roster

2009 Reading Rage Roster

Head Coach: Brendan Burke

Assistant Coach: Ged Quinn

Player Development Advisor: Troy Snyder

U20 Head Coach: Stan Cieplinski

U20 Assistant Coach: Stephen Hogan

General Manager: Art Auchenbach

Reading rage announce 2009 committments!

After a historic 2008, the Reading Rage PDL side has attracted top class talent from around the country and beyond for the 2009 campaign.  Throughout spring 2009 commitments will be announced individually. 

PONIKVAR BRINGS SIZE AND TALENT TO READING

Similar in size and style to Rage starter Jeremy Vuolo, Ohio native Anthony Ponikvar brings all the tools to the goalkeeping core of the Reading Rage.  The 6'-5" Ponikvar is expected to compete with Michael Watkins for the backup GK position with the Rage this year and see time with the Rage Super 20's.  After spending a season at Ivy League Cornell, Anthony transferred to the top ranked University of Akron. In High school, Anthony was second-team All-Ohio selection as a goalkeeper and was named a Cleveland Plain Dealer Best of the Best selection in addition to earning All-Greater Cleveland first-team honors from the Plain Dealer.  Anthony played club soccer for the Cleveland Whitecaps, earning team MVP honors, and for CASA of the U-18 USSF Development Academy.  In 2007 he was named to the Olympic Development Program national camp.

Duke's Josh Bienenfeld Brings top College level experience

Josh has appeared in 60 competitive matches over the last three years for Duke University.  He will head into his senior year this coming fall as one of the teams most decorated players after being named to the ALL ACC Freshman team and Duke's Rookie of the Year to go along with Top Drawer Soccer All Rookie Second Team honors.  Honors that have followed include ESPN the Magazine Academic All American Honors to go along with ALL ACC Academic team honors this year.  He started all 17 of Duke's games in 2008.

The wealth of experience that Josh has accumulated over the past three years playing against some of the top talent in college soccer should create a smooth transition for him into a talented roster in Reading this year.

ONly a sophomore, already in the National spotlight

Felix Obilo comes to the Rage fresh off of a National Title with Bethel College of the NAIA.  He will join Bethel and now Rage teammates Dawyne Smith and Mario Villa Boa in Reading this summer. 

The native of Nairobi, Kenya picked up a number of honors this year highlighted by a Second Team All American selection in only his sophomore year!!  Some would say there is not much more to acomplish in college soccer once you have been crowned a national champion and an all american in one year but the tone from the Bethel boys is different.  All three are focused on helping to bring the Rage and Bethel continued success and they should be fun to watch this summer.

Lehigh Men's Soccer Athlete of the Year

Jesse Schram was named to the All Patriot League Second Team last year and this year folowed it up with team MVP honors in a talented Lehigh program.  Jesse has been a starter and a presence in the Lehigh midfield for all of his three years there, in fact he has started 53 games for the team in just three years.  He will challenge for a spot in the midfield when he returns from an extended stay in Italy with his Lehigh teammates in which they will see lower league professional competition over a 10 day span in May.

CAC Rookie of the year Kemal Nuspahic

In his freshman year at York this past fall Kemal was second in points only to Jon Ports, the CAC Player of the Year.  The crafty center forward brings a different dimension to the Rage attack, with excellent technical ability and a distributors mind set he can open up a defense in a number of different ways.

Kemal registered 11 goals and 6 assists while helping York to reach a #2 national ranking in DIII this year, before the team was upset early in the NCAA tournament.   After and impressive start to his college career the East Petersburg, PA native looks to help the Rage continue to collect league titles.

UTB's Frimpong Joins 09 Rage

Evans Frimpong is another young and talented midfield player from the University of Texas-Brownsville.  He will challange for a spot in a Rage midfield that boasts multiple All-Americans and significant youth international experience.  Evans should have no problem doing just that though as he has reached the U17 level for the rapidly improving African soccer nation of Ghana.

