July 19, 2004
Coker College Men’s Soccer

Eleven Join Coker Soccer Team

Hartsville, SC – The Coker College men’s soccer team added size and skill with a 11 man recruiting haul recently announced by head coach Chris Ayer. Sophomore transfer Justin Potter/Houston, TX joins freshmen Olivier Harper/Orlando, FL, Dominick Pierallini/Lexington, Nathan Scales/Kernersville, NC, Charlie Wood/Birmingham, AL, Taylor Olive/Kernersville, NC, George Penyak/Rock Hill, Joel Tyson/Irmo, Gabe Olvera/Greenwood, Jose Mora/Houston, TX and Jacob Wyman/Bradenton, FL

“This is a very strong recruiting class both in quantity and quality,” coach Ayer stated. “We’ve brought in the right pieces to help rebuild this program after losing a lot of players to graduation last year. This class lays the groundwork for what will be an exciting team over the next four years.”

Potter, a 6-0 defender, transfers to Coker from NCAA Division I Long Island University. As a senior in high school Potter was the runner-up for State Defender of the Year, was the MVP and captain of his team, and was 1^st team All-Conference and All-Region.

Harper comes to the Cobras from Lake Highland Prep and was named to the All-Orange County team as a senior. Harper earned team Offensive MVP and Midfield MVP honors during his junior and senior seasons. Pierallini joins former Lexington HS teammate Sean Maupin at Coker and was a four-year varsity player. He was named MVP of the Sand Hills Tournament in 2003 and earned All-Region honors as a senior.

Scales and Olive both reached Coker from Glenn HS in Kernersville, NC and should make an impact as freshmen. Scales is a 6-2 goalkeeper who earned All-Conference, All-Region, and Keeper of the Year honors as a senior. Olive is a strong defender who earned All-Conference and All-Region honors during his senior season.

Penyak, Tyson and Olvera are three South Carolina players who will compete for time in the midfield and as a goalkeeper in the case of Tyson. Tyson started in goal for Dutch Fork this year and Penyak was an All-Region performer in central midfield. Mora comes to Coker from Houston, Texas and is the cousin of Coker women’s soccer standout, Andrea Bustmante.

Wood is a decorated 6-0 midfielder who was named Gatorade Player of the Year for Alabama after his junior season. Wood was named to the North-South All-Star game in Alabama and was 1^st Team All-State as well. He has also played extensively with his club soccer team, traveling to Germany, Denmark, and Sweden, where he made the All-Tournament Team in the Gothia Cup.

Completing the class is Jacob Wyman, from Lakewood Ranch HS in Bradenton, FL. Wyman is a four-year varsity player, was captain of both his high school and club teams, and made the All-County team as a junior and senior. He played club soccer for the Manatee Magic, trained by U-17 National Coach Keith Fulks. Wyman’s sister Rachel plays soccer at Winthrop University.