State Select Team in Minnesota for three straight seasons

Louis Bennett on Mallace: "Craig is another left-footed player joining us next fall. He may be one of the most underrated players in the state of Minnesota despite being named MVP of the state All-Star game. His ability to hit dead balls, pass, bend, and cross the ball will be of great help in our system."

Dan Horst Height: 5-10, Weight: 150 Hometown/High School: Stillwater, Minn./Stillwater Named to the NSCAA All-Region V Team this past fall Honored as the Minnesota Player of the Year by the St. Paul Pioneer Press Two-Time All-State performer Three-year member of the Minnesota State ODP squad

Louis Bennett on Horst: "Dan is another Minnesota player who comes with a high profile in the state. His status derives from his abilities to connect passes in midfield, chase players down and distribute the ball with a low turnover rate. He has good running range and stamina that will help him in the college game."