Bermuda Senior International in at age 18

Tumaini Steed is a special breed of player.  Former Rage Academy Director, Derek Broadley, the current Technical Director for the Bermuda Football Association has tabbed Tumaini as one of the island nation's up and coming talents in the national team system.  We fondly remember the last player to make the jump from the BFA to the Rage PDL Team, Tyrell Burgess, who now ply's his trade with the Vancouver Whitecaps of USL 1, who were also jsut formally accepted into the MLS for 2011.

Tumaini is a creative midfield player who will look to add to the Rage attack this year on the PDL and U20 level as both groups look to gain national attention this year as the PDL team was able to do last year.  He recieved his first call up to the full national team in the Digicel Cup last year toward the end of the summer.  Tumaini has been playing in the top Men's League in Bermuda and is among it's leading scorers.  The rage hope that such success will translate and that Tumaini finds the same great success here in Reading that Tyrell enjoyed.

Patriot League Standout in for 09

In each of the last two seasons Adam Welch has been named to the All Patriot League Second Team.  In his freshman year he started and played in all 19 games during Lehigh's historic run to the Elite 8 of the DI NCAA tournament.  He was part of a back four that allowed only 10 goals through the entire season.

Last year Adam was recognized as one of the NPSL's (a secondary Men's amateur league to the PDL) best players en route to a national title in that league with the Penn Stoners!  This year he will look to contribute to the continued success of the Rage PDL along with Lehigh teammates Jesse Schram, Kevin Strunk, and 2008 Rage fan favorite Adam Gazda.

Manheim Township Standout Joins Rage PDL

Pete Bulat had a rough start to his college career because of a knee injury that sidelined him for the entire 08' season.  He is playing through the sping season with George Mason and doing very well according to reports.

Before college Pete was named one of Top Drawer Soccer's 100 Players to watch in 08' and is expected to accomplish a great deal for Mason over the next three or four seasons in the Colonial Athletic Association.  Another excellent attacking option for the squad this summer Pete can contribute as a forward or midfielder.  Pete was a part of Manheim Townships 4 straight District III Championships in High School.

6'4 Central Defender / Holding Midfielder solidifies Defense

After a season in which he led The University of Texas Brownsville to an RRAC conference title and into the NAIA National Tournament Darren O'Connor will bring his game to the Rage in the summer of 09 en route to a strong DI program and conference in the University of Delaware.

Darren started 17 of the 19 games that he played in in the fall of 08 as a freshamn at Texas Brownsville and will bring that experience along with his Cork City Youth Academy training to the table this summer.  At 6'4 look for the Cork, Ireland native to be a force on set pieces on both sides of the ball.

Local High School Star looks to Get first games with Rage PDL

Corey Hertzog is very well known in Rage and Berks County soccer circles as the high school standout and Super Y ODP National Team selection who led Berks County in scoring in 2006 and 2007 while accumulating over 100 goals in his time at Antietam High School!  This past fall Corey made an immediate impact at Penn State University with 2 goals and 2 assists as a freshman. 

Corey was honored as the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week and recieved TopDrawerSoccer.com and Soccer America Team of the Week for a 2 goal performance against top 25 competition in Ohio State on October 13th.   Corey is just scratching the surface of his potential and should challenge to make his first appearance for the Rage PDL Team this year after training with the team for the majority of the season last year.

Corey has been with the Rage since he was very young and is a product of Sean Murphy's Super Y League team that reached the National Finals Five times in as many years.  Another Rage youth product reaches the top of the pyramid!  

Northern Ireland Youth International in for 09

Paul Gallagher is an unknown quantity in college soccer but not for long.  The Strabane, Northern Ireland native will begin competition for Wingate University in the fall of 09, but before he does he will ply his trade in Reading for the summer. 

As a youth academy player at Cardiff City (English Championship), Paul was called into the Norther Ireland Youth Team at U16 and U17 on numerous occasions.  During 2006 and 2007 Paul appeared in 8 games for the Northern Ireland 17's highlighted by a 1-0 win over Switzerland, a 2-2 draw with Belgium, and a 0-0 draw with Scotland!

