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Warriors soccer adds local talent
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The California State University, Stanislaus men's soccer team recently added 10 players to this year's recruiting class, including local talents from nationally recognized colleges and club programs.

In 2010, the Warriors posted 10 wins and in 2011 the team won 11 matches and gained a postseason appearance in the CCAA tournament. With the addition of the latest recruiting class, the team's next goal is to go further into the postseason and reach the NCAA tournament.

"It is always difficult seeing a talented senior class graduate, especially a class that helped move us to a top 40 team nationally in one of the premier Division II conferences in the country," Stanislaus head coach Dana Taylor said. "They have laid the foundation for our impressive Warrior squad and the next generation of new recruits.

"These new players fit our specific needs, will impact our squad immediately, and will give us the necessary depth in all positions. They are proven winners, technical gifted players whom have a great understanding of how the game should be played. They come from prominent college and club teams that have outstanding track records, and they know what it means to be a team player."

- Christian Madrigal - Defender
(Turlock/Turlock HS)
Madrigal plays for Turlock FC U19/18, which won the 2012 Nor Cal State Cup, as a defensive midfielder. Like his fellow teammates Jose Ortega and Brady Taylor, Madrigal has been involved in many of the top-flight tournaments in the country.
Madrigal comes to the Warriors from Turlock High School where he anchored the midfield as a three-year starter.
"I am excited to add such a versatile, hard, defensive midfielder as Christian to our team. He will sure up the midfield, as he is strong, quick, technical player that can play many midfield roles as well as right back," said Taylor. "Christian is very strong in the air and most importantly has played in some of the biggest tournaments this country offers. He is a great player, who I believe is going to blossom here."
"I chose Stanislaus to study Kinesiology and I felt a connection with the coaches and their style of play," said Madrigal.


- Danny Ochoa - Forward
(Ceres/Central Valley HS)
Ochoa comes from the fabled Central Valley High School. He will be teaming back up with three current Warrior players, Gerardo Cazares, Larry Hernandez and Jose Ramirez.
"Central Valley High School has been producing some great players over the years," said Taylor. "Danny is lethal in and around the box, has an electrifying change of pace and does a real nice job of creating space for himself, enabling him to get off his shot. We are loaded up front with pacey, skillful 1-vs-1 attackers.
Adds Taylor: "In my 20 years of coaching at the collegiate level, I can honestly say I have never had such depth in the forward position. "
Ochoa's career totals are 91 goals and 31 assists, and enjoyed his greatest individual success as a senior when he scored 41 goals in 20 matches, with 10 assists along the way breaking his own school record of 26 goals that he set as a junior. He also set the record for the most hat tricks in a career with five.
Ochoa plans to major in business.

- Jose Ortega - Forward
(Turlock/Turlock HS)
Ortega plays for Turlock FC U19/18, 2012 Nor Cal State Cup Champions, as a forward. Like his fellow teammates Christian Madrigal and Brady Taylor he has been involved in many of the top-flight tournaments in the country.
Ortega comes to the Warriors from Turlock High School. In his final year as a Bulldog, he led the team in scoring with 24 goals and 5 assists in just 14 games of competition and tallied 47 career goals. For his efforts he was named 2011 MVP Forward of the Central Conference.
"I am excited to have Jose join us. He brings so many intangibles to our team. The energy alone he will bring to our practices and games will be refreshing and it will be contagious within the team," Taylor said. "(Jose) reminds me of one of my former Oregon State players who has been playing with the LA Galaxy the last six years, Bryan Jordan. He is so quick, fast, can turn on a dime and has no problem tucking the ball in the back of the net."
Ortega, who plans on majoring in criminal justice, chose Cal State Stanislaus for the soccer program, facilities, and closeness to home, friends on the team and to help move his game to the next level.

- Brady Taylor - Defender
(Turlock/Pitman HS)
Taylor plays for Turlock FC U19/18, the 2012 Nor Cal State Cup Champions, as a centerback. Like his fellow teammates Christian Madrigal and Jose Ortega he has been involved in many of the top-flight tournaments in the country.
Brady played his first two years for Crescent Valley High School in Corvallis, Ore., before moving to the valley and electing to skip his senior year of high school soccer to workout with his club team.
"Brady is fearless in the air. He brings calmness on the ball, is an incredible passer of the ball, can drive a ball with pinpoint accuracy over distances, and does a great job organizing those players around him. We are excited to have Brady join our soccer family here at Cal State Stanislaus," said Taylor.
Brady said of his choice to attend Stanislaus: "The reason I chose to be a Warrior is because of its outstanding soccer program, facilities, beautiful campus, my friends on the team, and the opportunity to further my education in an environment that I feel most comfortable with. Since I was seven years old I have dreamed of playing soccer for my Dad and now the dream has become a reality."
Brady plans on majoring in business and Spanish.


