Matias Asorey
Midfielder · Sophomore · 5-7 · 145 · Miami, FL (Sunset)
pleasant surprise as a freshman who is expected to develop further in his second season…a hard worker poised to have a break-out season…played in all 18 matches last season, starting 11 times…finished third on the 1999 squad with seven points on two goals and three assists on 20 shots…scored the team's lone goal during a 1-0 win over ranked Ohio State (10/31)…tallied his first intercollegiate goal vs. No. 16 Jacksonville (10/9)…picked up assists against Marshall (10/22), Howard (11/5) and Lynn (11/7)...considered one of the finest high school players to come out of the Miami-Dade County area in 1997…attended St. Thomas University in 1998 but did not compete intercollegiately…Sunset's all-time career leading scorer with 64 goals and 57 assists in four seasons…scored 30 goals during his senior campaign…All-County selection as both a junior and senior and a member of the Puma All-Tournament team...a two-time team MVP and twice made appearances in the Sun Bowl…played club soccer for the AAU Strike Force, helping that organization to state titles in 1996 and '97…two-time AAU All-American…son of Jorge and Ana Asorey…undecided major.

 Year G/GS Shots Goals Assists Points
1999 18/11 20 2 3 7

Burt Burris
Forward · Junior · 6-0 · 186 · Mt. Grace, Tobago
(Signal Hill Senior/Charleston, WV)
ombination of skills and speed makes him a potent offensive weapon…inconsistencies and injuries limited his effectiveness last season…major contributions are expected…played in only 12 games last year with two starts…finished with eight shots on goal…transferred to FIU from the University of Charleston where he played one season…tallied 17 goals and 11 assists as a high school senior…team MVP that season…member of the 1996 Trinidad and Tobago National high school all-star team…played with the under-20 Trinidad and Tobago National team…veteran club soccer performer with the Bertille St. Clair Coaching School…son of Bertram and Elsa Burris…brother Otis plays intercollegiate soccer at Campbell (NC) University…Business Administration major.

 Year G/GS Shots Goals Assists Points
1999 13/2 8 0 0 0

Danny Canchon
Defender · Junior · 5-10 · 160 · Miami, FL (Sunset)
olid defender who got better as last season progressed after sitting out the prior two years because of injuries…competitive player who turned out to be a very pleasant surprise…has great knowledge of the game…expected to show even more improvement this season…played in and started all 18 games of last season…took two shots and recorded a pair of assists in 1999, both of those coming in a 4-0 win over Howard (11/5)…those two assists in one game were the season high for an FIU player in 1999…played four years of prep soccer…team captain as a senior and Defensive MVP in 1996-97…participated in the AAU Junior Olympics where he was named All-America…Defensive MVP and Most Valuable Player at the 1997 Junior Orange Bowl…competed with the state champion Miami Strike Force club team (1994-97)…three-year high school Honor Roll member…1989-99 Sun Belt Conference Academic Honor Roll honoree…son of Ruben and Ines Canchon…Accounting major.

 Year G/GS Shots Goals Assists Points
1999 18/18 2 0 2 2

Conor Collins
Midfielder · Junior · 5-9 · 150 · Austin, TX (Westlake/Texas)
howed marked improvement over his first two intercollegiate seasons…after a good spring practice, further development is expected this year…a potential team leader…could find himself moving into the middle as a defensive midfielder after playing the last two seasons on the flanks…good ball handler with above-average distribution skills…started 16 of the 17 games he played last year…took eight shots on goal with two assists…assisted on goals in wins over Florida Atlantic (9/30) and Howard (11/5)…played 16 games as a freshman with two starts and eight shots on goal…the Golden Panthers won both of those game starts…one of the first off the bench in 1998…attended the University of Texas but did not compete intercollegiately…four-year prep letterwinner…district and team Most Valuable Player as a senior…scored six goals and had 11 assists that season…second-team All-District as a junior and honorable mention as a sophomore…member of the Longhorn Soccer Club program throughout his high school career…Longhorn was regional runner-up in the summer of 1998…1998-99 Sun Belt Conference Commissioner's All-Academic List honoree…son of Craig and Kathy Collins…History major.

