Head coach Bob Gray of the Marshall University men’s soccer team has announced the signing of three incoming players to join the Thundering Herd in 2011.
The three signees include two American born players in Johnathan Mitchell and Logan Powell, along with one international player; Cade Parton. All will look to strengthen the back line for the Herd.
Mitchell joins the Herd from Huntsville, Ala. A four-year starter for Bob Jones High, the left-footed Mitchell was a 2010 and 2011 Huntsville Times Elite Soccer First-Team selection. Playing center back as a senior, Mitchell was able to record 13 goals and six assists. A 4.0 student in high school, Mitchell plans to major in biology/premed.
“Johnathan is a big, strong left-footed defender and we expect good things from him,” Gray said. “He likes contact and will be able to hold his own in Conference USA action.”
A native of Beckley, W.Va., Powell led Woodrow Wilson High to the 2010 West Virginia State Championship Title. Playing in net, Powell was a First-Team All-State member as a senior. He looks to pursue a career in athletic training.
“Logan has good hands and good instinct in the box. He has yet to scratch the surface of his college potential as a goalkeeper and he will learn quite a bit this year from Coach Alex and starting keeper Daniel Withrow.”
Hailing from Durban, South Africa, Patron spent 2009-11 playing for Bethel University in Tennessee. Prior to that, Patron played for Sibiya Bootlaces in South Africa and won the Engen Knockout Challenge in 2006 while being named his club team Most Improved Player. In 2008, his team reached the semifinals of the National U19 Metropolitan Cup.
“Cade has a good pedigree as an international player and is versatile enough to play two or three positions for us. He is comfortable with either foot and he should fit in very nicely.”
The Herd reports for camp on August 9th and has its first exhibition match on the 13th against the University of Charleston. The regular-season begins on the 26th at Wright State.