March 10, 2005

SANTA CLARA, Calif. - The Santa Clara men's soccer team has signed three high school seniors to National Letters of Intent, head coach Cameron Rast announced today. The three players will join the program in the fall of 2005. Collin Bull of Lake Forest, Ill., Jide Ogunbiyi of Gwynedd, Penn., and Aaron Clubb of Burnsville, Minn., round out the Bronco class of 2009.

"Looking at the quality in this year's recruiting class may be the best way to look at the three guys we have signed to letters of intent," said Rast. "While it is not a big class we have high expectation of all three to come in and compete for positions and roles within our team. In the end all three players bring quality, experience and a great upside to our squad. We look forward to having them join the Bronco men's soccer team."

Collin Bull

Bull, a five-foot-ten-inch defender will make an impact on the Bronco backline within his first season on the Mission Campus. With the graduation of 2004 captain and four-year starter Jason Pan, the SCU defense will have a new look in the upcoming season and Bull will be an integral part of the 2005 defender core.

"Collin has shown a great commitment to the game immersing himself in the full time residency program at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla.," said Rast. "I think what most impresses me about Collin is control over the game. Whether it is making passes out of the back or bringing the ball forward, he will be an attacking presence for us. The great part is that we won't have to compromise the defensive side of the game. He reads the game well and can get in to tackles, which should help his transition into the college game."

Bull boasts a great deal of club experience in both the United States and abroad. He has spent time training with F.C. Bayern Munich, 1860 Munich, and Unterhaching in Germany and was an invited guest of AC Perugia Serie B in Italy. While in America, Bull's FC United club team advanced to the Surf Cup Semifinals in 2004 and the Illinois State Semifinals in 2002.

While in high school, Bull lettered in soccer in all four years at Lake Forest High School. He twice earned the team's Most Valuable Defender award and was named the team MVP as a senior. He also lettered in wrestling as a freshmen, earning Most Valuable Wrestler honors in his only year on the team.

Jide Ogunbiyi (jah-DAY Oh-gun-bey)

Ogunbiyi also comes to Santa Clara from another state as the midfielder attended high school in Ambler, Penn. A three-year letterwinner in soccer, he also earned two letters in basketball at Wissahickon High School. The team captain as a senior, Ogunbiyi was twice named a First-Team All-Area and All-Suburban League selection.

"We couldn't be more thrilled about having Jide come to us from Philadelphia," said Rast. "He provides a presence on the field which can be intimidating to opponents. There is no question in our mind that his best days are yet to come. The question for us is what role and position will give him the best opportunity to impact our team and the game. We are just excited to begin working with him and making progress toward reaching his potential."

On the club and international levels, Ogunbiyi also has an impressive resume. Since 2001, he has been a member of the Nigerian Youth National Team Program. He was named the Nigeria Youth Pepsi Academy Most Valuable Player three years in a row from 2001-2004. This past year, Ogunbiyi also spent time in England training with the Bolton Wanderers Youth Academy.

Aaron Clubb

Clubb rounds out the recruiting class as he will come to the Mission Campus from Burnsville, Minn. He led the Academy of Holy Angels to four consecutive league championships and a runner-up finish in the 2001 Minnesota State Championships. A four-year starter in high school, Clubb was a three-time all-conference selection and was named the Minnesota Player of the Year in 2004. In the classroom, Clubb also excelled with a 3.56 cumulative g.p.a. and honor roll recognition in ever trimester of his high school career.

"Aaron is another player out of Midwest that I am very excited about," said Rast. "He is just now starting to recognize his potential as a soccer player and has recently been selected for foreign tours with Region II ODP. I have had the chance to work with him at Santa Clara over the last couple of years and have seen his growth as a player and an athlete. He will need to refine some areas of his game to adjust to college, which I am very confident he will be able to do. Once that happens with the conviction he shows on the field in directing and organizing his team, I see great opportunity for him to excel in the environment we provide here."

Off the high school playing field, Clubb has extensive experience in the club and national scene. He was selected for the Olympic Development Program in both 2003 and 2004. In his first year with the ODP, he was chosen for the state team before moving onto the regional pool in his second year. He has also played for the Keliix Club Team since 1995, moving up to the premier level in 2003.