 Year G/GS Shots Goals Assists Points
1998 16/2 8 0 0 0
1999 17/16 8 0 2 2
Totals 33/18 16 0 2 2

Wendell Collymore
Defender · Senior · 6-1 · 210 · Freeport, Trinidad
(Presentation College/Cumberland)
ig and strong with good speed…got lost in a number's game last season but is expect to shine in a central defensive role this year…coming off a good spring practice…played in three games during 1999, all coming off the bench…played at Cumberland (KY) College after an outstanding prep career…Most Valuable Player of the 1997 Hardee's Classic and '98 Mt. Vernon Invitational…member of he 1996 under-19 Trinidad and Tobago National team that competed for the Norway Cup…son of Angella Collymore…Electrical Engineering major.

 Year G/GS Shots Goals Assists Points
1999 3/0 0 0 0 0

Wally Crittenden
Goalkeeper · Junior · 6-2 · 185 · Houston, TX (Clear Lake)
remendous potential to become an outstanding intercollegiate keeper…expected to be a top challenger as the every-game goalkeeper…started the first 12 contests of last year until being sidelined by a season-ending injury…saved 45 shots and posted two shutouts in 1120:50 of work…stopped a career-high nine shots in a 1-0 overtime victory against No. 1-ranked UCLA (9/10)…also posted a 1-0 shutout victory over California-Irvine (9/17)…1.85 goals against average ranked sixth nationally among Division I Independent goalkeepers…appeared in five games as a freshman with four starts…played 45 minutes in a combined 1-0 shutout over Campbell (10/15/98)…in a game start vs. No. 12 Clemson (9/4/98), started and allowed only one goal…finished the campaign with nine saves, recording season-high three saves twice…under-20 Olympic National team pool goalkeeper during the summer of 1998 when he was named to the Olympic All-America team…outstanding prep player…recorded a career 0.44 goals against average and 33 shutouts in high school…All-Texas and All-Region as a senior…three-time All-District and All-Greater Houston twice…1998-99 Sun Belt Conference Commissioner's All-Academic List honoree…son of Bill and Susan Crittenden…Education major.

 Year G/GS Minutes ShO Saves Shots Goals GAA
1998 5/4 405:00 0 (1) 9 43 12 2.67
1999 12/12 1120:50 2 45 120 23 1.85
Totals 17.16 1525:50 2 (1) 54 163 35 2.06

Daouda Kanté
Midfielder · Senior · 6-2 · 180 · Mali, West Africa
(St. Benedict's Prep/Mercer CC, NJ)
steady player and another potential team leader…after playing at the midfield for most of last season, moved to a central defense position in the spring and performed well…adept at ball distribution…started 14 of the 17 matches he played last season with three shots…scored a goal and added one assist…tallied the game-winning score in FIU's 1-0 win over California-Irvine (9/17)…assisted on the third and final goal of the Golden Panther's 3-0 victory vs. Lynn (11/7)…considered one of the premier recruits of last year's team…junior college All-America and Player of the Year in the state of New Jersey in 1998…named All-East, All-State and team captain…played two seasons of high school soccer at St. Benedict's (NJ) where he recorded 34 goals and 30 assists…helped St. Benedict's to the 1996 state championship…two-time All-State selection who was picked as the Essex County Player of the Year as a senior…twice named to the Dean's List at Mercer…son of Bakary and Astan Kanté…Economics major.

 Year G/GS Shots Goals Assists Points
1999 17/14 6 1 1 3

Hugh Leefah
Midfielder · Senior · 5-7 · 145 · Miami, FL (Norland)
professional prospect who is expected to have a banner year…has been working hard to excel…possesses all the tools: skills, speed and desire…one criticism is that he tries to do too much…versatility allows him to play back on defense or push the ball forward…played and started 14 games last season with seven shots…as a sophomore, was one of only two players to play in, and start, every match…scored a goal with three assists that year on eight shots…scored the tying goal in FIU's 4-3 come-from-behind win over UCF (9/30/98)…redshirted in 1997 after playing sparingly in 1996, seeing action in three matches, one of those being in the NCAA National Championship semifinals against UNC-Charlotte (12/13/96)…didn't play high school soccer but competed instead as a member of the State Select team from 1991 through '96…veteran amateur club performer with the four-time state champion Plantation program…All-Tournament team selection at the 1995 National trails and a member of the under-18 US National team pool…son of Elaine Leefah…Business major.