No one has seen him in a match here in the U.S. yet but reliable sources tell us he is a player that can change a game!

Fresh off leading Messiah to A National Title Geoff Pezon Joins the PDL Ranks

Last year at this time Geoff Pezon was preparing to play for the Rage U20 team, the breeding ground for the PDL side.  Through his performances last summer and certainly through the fall Geoff has solidified his position with the rage PDL team and becomes one of two Rage youth products to do so this year, along with Corey Hertzog (profile to follow).

As a freshman at Messiah Geoff registered six goals and six assists, a solid start to a college career by most standards.  It is what Geoff did this past fall though as Sophomore that has opened the eyes of coaches everywhere.  As one of four Messiah players to start all 26 games Geoff registered 19 goals and contributed 13 assists for  an astounding 51 points on the season en route to the DIII National Title.

A very versitile left footed player, Geoff could fill the void at left back for the Rage in 09 but he could pop up anywhere given his unique skill set.  The Rage are proud to welcome another youth product into the PDL set up.

Marc Benson Returns for 5th season with the club

You don't get the nickname "Steady Eddie" by being inconsitent and that is the name Marc Benson carries in the Rage PDL circle.  The Kutztown University standout has proven to be one of the most reliable players in the Rage back four lining up at center or right back over 50 times for the club at either center or right back. 

Marc has logged over 5,000 minutes for the club over the last four seasons in the PDL.  He rarely makes a mistake in the back and he is able to get forward when needed.  Marc earned PDL Team of the Week honors once last year for his effort at Hampton Raod and he scored a very nice goal in the Eastern Conference Semi-Final last year against Newark Ironbound to help push the Rage into the Final.  Look for Marc to be heavily involved again as a leader in 09. 

Pat Stanco Back for 9th season with the rage

After 3 seasons in USL 2 and 5 in the PDL with the Rage Franchise veteran Pat Stanco will be back for season number 9 with the club this summer.  His leadership and experience helped the Rage through a few tough spots last year especially around playoff time and he will look to take on the same role agian this year.  It is a luxury for a coach to know that a player like Pat is there to solidify your bench and could start on a moments notice and do so with quality.

Pat routinely torments opposing backs late in the game with his pace and physical nature.  An excellent model for younger players in training and on the road, Pat will surely be one of the teams leaders again this year!

Keeper to Challenge for Starting Role

It is difficult to challenge Jeremy Vuolo for a starting role in the PDL when he has so many tools and so much ability, but that is exactly what the Rage hope Michael Watkins, a freshman at Lincoln Memorial University, will do this year.  The 6'1, Statesville, North Carolina native has been described to Rage staff as explosively athletic and a great shot stopper.

This past fall in his first season in college Watkins got the job done in style starting 18 of his teams 20 matches and playing in all 20.  He registered 6 clean sheets over those 18 starts and helped LMU to an 11-7-2 record on the year.

Watkins recieved Second Team All South Atlantic Conference honors for his efforts as a Freshman.  Before College Michael was named to the U.S. Development Academy's Atlantic Conference Starting 11 as a U17/U18, so he is used to keeping good company!

Rage U20 in 08 Looks to take on a key role in 09

Tyler Witmer is a big name in Berks County soccer circles.  The Conrad Weiser standout joined the Rage last year as a U20 and impressed in training with the PDL earning his first appearance for the PDL side late in a

3-1 win over the Richmond Kickers last June.  All of this took place before Tyler's first collegiate match, and it payed off!

As a Freshman this year, under the guidance of head coach David MacWilliams at Temple University, Tyler exploded onto the college soccer scene with 8 goals and 9 assists on the season.  For his efforts Tyler was recognized as the Atlantic 10 Rookie of the week three times during the fall and picked up NSCAA All Atlantic Region Second Team Honors to compliment his Second Team All Atlantic 10 and All Rookie Team Honors.

To top of a great start to his college career Tyler was named to the 2008 College Soccer News All Freshman Second Team.  His work rate, grit and movement off the ball will earn him a spot in the Rage attack this year.

