HPU Men’s Soccer Announces Its 2014 Recruiting Class

HIGH POINT, N.C. – High Point University men’s soccer head coach Dustin Fonder announced the addition of six players for the 2014 season on Wednesday. The 2014 class includes two midfielders, two goalkeepers, one forward and one defender.

Michael Cusack (Houston, Texas), Poli Ibarra (Katy, Texas), David Price (Needham, Mass.), Irvin Ramirez (Houston, Texas), Avery Ryan (Florence, S.C.) and Cameron Zell (Ringoes, N.J.) will all join HPU as freshmen next season.

“We are very excited to add these six talented players to our program for 2014,” Fonder said. “We feel that this class is comprised of versatile players that can help in several areas around the field. This class is strong both in soccer talent and character and we can’t wait until they are on campus.”

Michael Cusack
Midfielder
Houston, Texas
5-9, 160
St. Thomas’ Episcopal School

Prior to High Point: Plays club soccer with the Houston Dynamo Academy … Has played in 27 games with 14 starts over two seasons playing with the U17/18 Team … Reached the Quarterfinals of the Dallas Cup in 2011 … Named first-team All-State and All-Area TAPPS 3A as a freshman, his only year of prep soccer … Cusack is rated a three-star prospect by TopDrawerSoccer.

Personal: Son of Michael and Donna Cusack … Born on Aug. 30, 1995.

Fonder on Cusack: “Michael Cusack is a very versatile player from Houston. We see him as someone who has the ability to contribute both in the midfield and on defense. We look forward to getting him into the program and seeing where he can help us most.”

Poli Ibarra
Defender
Katy, Texas
5-8, 160
Seven Lakes High School

Prior to High Point: Plays club soccer with the Texas Rush Academy … Previously played with the Houston Dynamo Academy … Played in 20 games with 13 starts during the 2012-13 season … Reached the Quarterfinals of the Dallas Cup in 2011 with the Dynamo … Played two years of varsity soccer at Seven Lakes.

Personal: Son of Policarpo Rodriguez and Irma Ibarra … Born on April 25, 1995 … Has one older sister, Valeria Rodriguez.

Fonder on Ibarra: “Pol Ibarra is a player who can contribute at several different positions for us. He is a versatile player who can make a difference in the middle of the field or on the back line. He is a technical player who is a very good passer and we think his possession play will really benefit the team.”

David Price
Goalkeeper
Needham, Mass.
5-11, 165
Beaver County Day School

Prior to High Point: Plays club soccer with the FC Bolts Celtic Academy … Has played in 31 games with 26 starts as part of the Academy’s U17/18 Team … Chosen to play with the UC U-17 team in the Maccabi Pan American Games in Sao Paolo, Brazil in 2011 … Named captain of the team and helped guide it to a silver medal … Played two years of varsity soccer at Beaver County Day … Named first-team All-Conference as a freshman … Led the Eastern Independent League in goals-against as a freshman … Price is rated a three-star prospect by TopDrawerSoccer.

Personal: Son of Jonathan Price … Born on April 14, 1995, Has one older sister, Lindsey.

Fonder on Price: “David Price is a talented player who will add depth to the goalkeeping position. He is very quick off his line and is good with his feet. He will add a different style of player to the goalkeeping corp.”

Irvin Ramirez
Midfielder
Houston, Texas
5-8, 140
Alief Elsik High School

Prior to High Point: Plays club soccer with the Houston Dynamo Academy … Has played in 40 games with 34 starts in two years with the Dynamo U17/18 team … Has nine goals and two assists … Played in 33 games and scored four goals with the U15/16 team in 2011-12 … Played one year of varsity soccer as a freshman at Elsik High School … Named first-team All-District … Ramirez is rated a three-star prospect by TopDrawerSoccer.

Personal: Son of Gabriel and Margarita Ramirez … Born on Dec. 13, 1995 … Has three sisters: Alondra, Maria Jose and Zaleth … Uncle, Eduardo Rodriguez, played professional soccer in Mexico and was a member of the Mexico U20 National Team.

Fonder on Ramirez: “Irvin Ramirez is an extremely technical player. We expect him to contribute on the wing right away. As his career develops, we feel he is also someone that we can use in the center of the midfield.”

Avery Ryan
Forward
Florence, S.C.
6-2, 170
West Florence High School

Prior to High Point: Plays club soccer with SC Untied Battery Academy … Has played three and a half seasons with the Battery and has scored 25 goals … Has started 19 of 20 games this season and scored seven goals … Rated an four-star prospect, the 26th-best senior forward in the nation and the 19th-best player in the South Atlantic Region by Top Drawer Soccer … Selected to the best XI in the Top Drawer Raleigh Combine in 2013.

Personal: Son of Steve and Jacque Ryan … Born on July 24, 1996 … Has one older brother, James.

Fonder on Ryan: “Avery Ryan is an explosive forward who is still a bit raw. We can’t wait to get him into a daily training environment because we think the future is very bright for him. He is an extremely athletic player who knows what to do in front of goal and will add some punch to our attack next season.”

Cameron Zell
Goalkeeper
Ringoes, N.J.
6-3, 190
Hunterdon Central High School

Prior to High Point: Played one year of varsity soccer as a senior at Hunterdon Central … Posted 19 shutouts and allowed just six goals while helping lead the team to a 20-2-4 record and a No. 5 ranking in the state … Named first-team All-State, first-team All-West Jersey and first-team All-Area … Played club soccer with the Players Development Academy … Helped the team reach the State Cup finals and the finals at the Nike Premier Cup in 2011-12 … Zell is rated a three-star prospect by TopDrawerSoccer.

Personal: Son of Gary and Teresa Zell … Has one younger brother, Bryce, and one younger sister, Avery.

Fonder on Zell: “Cameron Zell is a tall physical presence who will add even more depth to the goalkeeping position. His combination of size and athleticism gives him a very high ceiling and we look forward to helping him improve technically during his time at High Point.”

High Point returns 10 starters from its 2013 squad that went 5-2-2 in its final nine games to finish with an overall record of 8-8-3. NSCAA All-Region selection and first-team All-Big South member Mamadee Nyepon returns to lead the squad after finishing with 11 goals and 27 points in his junior season.