 Year G/GS Shots Goals Assists Points
1996 3/0 0 0 0 0
1997 Redshirted, Did not play
1998 18/18 8 1 3 5
1999 14/14 7 0 0 0
Totals 35/32 15 1 3 5

Julian Martinez
Defender · Senior · 5-7 · 145 · Miami, FL (American)

ne of the fastest players on the team…reads the game extremely well…possibly one of the most talented individuals on the team and one of the most consistent players the FIU program has ever had…his anticipation skills always put him in great position on defense…being counted on as one of the squad leaders…started in 16 of the 17 games he played last season…scored his first and only collegiate goal unassisted against Howard (11/5)…also had an assist during an FIU victory over Florida Atlantic (9/30)…played and started 17 matches as a sophomore…scored his first collegiate point on an assist against Florida Atlantic (10/10/98)…named Defensive MVP of the '98 FIU/Umbro Classic after team wins against nationally-ranked Akron and Brown…started 18 of 20 matches as a freshman…missed the NCAA contest against South Florida (11/21/97) with a sprained knee…Defensive MVP of the 1997 adidas/Foot Locker Classic and All-Tournament at the BellSouth Classic…played three seasons of high school soccer…named team MVP and 1996-97 Athlete of the Year in soccer by The Miami Herald…played summer AAU ball with the state champion and regional runner-up Lighthouse Soccer Club…son of Bernardo and Mariela Martinez…Business major.

 Year G/GS Shots Goals Assists Points
1997 20/18 3 0 0 0
1998 17/17 1 0 1 1
1999 17/16 4 1 1 3
Totals 54/51 8 1 2 4

Juan Rivera
Midfielder/Forward · Sophomore · 5-8 · 155 · Miami, FL (American)
utstanding high school talent who is capable of becoming a very good college player…strong and skillful player who needs to become more consistent…excellent on free kicks…played in seven games as a freshman and took two shots…scored his lone goal of the campaign unassisted during a 2-2 overtime tie against Rhode Island (9/5)…played with the 1999 National and State champion team from American HS…four-year prep letterwinner…All-State performer who was twice named Most Valuable Player at the Central Florida Challenge Cup…club soccer performer with the Strike Force organization…son of Oscar and Luz Helena Rivera…undecided major.

 Year G/GS Shots Goals Assists Points
1999 7/0 2 1 0 2

Franklyn Rubio
Goalkeeper · Junior · 6-0 · 190 · Miami, FL (Sunset/Barry)
ery pleasant surprise last season who stepped up when starter Wally Crittenden was sidelined due to injury…enters the fall firmly in the running for the starting keeper assignment…rose to the occasion last year, making some big saves in the clutch…recorded three consecutive shutouts, the first of which came against nationally-ranked Ohio State (10/31)…lost 1-0 in overtime to No. 1 Indiana (10/29)…named Defensive MVP of the BellSouth Classic and Division I Independent Rookie of the Week (11/1)…had 19 saves and allowed only four goals in 588:08…played as the back-up goalkeeper as a freshman at Barry in 1998, allowing no goals and one save in two games…played three seasons of high school soccer, starting as a senior…won back-to-back state titles with the Strike Force club team in 1995 and '96…earned MVP honors in the AAU state finals in 1996 and led the Strike Force to a national runner-up finish…son of Fausto and Vilma Rubio…Engineering major.

 Year G/GS Minutes ShO Saves Shots Goals GAA
1999 7/6 588:08 3 19 49 4 0.61

Eddie Testa
Midfielder/Forward · Senior · 5-9 · 150 · Miami, FL
(Gulliver Prep/Loyola, MD)

nother possible team star who has been slowed in the past by injuries…in brief injury-free stints, performed very well…has worked hard and comes into fall practice injury free and healthy…a very skillful and heady performer…can give the team a big boost if he remains healthy throughout the campaign…played seven games, with one game start, as a junior…assisted on the lone goal of the contest, as FIU upset No. 1-ranked UCLA (9/10) in overtime…played 10 matches as a sophomore, with seven starts and seven shots at goal…scored an unassisted goal during a victory over UCF (9/30/98) and recorded an assist vs. Denver (11/7/98)…played as a freshman at Loyola of Maryland after graduating from Miami Gulliver Prep…selected high school All-Conference, All-County and Latin Player of the Year…helped Gulliver to conference and regional championships…team awards included MVP, Best Forward, Best Midfielder, Most Improved and Best Dribbler…played AAU club soccer with the Lighthouse program that went on to become state champion…son of Marco and Marisa Testa…International Business major.