A wealth of experience at a young age

Zarek Valentin is only a High School Senior this year but he has committed to one of the top college soccer programs in D1, in The University of Akron.  As you can imagine, the recognition that he has recieved in high school soccer goes on and on and includes an All-American selection as a senior.

Zarek has accumulated 3 starts and played every minute thus far in 2009 for the U.S. U18 squad en route to the Austrailian Youth Olympic Festival Title in January.  Last year he picked up 5 caps and 3 starts for the U.S. 20's.  He was also a part of the Fall 2006 U17 Residency Roster in Bradenton, FL.  Zarek has been used as a back in the national team program and will look to find a role in the Rage back line or midfield this summer!

James Shupp of Virginia tech Ups The Ante In the back

The Rage are now attracting top level talent from the top conference in college soccer!  This ACC standout will look to improve upon a back four that only allowed 12 goals through 16 games in the regular season last year. 

Shupp, a Sophomore center back, helped V Tech to the NCAA Final Four in 2007 as a Freshman, starting all of the 22 games that he played in that year, leaving him second on the team in minutes played.  This year in the midst of a rebuilding campaign at V Tech he started all 19 of the games he appeared in. 

He earned ALL-ACC Freshman Team Honors in 2007 for his efforts.  He was also a part of the Region 1 ODP Team as a youth.  Shupp has been called into the U20 U.S. National Team Camp where he participated in two matches, including one against the U20's from Honduras (a win for the U.S.).

Dawyne Smith Has a lot on his plate

The Bethel College Freshman helped the school to an NAIA National Championship this year and now he will join Mario Villa Boa his teammate at Bethel and now with the Rage in an effort to do the same for the Rage.  Dawyne has played for Jamaica on every international level except the senior men's national team.  He is currently a part of the u23 squad and he has twice been called into the senior national team but been unable to attend camp due to academic commitments.  The native of Kingston, Jamaica is a versitile player capable of lining up as a striker or anywhere through the midfield this year, and is definitely a player to keep an eye on.  We wish Dawyne the best of luck with Jamaica but we also hope he doesn't get called away too much this summer!

A striker with all the tools to have a big year

Arron Wheeler may not be a big name in college soccer right now but the word is he will be next year.  The 6'4 Wheeler has the size the pace and the ability to make a name for himself this summer in Reading.  The Baltimore native is currently a Junior and has recently transferred from Lenoir Rhyne College to Towson in Maryland for his senior year.  After registering 13 goals this season in 14 starts at Lenoir Rhyne, a very strong DII program in a very good conference, he has caught the attention of more than a few and the Rage will look for similar production through the summer.  With pro targets size and pace he is not far away from landing in USL or MLS.

Mario Villa Boa Naia National finals MVP in for 09

The young South African native and citizen of Portugal will bring his lightening pace to Reading for the summer.  As only a Freshman this year he helped Bethel College of Tennessee to the NAIA National Title and picked up MVP honors in the process.  He will look to hold a spot in the midfield as a wide player or a withdrawn forward this year.

Luke Mulholland a key Pick Up in an already talented midfield

The Preston, England native and current Wingate University standout has signed with the Rage and both parties are excited about what this summer may bring for Luke.

As only a Sophomore this year at Wingate, Luke has been named to the DII NSCAA All America Third Team.  He was one of only four sophomores in DII, in the country, to earn such recognition in 2008 and he did it with a nagging hamstring injury that slowed him down all year.  We hope to get Luke in healthy and see what he can really do surrounded by top talent on all sides with the Rage this year!

Luke has amassed a number of other accolades in just the first half of his college career and caught the eye of many friends of the Rage program in that region (North Carolina) of the country.  Mulholland should provide a dynamic and balanced attacking threat this year, as is evident in his production of both 8 goals and 7 assists in a very tough South Atlantic Conference in 2008 and 10 goals and 6 assists in his freshman campaign in the SAC in 2007.

Ged Quinn to return for 2009

In just one year with the Rage Ged Quinn has established himself as the leader of a back four that allowed only 12 goals in 16 starts through the regular season.  Ged also started and played every minute of the Rage playoff run to the National Semi-Final last year. 

