Highlanders Sign Three for 2007
4/13/2007 3:27:00 PM | Men's Soccer
Riverside—UC Riverside men's soccer has signed three players to National Letters of Intent, UCR Head Men's Soccer Coach Junior Gonzalez announced Friday. Jonathan Kluz, Jon Alas and Joshua Kelly will join the Highlanders in the fall of 2007, alongside forward Cito Soriano, who is already on campus.
"The addition of these four players for the fall 2007 playing season will immediately impact the team's results," Gonzalez said. "We are excited to start working with the team in August in preparing this talented group of players to compete for a Big West Conference Championship and earn a berth into the NCAA Tournament."
Kluz, a 5-8 midfielder from Rancho Cucamonga High School, was named team captain all four of his seasons with the Cougars, helping lead them to the second round of the CIF playoffs. A well-decorated club player, Kluz featured for Arsenal FC, where he won seven league cup championships from 1999-2002 and 2004-06. The team also won several prestigious club competitions, including the Surf Cup three times, Nomads Tournament twice, and the FC Delco and Dallas Cups once each. The team also claimed the United States Youth Soccer Association Boys Under-15 National Championship from 2004-06. Individually, Kluz has been a member of the Olympic Development Program (ODP) Cal South State team since 2002, also serving as captain. He has participated with the ODP Region IV team since 2002 and trained with the USA Under-15 National Team in 2003.
"Jon Kluz is a natural leader that has great work ethic," Gonzalez said. "He is a central midfield player who works extremely hard on both sides of the ball."
A teammate of Kluz's with Arsenal FC, Kelly is a forward/defender from Riverside's Martin Luther King High School. Kelly helped the Wolves to three consecutive Ivy League titles from 2004-06 and was named the league Most Valuable Player as a senior. He is a three-time All-Ivy League selection and scored a combined 31 goals and 15 assists in his final two seasons. Kelly was also a captain for Arsenal FC the last two seasons, playing as the team's sweeper. He was selected to the Red Bull League '89 Team and will be competing this summer in China and Korea as a member of the Inland Empire Korea League.
"Josh Kelly is an athletic physical central defender who will provide great depth in our back line," Gonzalez said. "He is extremely talented and will help us in winning aerial battles."
Rounding out the signees is Alas, a midfielder from Millikan High School in Long Beach. Alas was a two-time All-Moore League selection as the Rams reached the CIF semifinals in 2007 and the quarterfinals in 2006. As a senior, he was named to the 2007 Southern California High School All-Star Team. Alas is also a four-time member of the ODP Cal South Program and has twice been selected to the regional team. He was a member of the ODP '89 team that claimed the 2006 national championship in Texas and, in 2004-05, he was included in the national team pool. Alas plays his club soccer for Irvine Strikers, with whom he won the Nomads Spring and Thanksgiving Tournaments three times each.
"Jonathan Alas is a blue collar flank player who provides great service and one-versus-one ability," Gonzalez said. "He will strengthen the team's attack and provide depth to the midfield position."
The Highlanders lost just three players from the 2006 squad and return 22 letterwinners for next season.
"The addition of these four players for the fall 2007 playing season will immediately impact the team's results," Gonzalez said. "We are excited to start working with the team in August in preparing this talented group of players to compete for a Big West Conference Championship and earn a berth into the NCAA Tournament."
Kluz, a 5-8 midfielder from Rancho Cucamonga High School, was named team captain all four of his seasons with the Cougars, helping lead them to the second round of the CIF playoffs. A well-decorated club player, Kluz featured for Arsenal FC, where he won seven league cup championships from 1999-2002 and 2004-06. The team also won several prestigious club competitions, including the Surf Cup three times, Nomads Tournament twice, and the FC Delco and Dallas Cups once each. The team also claimed the United States Youth Soccer Association Boys Under-15 National Championship from 2004-06. Individually, Kluz has been a member of the Olympic Development Program (ODP) Cal South State team since 2002, also serving as captain. He has participated with the ODP Region IV team since 2002 and trained with the USA Under-15 National Team in 2003.
"Jon Kluz is a natural leader that has great work ethic," Gonzalez said. "He is a central midfield player who works extremely hard on both sides of the ball."
A teammate of Kluz's with Arsenal FC, Kelly is a forward/defender from Riverside's Martin Luther King High School. Kelly helped the Wolves to three consecutive Ivy League titles from 2004-06 and was named the league Most Valuable Player as a senior. He is a three-time All-Ivy League selection and scored a combined 31 goals and 15 assists in his final two seasons. Kelly was also a captain for Arsenal FC the last two seasons, playing as the team's sweeper. He was selected to the Red Bull League '89 Team and will be competing this summer in China and Korea as a member of the Inland Empire Korea League.
"Josh Kelly is an athletic physical central defender who will provide great depth in our back line," Gonzalez said. "He is extremely talented and will help us in winning aerial battles."
Rounding out the signees is Alas, a midfielder from Millikan High School in Long Beach. Alas was a two-time All-Moore League selection as the Rams reached the CIF semifinals in 2007 and the quarterfinals in 2006. As a senior, he was named to the 2007 Southern California High School All-Star Team. Alas is also a four-time member of the ODP Cal South Program and has twice been selected to the regional team. He was a member of the ODP '89 team that claimed the 2006 national championship in Texas and, in 2004-05, he was included in the national team pool. Alas plays his club soccer for Irvine Strikers, with whom he won the Nomads Spring and Thanksgiving Tournaments three times each.
"Jonathan Alas is a blue collar flank player who provides great service and one-versus-one ability," Gonzalez said. "He will strengthen the team's attack and provide depth to the midfield position."
The Highlanders lost just three players from the 2006 squad and return 22 letterwinners for next season.
Day in the Life: Leilani Juan
Monday, May 04
UCR Student-Athletes cheer on our students.
Friday, May 01
UCR Athletics Director Introductory Full Press Conference
Tuesday, March 24
Athletics Director Greg Paules Introductory Presentation Recap
Tuesday, March 24
