Men's Soccer Adds Pair Of Transfers

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From SMUMustangs.com:

Men's Soccer Adds Pair Of Transfers
Nick Ruiz And Danny McQuaid Join The Mustang Roster

Feb. 7, 2014

DALLAS (SMU) – Head coach Tim McClements has announced the addition of Nick Ruiz and Danny McQuaid to the SMU men’s soccer program.

Ruiz joins the Mustangs as a redshirt freshman and has three years of eligibility with SMU beginning with the 2014 season. As a freshman goalkeeper at the University of Massachusetts, Ruiz started 18 of 19 matches and was third in the Atlantic 10 with 93 saves and fourth in saves per game in 2013. He was also named the conference’s Newcomer of the Week on Sept. 3.

Prior to joining the Minutemen roster, the La Crescenta, Calif., native was the starting goalkeeper at Crescenta Valley High School and finished his prep career with a 46-3-7 overall record and 14 shutouts. As a senior, he was named First-Team All-Pacific League, All-Area and All-CIF, and was a Second-Team All-Pacific selection as a junior. Ruiz also helped lead the Falcons to a California Division I State runner-up finish and a pair of Pacific League Championships.

“Nick’s experience as a starting goalkeeper will be very valuable to the SMU Soccer Program. He is a proven Division I goalkeeper who will challenge for the starting position” McClements said.

McQuaid, a transfer from Otero Junior College, joins the Mustangs as a sophomore defender. The Longview, Texas, native helped lead Otero to a 16-6 record and a trip to the NJCAA West District Championship game in 2013. During both his freshman and sophomore seasons, McQuaid was named NJCAA First-Team All-Region.

A 2011 graduate of Longview High School, he was named first-team all-district on three occasions and was a TASCO First-Team All-Region selection once. In 2011, he also earned District 11-5A Defensive MVP honors. Off the field, McQuaid picked up NSCAA Scholar All-America accolades.

“Danny is a hardnosed defender who will add an element of size, strength and physicality to the SMU defense,” McClements added.

The pair is immediately eligible to compete for the Mustangs in spring competition.