The former First Team DII All American out of Lenoir Rhyne College in North Carolina was a Sunderland Youth Academy product, starting there at age 9 and not departing until age 16.  Such experience and training shows in his poise in difficult situations and overall understanding of the game .

Despite interest from various clubs at the next level Ged has chosen to stay with the Rage in a Youth Program Director's Role as well as its on-field leader as the PDL Assistant Coach.  He is an invaluable asset to a club that is growing quickly on the youth level and we are please to have Ged back for 2009.

Jeremy Vuolo Returns for 4th season In Goal for the Rage

Now you must be asking yourself how old is this kid if this is his fourth season with the Rage PDL team.  A better question would be how good is this kid?  Jeremy is only a redshirt sophomore at Hartwick University where he was the number one for the second year in a row there posting six clean sheets in 19 games this past fall.  Jeremy's body of work is starting to get him noticed by the right people at the next level and with a repeat performance he will not be far away from where he wants to be.  

Jeremy's work with the Rage included logging over 1200 minutes and posting 6 clean sheets through 17 games and a 0.89 goals against average, including a 1-0 Eastern Conference Championship win over the Brooklyn Knights, in which he was spectacular.  The 6'3 keeper acts as a catalyst to the Rage attack as well, routinely bouncing balls into the oppositions box from punts.  What do the Rage like about Jeremy more than anything though?  His work ethic is tremendous and each year he has returned quicker, stronger, and smarter than the year before.  

Jeremy will fight for the number one spot with two other quality keepers coming to Reading this summer. 

Jason Yeisley Back in Rage Red and White

When you speak Jason Yeisley's name in soccer circles in PA with those that have come across him, the first thing people will say to you is "class" or "role model".

After two injury riddled summers in which Jason battled two separate knee injuries he is fit again for his spring season at Penn State and looking to return to the Rage and pick up where he left off in 2006.  After his first year at Penn State Jason looked to be headed to a record breaking college career with 9 goals and 6 assists and First Team All Freshman recognition by Soccer America to go along with his First Team Freshman All Big Ten recognition.  After a sophomore season cut short by injury he returned to prominence, picking up First Team All Big Ten in 2007 as a Junior without playing the last seven games of the season due to his second knee injury.

Jason is fully fit again and preparing for his Senior season at Penn State.  If he returns to full fitness watch out for him this summer!  Jason was also a member of the Region 1 ODP Team as a youth in 2005.

jon Ports to spend one more season in reading

After a 2008 campaign with the Rage in which Jon started every game for which he was available, 17 out of 19 games in all, he will again be a key component of the Rage attack.  Jon's frantic work rate allowed him to pop up in the right place time and time again last year and he will surely bring more of the same to Reading again this summer!

His success did not end in August last year though.  The Baltimore native retuned to York College (PA) and helped them to an undefeated regular season and the #2 national ranking heading into the postseason.  In light of his work on the field 2009 brought accolades galore, for the second year in a row Jon was named a First Team DIII All American by the NSCAA.  Along with that recognition came his second Conference Player of the Year Award for the Capital Athletic Conference.  Before York, Jon played for one year at the University of Maryland appearing in 7 games under famed college coach Sasho Cirovski.

      Adam Gazda To Return for 2009

After a 2008 season with the Rage in which he was the first ever Reading player named to the PDL Eastern Conference All Star Team as well as the National PDL First Eleven, the dynamic midfield player will look to again lead the attack in 2009.  Gazda put up 6 goals and 6 assists amidst tireless effort off the ball in the midfield last year and for those efforts he was also named Reading's Fan Favorite in '08. 

Adam has also recieved some impressive accolades with Lehigh University where he was named First Team All Patriot League for the second time in as many years also garnering All Mid Atlantic Region Second Team Honors from the NSCAA this year.  Adam was a member of the Region 1 ODP Team before college.

With another solid year Adam will certainly be drawing the attention of professional clubs around the country in 2009.