Rebuilding all positions

The rebuilding period of the UCF Men's Soccer team continued May 21 as head coach Bryan Cunningham announced the team's 12-player recruiting class for 2009.

"We were able to get three or four of the top players in the country to come play for us, and we got some good role players," Cunningham said.

Cunningham and the Knights hope those additions can mesh together with the team's current roster to take care of the issues that hampered UCF in a 7-11-1 overall record last season.

Most glaring was the Knights' lack of offense.

They ranked last in Conference USA in goals and points in 2008, but Cunningham hopes that certain recruits such as forward Nicholas Keown-Robson can be a remedy.

The New Zealand native scored 22 goals last year. He is also one of three New Zealanders in the class, along with defenders Finlay Milne and Ben Hunt.

"One area that we've been lacking in since I have taken over as head coach is someone who's a true striker," Cunningham said. "I don't want to put any undue pressure on him, but [Keown-Robson] really is a natural striker, and I think he's going to do wonders for us."

Two other forwards, William Hunt and Jeffrey Simmons, could help bring some more punch to UCF's offense. They combined for 40 goals as high school seniors last year.

UCF fans were treated to superb goaltending in the past two seasons with Sean Johnson on guard for the Knights. Johnson, who started as a true freshman for UCF in 2007, was at his best last season as he led C-USA with 108 saves and was named team MVP.

But Johnson has decided to leave college to pursue a pro career. So as one door closes, another one opens for the Knights' newest goalies.

A couple of recruits — Shawn Doyle and Dillon Saffle — will join redshirt sophomore Matt Urbano to make up a corps of keepers that have played just 11 minutes of college soccer.

But Cunningham is hoping history repeats itself with one of the contenders.

"No matter how we cut it, we know we'll have a rookie in the goal for us," he said. "But Sean was in that same position for us two years ago and did very well. … The position is going to be wide open, and the best player, or players, will play."

There is also a good helping of speed among the incoming Knights, especially with midfielder Michele Martucci and defender Michael Nwiloh. Martucci was a national and state champion in the 800-, 1,500- and 3,000-meter dashes in high school. Nwiloh won a regional championship in the 200-meter dash.

Cunningham said that he and his staff brought in more position-specific players this year than last. He said they signed more natural forwards, midfielders and defenders rather than players who could play a variety of roles and that he expects four to five members to see meaningful playing time as true freshmen.

That would follow a familiar story from 2008, when six true freshmen started at least 10 games for the Knights, including Kevan George. He led UCF in goals and points last season.

The Knights are still very young, with only three upperclassmen on the current roster. But as the talent that is already in place joins with what is on the way, Cunningham is optimistic that tremendous success is not far behind for his team.

"[Members of 2008's recruiting class] really assisted in this year's process and were able to lure some of the best players in the country to UCF to call it home for the next four years," he said. "That's why we're really excited.

"It's a very talented group, it's a very athletic group, good size and good speed with the ability to mold into what we're doing here."