Bulls Add One More To 2009 Squad

TAMPA (June 26, 2009) – Two days after announcing seven newcomers to its 2009 roster, University of South Florida head men’s soccer coach George Kiefer has added one more to his squad for the upcoming season.

Alvaro Bastidas, a 5-foot-7, 140-pound midfielder out of American Heritage High School in North Lauderdale, Fla. will join the Bulls after signing a National Letter of Intent. Bastidas plays for Miami FC Kendall and was a member of the USYSA Region III Olympic Development Team. In addition, Bastidas was named to the U.S. Soccer Developmental Academy League Southeast Starting XI in 2008.

“We are thrilled with the signing of Alvaro,” said Kiefer. “We really feel that he will be a good asset to the program along with our seven other newcomers.”

Along with Bastidas, the class of 2009-10 also includes: Alex Brisbane, MF/F, Lincoln Community School, Accra, Ghana; Shawn Chin, MF, Boston College, Miami, Fla.; Ashani Fairclough, D/MF, Wolmer’s Boys High, Portmore, Jamaica; Kevin Olali, MF/F, Plano East High, Plano, Texas; Carlos Rivero, D, Carabobo, Venezuela; Hasani Sinclair, F, American Heritage High; Alex Spock, GK, Land O Lakes High, Land-O-Lakes, Fla.

The Bulls finished this past season as the 2008 BIG EAST Champions, including a perfect 8-0-2 record at home. During the NCAA tournament, the Bulls beat Harvard, 2-1, in the second round, and then defeated UNC Greensboro, 3-1 in penalty kick’s, in the Sweet 16 to advance to the NCAA Elite Eight.