Feb. 15, 2007

Chicago, Ill.- UIC Head Soccer Coach John Trask announced on Wednesday that the following three student-athletes have signed National Letters of Intent to play for the Flames beginning in the 2007 fall season:

Moriba Diallo (Midfield - Bristol, Ind./Northridge H.S.)

Kevin Stoll (Forward/Midfield - Florissant, Mo./Chaminade Prep)

Tom Sweeney (Back - Wauwatosa, Wis./Marquette University H.S.)

Trask and his staff also announced the addition of Robert Younger (Back - North Lincolnshire, England/The Read School) to the team.

Diallo is a 6-foot-4, 195-pound midfielder who played on 2006 Semi-State Runner-Up Northridge High School in Middlebury, Indiana. He was also an NSCAA/adidas High School All-Central Region selection as a senior.

Moriba currently plays club soccer for FC Indiana, where he has already won a pair of state titles.

"Moriba is truly a special young man and gifted soccer player," said Trask. "He came to this country from Mali and had an immediate impact on his high school program."

"For his size and strength, Moriba has the ability to dominate a game in the midfield role and will be a force on restarts with us this fall," said Trask. "Moriba is one of those rare players who makes everybody better and leads by example."

Stoll will come to UIC after a stellar career at Chaminade College Prep. A high school teammate of current UIC freshman Matt Spiess, Stoll guided the Red Devils to a Missouri state title this past fall while earning first team all-state honors along the way. He also plays for the prestigious Scott Gallagher Club in St. Louis.

"Kevin is a dynamic player from St. Louis who can unbalance a defense and make a difference in a close game," said Trask. "Chaminade Head Coach Mike Guavain and famed youth coach Tom Howe from the Scott Gallagher Club both believe that he is a top player coming out of St. Louis in this year's recruiting class."

"The UIC staff has been tracking his progress for a couple of years and is anxiously awaiting Kevin's arrival in Chicago."

Sweeney played back for Marquette University High School in Milwaukee, guiding the Hilltoppers to a state title in 2005 and a third-place state ranking during an all-state senior season. He also competes for the Tosa Warriors under the Milwaukee Kickers Soccer Club.

"Tom is a very good defender and has the ability to make the game from the back, which is something we believe is a starting point for playing high level soccer," said Trask. "He was a standout player at Marquette University High School. We feel that his quality on the ball and good defensive instincts will make us stronger in the future."

Younger, who enrolled at UIC for the spring semester, played for the Lincolnshire County Team in his native England while also captaining the Read School's squad as a center back. He also played for the U-18 England School Boys team that won the Centurion Shield.

"Robert is a difference maker," said Trask. "His ability to control the game from the back is outstanding. He joined us over the winter break and has already established himself as a leader in the back and a fierce competitor."

With the additions of the above four, the debut of six redshirt student-athletes and the return of 13 players from the 2006 NCAA Tournament squad, Trask likes the make-up of the UIC men's soccer team as it prepares for the 2007 fall campaign and beyond.

"In addition to these fine young players who have committed, the staff has been extremely pleased with the development of the young players who didn't get a chance to show in the fall," said Trask. "We feel that the needs of the team will be addressed with the recruits and players who have been anxiously awaiting their turn."