- Patrick Colombano - Goalkeeper
(San Jose/Valley Christian HS)
Colombano comes from the Bay Area where he played club ball for De Anza Force 93, which won the 2012 CYSA State Cup. He played his high school soccer at Valley Christian High School where he was a four-year starter.
"Patrick is a strong brave goalkeeper, who comes off his line and communicates well with the players in front of him. He will step in right away and push for playing time," said Taylor.
Colombano chose Cal State Stanislaus because of its facilities, team atmosphere and beautiful campus. He said: "It is my desire to play soccer at the highest level and continue to develop as a player. With the help of the coaching staff, I believe I can accomplish this goal." Colombano will be majoring in Kinesiology.


- Luis Hernandez - Defender
(Madera/Madera HS)
Hernandez brings to the Warriors a wealth of experience as an incoming freshman. His team, Merced
Atlas, was just crowned Nor Cal U17 State and Regional Champions.
"Luis is an experienced player that has many high level experiences to pull from. The past six months he has been through a whirlwind as he was invited to play in Germany at the U19 German Cup for our US Men's National Team," Taylor said of Hernandez. "He has a great touch on the ball, very calm under pressure, strong on the ball and a great understanding for the game as a left back,"
Hernandez chose Stanislaus because of it beautiful campus, facilities and will be studying Criminal Justice.


- Zach Jens - Midfielder
(Valencia/Canyon HS)
Jens brings to the Warriors an incredible blend of pace, strength, technique, skill as a player.
"He has the ability to possess the ball under pressure and can do the defensive work of two players. Zach is a versatile player that fits into our system as a midfielder and forward which make him valuable," said Taylor.
Jens, who will be majoring in business, played his club ball for Magic Soccer Academy and attended Canyon High School. Zach chose to attend Cal State Stanislaus for its beautiful campus, facilities and team atmosphere.

- Clint Long - Goalkeeper
(Arcata/Oregon State)
"We are delighted to have such a talented GK joining our team. I saw Clint play against the Portland Timbers when he was with Oregon State and he brought a sense of calmness to the team as he posted a shutout. His positioning was good and command of the box quite special," Taylor said.
Adds Taylor: "We feel Clint can immediately step right in and do the job. Clint has one of the best throwing arms I have seen and will be instrumental in putting us on the attack. He will give us the depth and experience we need. "
"I feel that I will have a great opportunity to continue my career in soccer without compromising my ability to obtain a good education," Long said.
Long is transferring from Oregon State and will be majoring in communications with a minor in Business.


- Dinesh Prasad - Defender
(San Jose/Feather River College)
Prasad comes to Stanislaus this year as a transfer from Feather River College. On the soccer field Dinesh has proved himself as one of the best, left backs coming out of the junior college game in California.
Prasad was named team captain and helped lead the Golden Eagles to a state record low nine goals against in 20 matches. In addition to helping the Golden Eagles on defense, he also tallied three goals with six assists in 2011, including assisting the game-winner against Skyline College and scoring the match winner against Butte College. For his outstanding season, Dinesh was named to the All-Golden Valley Athletic Conference First Team.
"A lot of schools were interested in Dinesh. He is quick, very fit, a hard tackler, whom has a great presence coming out of the back. He is a natural leader who will fit into our plans," said Taylor.
Prasad intends to study public administration with an ultimate goal of becoming a fire fighter.

-Neko Young - Defender
(Anchorage, Alaska/Shasta CC)
Youth joins the Warriors as a transfer from Shasta College after having played at Chemeketa Community College (Salem, Ore.) his freshman year. Chemeketa, a top-notch junior college program, won the 2011 national championship. He is a talented defender who is tidy on the ball, a quick 1-vs-1 defender and a good organizer of players around him.
"We are excited to have Neko join us," said Taylor. "He gives us the added depth in the back that we have been missing. He is a quality player that can come in and take the pressure off our back line. I like his demeanor and the hardness he brings and he can definitely get us going forward in our attack."
Young is majoring in kinesiology and chose Stanislaus for its soccer facilities and opportunity to develop his skills.