March 6, 2008
Bronx, N.Y. - Fordham Men's Soccer Coach Jim McElderry has announced the addition five incoming freshmen today for the 2008 season. Goalkeeper Ryan Meara (Yonkers, N.Y./Fordham Prep), defender Alberto Gajano (Chatham, N.J./Chatham), midfielder Michael Caputo (Cheshire, Conn./Cheshire), midfielder Sam Jolly (Louisville, Ky./St. Xavier), and midfielder/forward Matt Courtenay (Louisville, Ky./DuPont Manual) will all suit up for the Rams in 2008.
"My staff and I are looking forward to this group joining our program in the fall. All of these young men have excellent academic and athletic backgrounds. I expect of the young men to fit in very well with our current group of players and make us better immediately," said McElderry.
Meara, a native of Yonkers, N.Y., started in goal for Fordham Prep the past three seasons, and served as team captain his junior and senior year. He helped lead his team to a City championship and State Final in 2007. He was selected to the All-Archdiocese First Team in 2007 and named MVP twice for Fordham Prep. He played club soccer for Yonkers United and won the State Cup in 2007. He has also trained with Reading FC of England with their youth academies in July 2007 and Feb 2008.
Gajano, a native of Chatham, N.J., was a four-year starter at Chatham High School, serving as captain from 2005-07. He was an All-Conference, All-County and All-State selection in each of the last three seasons, as well as team MVP. Gajano helped lead Chatham High School to the Group II sectional finals in 2006 and a conference title in 2007. He was on the NJ Olympic Development Program (ODP) team in 2003, 2005, and 2007. He plays club soccer with NY/NJ Red Bull Academy U-18, and in April 2007 trained with Italian club Juventus youth team in Turin, Italy.
Caputo, a native of Cheshire, Conn., was a four-year starter at Cheshire High School. He helped lead Cheshire to three Southern Connecticut Conference (SCC) Housatonic Division Championships from 2005 to 2007. He led the team in goals in 2005 and 2006, and was named the SCC Most Outstanding Player in 2007. In addition to the division championships, he helped Cheshire to the Connecticut State Cup Class LL quarterfinals in 2006 and 2007. He played club soccer for Academica FC, was a member of the Connecticut ODP State team in 2004, 2006, and 2007, and competed internationally in England and Portugal.
Jolly, a Louisville, Ky. native, was a huge success at St. Xavier High School, winning the Kentucky state championship in 2007. An honorable mention All-State player, he was selected as MVP in the semifinals of the State tournament. He served as team captain of St. Xavier and was an All-State tournament team selection. Jolly played his club soccer for Javanon, out of Louisville, and was a five-time State champion and two time Regional semifinalist. He was also a two-time member of the Kentucky ODP Team.
Courtenay, a Louisville, Ky. native, was standout at DuPont Manual High School. He was named Offensive Player of the Year in 2007 with 12 goals and 18 assists, and led team in assists in 2006. He played club soccer for Javanon alongside fellow incomer Sam Jolly, which was a Region II Tournament semifinalist in 2004 and 2007, and won Kentucky's State Cup in 2004, 2006 and 2007. Courtenay also received Academic All-State First Team honors in 2006 and Third Team honors in 2007.