 Year G/GS Shots Goals Assists Points
1989 10/7 7 1 1 3
1999 7/1 5 0 1 1
Totals 17/8 12 1 2 4

Ben Tocco
Midfielder · Sophomore · 6-0 · 175 · Long Beach, CA
(Long Beach Polytechnic)
reat fitness and skills…possesses a terrific shot and has an outstanding work ethic…started off last season as one of the best players on the team but seemed to peak midway through the campaign…played 15 games in 1999 with 10 starts…took 10 shots and registered one assist coming in the second game of the season, a 2-2 overtime tie with Rhode Island (9/5)...prominent member of the 1999 California Division I state champion high school program…three-times All-League and twice named league Most Valuable Player…team's MVP four consecutive years…played football as a senior and named '98 special team's MVP…competed with the outstanding North Huntington Beach soccer club…son of David and Barbara Tocco…Computer Science major.

 Year G/GS Shots Goals Assists Points
1999 15/10 10 0 1 1

Russell Vreeland
Forward · Sophomore · 6-0 · 160 · Largo, FL (Largo)
leasant surprise last season who led the team in goals scored then went on to become the team's leading scorer last spring…possesses a powerful free kick and has gotten even stronger during the off season…good speed…expected to pick up some of the scoring slack up front…played in all 18 games last year, with eight starts and 27 shots at goal…biggest of his six scores came in overtime during FIU's 1-0 win over No.1-ranked UCLA (9/10)…played four years of prep soccer and ran one season of track…named his high school's Offensive MVP all four seasons…team MVP in 1997…MVP of the 1997 Largo Thanksgiving Tournament…helped Largo to the 1997 conference championship, 1997-98 District championship and '98 Regional finals…played a year of amateur soccer in Cottbus, Germany for the Energie Youth and Amateur teams…son of Roger and Kathryn Vreeland…undecided major.

 Year G/GS Shots Goals Assists Points
1999 18/8 27 6 0 12

Na'ron Akins
Goalkeeper • Junior • 5-10 • 170 • Miramar, FL (San Diego)
n outstanding talent who will vie for playing time and provide needed depth...hard worker who covers angles well...transferred from the University of San Diego where he spent the last two years...1995 member of the under-17 US National team, was a US National pool player from 1993-97 and back-up goalkeeper for the Youth World Cup...helped St. Thomas Aquinas (FL) High School to back-to-back state championships...recorded 28.5 shutouts and a 0.84 goals against average over those two seasons...successful amateur player with the state champion Plantation Eagles (1993-96) and the under-19 state champion Lighthouse Soccer Club...son of Norman and Marcia Akins...Business major.

Billy Boswell
Midfielder · Sophomore · 5-8 · 150 · Tampa, FL (Plant/South Florida)
club soccer veteran who should be in the mix for playing time at midfield…attended the University of South Florida last year but did not compete intercollegiately…outstanding high school performer who earned varsity letters in soccer all four years, ran cross country as a freshman and track as a sophomore…first-team All-Conference selection as a senior…three-time All-County honoree and team scoring leader…team captain as a junior and senior…helped his 1999 prep squad to the Federal Division championship, Western Conference semifinals, and District 5A semifinals…named Offensive MVP for both Plant and his Carrollwood Strikers club team…played with the AAU Clearwater Chargers who reached the Florida State finals in 1999 and semifinals in 1998 and 2000…honors student in high school…son of Ted and Susan Boswell…Business major.

Alex Casabielle
Midfielder · Sophomore · 6-0 · 160 · Miami, FL
(Gulliver Prep/Southern Methodist)
ulti-talented and skillful, can play almost anywhere on the field…transferred from SMU where he played his freshman campaign…saw action in 15 games for the Mustangs with four starts…scored two goals and contributed two assists, one of those came in a match against FIU (9/24)…member of the under-18 US National team in 1998…had eight international starts, including participation in the Slovakia Piestany Tournament, the World Youth Games in Moscow and the US Soccer Festival…selected to the regional pool in 1995 and a member of the '98 regional team…four-year letterwinner at Gulliver Prep and team captain as a senior…first-team All-County, All-Conference and All-State…totaled 54 goals and 42 assists over his high school career…son of Manuel and Carmen Casabielle…undecided major.

