When high school seniors and transfer students committed to UD Soccer recently, Flyers head coach Dennis Currier believes this class raises the ante on his Dayton tenure.

This will be the third Dayton class Currier has recruited from start to finish, and he has called this class a key to continuing to build his program.

"We were still very young this season and have an excellent returning core, so we felt it was imperative to go after specific needs this recruiting cycle," Currier said. "Our defense was outstanding this season but we lacked a bit of depth and I believe we were able to strengthen that area with this particular class."

The 2008 class includes midfielders Jonny Phipps, Lucas Young, John Sobey and Mario Falsetti, defenders Michael Deyhle and Alex Frenz and goalkeepers Patrick Hardt and Connor Quinn.

Fresh off a 10-win season in 2007, the logical next step for the Flyers is to enter the Atlantic 10 title debates in the next few years. Despite last year's success, there's room for immediate help, especially at the skill positions.

Currier, along with assistants Paul Souders and Chase Brooks, believe they scored a top-tier class with at least eight fresh faces on the 2008 roster.

"We also felt we needed to get bigger and this class brings excellent size to our team and gives us a different dimension," said Currier. "Furthermore, each of our recruits has a tremendous history of playing for successful club teams with excellent coaching. This will help them adapt quicker to the higher demands of Division I soccer."

The 2008 class consists of student-athletes from five different states including Ohio.

Jonny Phipps
Midfielder
Plano, TX
Dallas Jesuit High School - Dallas Texans Soccer Club
6'2'' - 190

Member of the Dallas Texans Soccer Club, coached by David Hudgell...Team rated as one of the top teams in the country...2008 Disney Showcase Champions...Regional qualifiers for the past three years...2007 Dallas Cup Semi-Finalist...Varsity starter for Dallas Jesuit High School, coached by Charles DeLong...member of District and Bi-District Championship team...also played Varsity basketball at Jesuit High School.

Coaches Comments:
"We are excited to have Jonny become a member of our program and he follows a tremendous pipeline we have established with the Dallas Texans Soccer Club, one of the nation's most successful clubs. Jonny has excellent size and commitment and will compete for a role as a defensive midfielder or a back."

Michael Deyhle
Defender
Cincinnati, OH
LaSalle High School - Cincinnati United Premier
6'0'' - 170

Member of the Cincinnati United Premier Club, coached by Terry Nicholl...Three Time State Champion with CUP...Tampa Bay Sun Bowl Champions...Disney Showcase Semi-Finalist...Captain for LaSalle High School...Named First Team All GCL his junior and senior years...First Team All Southwest Ohio...Third Team All-State in his senior year...Named Academic All-Southwest...Nominated for Academic All-American.

Coaches Comments:
"For the second straight year, we feel we have recruited the best student-athlete out of the Cincinnati area, Michael is a hard-nosed defender with excellent one v one abilities. He adds tremendous depth to our back line."

Lucas Young
Midfielder/Defender
Glen Ellyn, IL
Wheaton Academy - Chicago Magic
6'5'' - 195

Member of the Chicago Magic Soccer Club, coached by John Hannan and Mike Matkovich...Club Team ranked in top 5 in the country...2007 Super Y League North American Champions...Illinois State Champions...member of the U-18 Development Academy Team...Midfield starter for the Wheaton Academy...Third team All State member...All Private School League 1st Team...All-Sectional First Team.

Coaches Comments:
"Lucas is a tremendous student-athlete that brings our team a very special dynamic - tremendous size and athleticism. He is a true competitor that was a difference maker for one of the nation's top clubs, Chicago Magic. We feel Lucas will become an impact player at the Division I level."

Patrick Hardt
Goalkeeper
Gleendale, WI
Marquette University High School - FC Milwaukee
5'11'' - 170

Member of the FC Milwaukee Club Team, highest ranked club team in Region II...2007 National Finalist...2 Time Region II Champions...4 Time Wisconsin State Champions...ODP State Team Member for past six years...Member of the ODP Midwest Regional Pool for 2 years...2006 Super Y ODP National Camp All Start...Four year starter at Marquette University High School...Wisconsin State Finalist...First Team All Conference and First Team All State his senior year.

Coaches Comments:
"Pat is a proven winner. He has led every one of his teams to a very successful win-loss record. He helped FC Milwaukee reach the national championship game. We are confident he can compete for a starting role in goal for 2008 with the departure of Zac Gibbens."

Alex Frenz
Defender
Whitefish Bay, WI
Whitefish Bay High School - FC Milwaukee
6'0'' - 170

Member of the FC Milwaukee Club Team, highest ranked club team in Region II...2007 National Finalist...Two-Time Region II Champions...Four-Time Wisconsin State Champions...Four year starter for Whitefish Bay High School...Captain for his final two years...Scored 61 goals and had 38 assists in his four year career...Wisconsin State Finalist...Second Team All-Conference...Second Team All-State.

Coaches Comments:
"Alex has the potential to step in right away as our left back. He was an integral part of his club team's run to the national championship game this year. Alex has a very educated left foot and can be deadly on free kicks, an area we have identified for improvement next year."

John Sobey
Midfielder
Woodstock, IL
Woodstock High School - Chicago Magic
6'0'' - 160

Member of the Chicago Magic Soccer Club, ranked as one of the top soccer clubs in the country...Captain of his club team for three years...Qualified for Super Y League National Tournament...Selected to the Illinois State ODP team for two years.

Coaches Comments:
"John is a focused student-athlete with the aspirations of playing at the next level. He is a composed central midfielder that has the ability to link up play. He has an excellent work rate and has tremendous potential for the future. He was able to graduate early and begin his campaign this spring which will give him an edge."

Connor Quinn
Goalkeeper
Richmond, VA
Mills & Godwin High School - Missouri State Univ.
6'4'' - 190

Transfer student from Missouri State University...Varsity starter from Mills & Godwin High School...Three-Time member of the Virginia ODP State Team...ODP Regional Camp experience in 2002...Selected to the ODP/Super Y League National Camp in 2006.

Coaches Comments:
"The staff believes that the biggest hole left by our departing seniors is at the goalkeeping position. Connor has a year of experience at the Division I level and had a very good club pedigree, so we are expecting him to compete with the other goalkeepers for time."

Mario Falsetti
Midfielder
Elm Grove, WI
Marquette University High School - FC Milwaukee
6'1'' - 190

Member of the FC Milwaukee Club Team, highest ranked club team in Region II...2007 National Finalist...Two-Time Region II Champions...Four-Time Wisconsin State Champions...Varsity started for Marquette University High School...Wisconsin State Finalist...First Team All-Conference and Second Team All-State his senior year.

Coaches Comments:
"Mario has excellent size and power. For his club team, he has displayed excellent versatility by playing in six different positions on the field. We are fortunate have three team members of FC Milwaukee attending Dayton this fall. They received excellent experience when they led their team to the US club national championship game."