MOC signs 8 men's soccer players

By News-Argus Staff
Published in Sports on May 20, 2005 1:47 PM

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MOUNT OLIVE -- Mount Olive College head men's soccer coach Jerry Riggs has signed eight student-athletes to National Letters-of-Intent, it was announced Wednesday. All eight signees, including one junior college transfer, are from North Carolina. Five have played in at least one high school state championship game.

"I am very happy about this year's recruiting class," said Riggs. "The new players will provide depth to our squad and some of them might be able to challenge for a starting position right away."

Bobby Allen, a midfielder/forward from Raleigh, helped Leesville Road High School win the 2004 4-A state championship. Allen tallied two goals and four assists during the season.

Brian Fitzmaurice, a sophomore forward from Asheville, transfers to Mount Olive from Louisburg College, where he scored six goals and five assists last year. In his high school years, Fitzmaurice was named Most Valuable Player of the 2002 Class 3-A state championship as he led T.C. Roberson to the title.

Josh Kiser, a midfielder/defender from Richlands, graduated from Richlands High School in December and completed the spring semester at Mount Olive. At Richlands HS, he was named to the all-conference first team and earned All-Onslow County honorable mention.

Jeff McGee, a defender from Raleigh, was also a member of Leesville Road High School's 2004 4A State Champion squad. McGee was named defensive player of the year and was nominated to participate in the 2004 Gatorade All-Star Game.

P.J. Pugliese, a midfielder from Swansboro, helped lead Swansboro High School to consecutive runner-up finishes in the 2003 and 2004 2A State Championships. He tallied 15 goals and nine assists in 2004, earning all-conference and All-Onslow County honors.

Brian Stitz, a goalkeeper from Jacksonville, helped lead White Oak High School to a Class 3-A state championship in 2004 and a runner-up finish in the 2003 state championship. Stitz earned all-area honorable mention in 2004.

Matt Wallin, a forward from Morehead City, earned first team all-conference honors at Croatan High School. He scored 25 goals and 16 assists and was named the team's most valuable player.

Jason Ward, a forward from Wilimington, tallied 21 goals and nine assists for New Hanover High School in 2004. He earned first team all-conference, all-region and All-New Hanover County honors during the fall.

Mount Olive captured its first-ever Carolinas-Virginia Athletics Conference championship in 2004, eliminating nationally-ranked Queens in the semifinals and defeating Belmont Abbey 1-0 in the title game. The Trojans set a school record for wins in a season with a 14-5-3 mark and posted a 7-3-0 record in the CVAC. Mount Olive tied for fourth in the final Division II Southeast Region rankings.