Men's soccer signees

[PonyPride]

From SMUMustangs.com:

Mustangs sign nine men's soccer players
Seven hail from DFW area

February 6, 2003

DALLAS (SMU) -- Nine outstanding men's soccer players have signed letters-of-intent to attend SMU and begin competition with the Mustang team beginning in fall, 2003. Seven hail from the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex area. The signees are: Kenny Cooper (Dallas, Texas); Mynor Gonzalez (Guatemala City, Guatemala); Jay Needham (Ft. Worth, Texas); Ramon Nunez (Dallas, Texas); Dario Saintus (Arlington, Texas); Ryan Spencer (Tulsa, Okla.); Mike Uremovich (Richardson, Texas); Matt Wideman (Dallas, Texas); and Chase Wileman (Dallas, Texas).

Kenny Cooper, a 6-3 striker, attends Jesuit Preparatory H.S. in Dallas. He is in his second year as team captain of his high school team and currently leads the squad in goals scored and assists. A two-time team MVP, Cooper scored the winning goal in the 2001 state semifinals and the winning goal in double OT in the 2001 state championship game. He has been offered a number of academy contracts overseas, and posts national team experience. Cooper is a member of the Solar 84 soccer club.

Mynor Gonzalez, a 5-10 defender from Guatemala City, Guatemala, has extensive national team experience with the Guatemalan team. A 2000 graduate from Guatemalteco Bilingue School, Gonzalez has spent a majority of the last five years with the Guatemalan national teams (U-20, U21, and U-23). Gonzalez has participated in over 50 international and national matches. He was selected for the Guatemala absoulte national team that played Belize during the qualifying round of the 2002 World Cup. Currently, he is a member of the U-21 national team which participated in the Central America Games this past December. He is also part of the Guatemala Olympic cycle that will represent his country in the 2003 Pan American Games and the 2004 Olympics.

A 6-2 defending midfielder from Ft. Worth, Jay Needham attends Arlington Heights H.S. He is a two-time Fort Worth Star Telegram All-Area selection. Needham was also named to the All-District team and was selected District Newcomer of the Year. He is currently the second leading goal scorer and assist giver in school history. Needham's high school team claimed the district championship in 2000 and 2001 as well as the Bi-District championship in 2002. As a member of the Dallas Texans club team, Needham and the Texans are four-time NDCCSA grand champions and three-time Southern Regional champions.

A native of Dallas, Ramon Nunez is a two-time NSCAA All-America selection (2002 and 2003). A 5-7 attacking midfielder, he was also selected as a Parade All-American in 2002. A member of the Dallas Texans soccer club team, Nunez and his club team won regionals the last three years and captured the Nike Cup in Atlanta in 1999.

A 6-1 outside midfielder from Arlington, Texas, Dario Saintus attends Lamar H.S. in Arlington. A two-time All-District selection, Saintus is a member of the Solar 84 club team which was a Super Group finalist in the 2002 Surf Cup. He is also a member of the Regional III ODP team. A member of the U-16 and U-17 team, Saintus scored the winning goal against France to give the U.S. U-16 national team the championship in Switzerland (1999). He was named tournament MVP and was the recipient of the Golden Boot award. Saintus is also a NSCAA/All-America selection.

A 6-0 defender from Tulsa, Ryan Spencer attends Metro Christian Academy. The younger brother of current Mustang Ross Spencer, he is a three-time All-District selection and was named team Defensive Player of the Year and MVP. Spencer led his high school team in goals scored and was a member of the team which made a quarterfinal appearance in the Oklahoma state tournament. Team captain of the Tulsa nationals '85 soccer club, Spencer played in five Oklahoma State cup finals and multiple league and tournament championships. He is also a member of the 84 ODP team.

Mike Uremovich comes to SMU via George Mason University where he saw action in 13 games (including one start) during the 2002 season. A 6-0 center midfielder, Uremovich posted two goals and two assists off of seven shots. He is a 2002 graduate of Berkner H.S. in Richardson, Texas, earning All-District honors as a senior. Uremovich helped lead his high school team to two district championships. He played seven years of club soccer with F.C. Lynx and Solar Football club teams, competing in the Tampa Bay Sun Bowl, San Diego Nomads, and Dallas Cup tournaments.

Matt Wideman attends Allen H.S. (District 9-5A) where he has been the starting goalkeeper. A two-time first team All-District selection, Wideman was named his team's MVP Defensive Player of the Year in 2001. Standing at 6-0, he also earned District Newcomer of the Year honors in 1999. As a member of the Dallas Texans Red 85 club team, Wideman led the team to five grand championships, three state titles, three regional titles and two final four national championship appearances. He posted a 15-0-0 record with 12 shutouts in the state cup and allowed only three goals. An All-America nominee, Wideman is also a 2002 AP scholar.

A 5-6 outside midfielder from Dallas, Chase Wileman currently attends Bradenton Academy in Florida. He is a member of the U.S. U-17 national team and has played club soccer with the Solars the last five years, which won the 2001-02 Classic League grand championship. as well as the grand championship in 1999-2000. A member of the Region III ODP team, Wileman and his team claimed the ODP national championship as well as the Region Tournament title. He attended Grand Prairie H.S. as a freshman and sophomore, earning Newcomer of the Year and first team All-District honors.