Damien Charlton
Defender · Freshman · 6-0 · 170 · Weston, FL (Western)
olid defenseman who should push for major playing time this season…first-team All-State and All-County performer who tallied four goals and eight assists as a senior…member of the South Regional and South Florida Elite 22 teams…played for Team Boca, AAU co-champions and South Regional champs in 1999-2000…helped Team Boca to the 1999-2000 Sun Bowl title…Honor Roll student all four years of high school…son of Karl and Anna Charlton…undecided major.

Simba Harris
Forward/Midfielder · Freshman · 5-8 · 160 · Orlando, FL (Winter Park)
ough, hard working athlete who could be in the mix depending on how quickly he develops…youngster with a bright upside…two-time first-team All-Conference selection and winner of the junior varsity Coach's Award as a freshman…played club soccer with the Team Boca Gunners organization…Florida ODP member…son of Trevor and Lana Harris…brother Wolde was a top player with the Clemson University program now playing professionally with the New England Revolution…Sports Medicine major.

Bradley Kroenig
Forward/Midfielder · Junior · 6-0 · 175 · St. Louis, MO
(Oakville/SIU-Edwardsville)
remendous competitor who is capable of putting pressure on an opponent's goal…expected to challenge for a starting spot…a top prep player from the St. Louis area who competed two seasons at Southern Illinois-Edwardsville…SIU's second-leading scorer as both a freshman and sophomore…last season, played in and started 19 games, took 46 shots and scored six goals with three assists…saw action in 10 games as a freshman and scored three goals with two assists before breaking his foot midseason…outstanding high school talent…three-year All-State performer who played on the Missouri state all-star team has a senior…selected team MVP all four years…helped lead Oakville to the state quarterfinals his sophomore season…Oakville's third all-time leading soccer scorer…also played four years of high school basketball and was that program's MVP on two occasions…listed in Who's Who Among American High School Students (1997) and winner of the school's Academic Achievement Award…son of Mark and Barbara Kroenig…Business major.

John Pulido
Midfielder · Freshman · 5-10 · 155 · Miami, FL (American)
laymaker who distributes the ball extremely well…coming off an injury last year, will need to become fit if he hopes to make a positive contribution…strength is setting people up to score…played with the 1999 National and State champion team from American HS…voted All-State and All-County following that season…son of William and Ligia Pulido…undecided major.

 

 

Ezequiel Romero
Forward · Freshman · 5-10 · 150 · Hallandale, FL (Hallandale)
onsidered one of the better newcomers on this year's team…can kick the ball effectively with either his right or left foot…could become an immediate impact player…selected All-State and Broward County's Player of the Year after scoring 38 goals with 25 assists as a senior…helped Hallandale to a 22-2-1 record in last season and two victories in the regional tournament…finished scholastic career with 119 goals and 94 assists…MVP of the Broward County North-South All-Star game this past year…son of Sonia Rodriguez…undecided major.

Alejandro Sanchez
Defender · Freshman · 6-3 · 185 · Miami, FL (American)
all and lanky, sees the field well and could push for time as a defensive midfielder…possesses an outstanding shot and comes forward well…good skills…needs to work on his quickness in order to compete effectively at this level…another product of the outstanding American High School program…played for the Patriots' 1999 National championship team…two-time All-State performer and was a three-time All-County selection…competed with the Miami Lakes Optimist state championship teams of 1998 and '99…son of Roberto Sanchez and Rosalba Valencia…undecided major.

Adam Wilson
Midfielder · Sophomore · 6-2 · 170 · Miami, FL
(Miami Springs/Georgia Perimeter)
eturns to FIU after spending last season attending Georgia Perimeter College…a role player who will need to work hard in order to make his presence felt…a Golden Panther roster player in 1998 but was redshirted and made no game appearances…an all-around athlete in high school who competed in soccer, badminton, football and water polo…career 34 goal scorer with 28 assists at Miami Springs…All-State and All-Miami-Dade County soccer selection as a senior…son of Michael and Linda Wilson…Business major.