Nichols, Falcons Announce Additions to Men's Soccer Program

Bowling Green State University men's soccer coach Eric Nichols and his staff have announced the addition of three student-athletes to the program. Sean Sikich (Youngstown, Ohio/Cardinal Mooney), Miguel Rosales (Aurora, Colo./Smoky Hill) and Brandon Silva (Columbus, Ohio/Worthington Kilbourne) will join the Falcons this fall.

Rosales and Silva are enrolled at BGSU in the spring, 2010 semester and are participating in spring practices with the Falcons after transferring from other institutions. Rosales played at the University of Cincinnati, while Silva comes to BG from the University of Akron.

Sikich, a defender, earned All-Ohio Second-Team honors in the fall of 2009 as a senior at Cardinal Mooney H.S. He helped the Cardinals to district championships in every season, and was named to the All-Mahoning County First Team in each of his last two seasons. Sikich was an all-conference second-team pick as a freshman and junior, missing three-fourths of his sophomore campaign due to injury. The team competed as an independent in Sikich's senior season. He has played club ball for several teams, including the Cleveland Whitecaps, CASA, PSA and Internationals. Sikich has Olympic Development Program (ODP) experience, having been a Region II Pool selection and an Ohio North State-Team participant in 2006-07. He is a National Honor Society member.

“Sean is an athletic and physical center back, and we are thrilled to add him to the class of 2010,” said Nichols. “He brings a physical aspect to the game that will help him adapt well to college soccer. Sean has had an excellent season with his club team, and his best days appear to be ahead of him.”

Rosales, a goalkeeper, came to Northwest Ohio from the University of Cincinnati. A two-year letterwinner for the Bearcats, he has two years of eligibility remaining. As a freshman in 2007, Rosales started the final 19 matches of the season, posting a goals-against average of 0.81. He ranked seventh in the Big East Conference in both GAA and shutouts, with seven, and racked up 72 saves and a saves percentage of .818. Rosales had four-straight clean sheets from Oct. 27 to Nov. 7, leading the Bearcats to three wins to end the regular season and an additional victory in the first round of the conference tournament. He was named the team's Newcomer of the Year, and earned the conference's Rookie-of-the-Week and Goalkeeper-of-the-Week honors one time each. Rosales recorded a season-high eight stops in a 3-0 shutout of BGSU that year.

Rosales redshirted the 2008 season at UC, and played in four matches as a redshirt soph in '09. He played the entire match in all four contests, and had a 3-1-0 record, three shutouts and a GAA of just 0.50. Rosales was a two-time Colorado Player of the Year at Smoky Hill H.S., earning NSCAA/adidas All-America honors as a senior. He backstopped the team to a pair of state championships and a second-place finish during his prep career, with a 44-10-6 record in three seasons as a starter. A three-time first-team all-conference and all-state selection, Rosales was named the MVP of the state championship game as a sophomore. He played club ball for Real Colorado.

“Miguel brings a level of professionalism and savvy to the team,” said Nichols. “He's a very good goalkeeper, a great shot-blocker, has good feet and so on. But, it is his presence that makes him so valuable to our program right now. He and (returning BGSU 'keeper) Dylan (Schoettley) have had a great off-season. With his level of professionalism and drive to get better, the sky is the limit for how good Miguel can be.”

Silva, a midfielder, came to BGSU after spending the 2009 season at the University of Akron. He did not see game action for the Zips, and maintains four years of playing eligibility. A three-year varsity starter at Worthington Kilbourne H.S., he was a team captain and helped the team to a pair of trips to the regional finals. Silva earned team MVP and all-district first-team honors as a senior in 2008, scoring four goals and adding three assists. In his career, Silva had 13 goals, including five game winners, along with seven assists. A four-year academic honor student, he is a member of the National Honor Society.

“Brandon has been an invaluable addition to the program already,” said Nichols. “He has all the qualities we look for in a holding midfielder. He covers ground, reads the game well, is strong in the air, is good with the ball and makes good decisions. But, Brandon's most valuable quality for us is his competitiveness. He is an extremely hard worker who is committed to doing what it takes to win.

“Brandon and Miguel are both extremely driven toward success. They already have had a tremendous effect on our program, as their commitment to excellence has been contagious throughout our team.”

Rosales, Sikich and Silva join a group of eight newcomers who signed National Letters of Intent during the February signing period. That list includes Ryan Comiskey (Grantville, Pa./Northern Lebanon), Jacob Eganhouse (Westerville, Ohio/St. Francis De Sales), Sam Galloway (Copley, Ohio/Copley), Matt Griesinger (Strongsville, Ohio/Strongsville), Keegan Ross (Pickerington, Ohio/North), Zach Schewee (Rochester, Mich./Stoney Creek), Ryan Snashall (Dublin, Ohio/Coffman) and Mike Wiest (Naperville, Ill./North) have signed National Letters of Intent and will join the Falcons this fall.

The Falcons finished the 2009 season with an overall record of 3-12-3 and a Mid-American Conference mark of 2-3-1. Nichols and assistant coach #Paul Habrecht# lose the services of six seniors off that squad.

BGSU MEN'S SOCCER NEWCOMERS

Name Pos. Hometown (High School)

Ryan Comiskey F Grantville, Pa. (Northern Lebanon)

Jacob Eganhouse D/M Westerville, Ohio (St. Francis De Sales)

Sam Galloway M Copley, Ohio (Copley)

Matt Griesinger D Strongsville, Ohio (Strongsville)

Miguel Rosales GK Aurora, Colo. (Smoky Hill) (Univ. of Cincinnati)

Keegan Ross M/F Pickerington, Ohio (North)

Zach Schewee D/M Rochester, Mich. (Stoney Creek)

Sean Sikich D Youngstown, Ohio (Cardinal Mooney)

Brandon Silva M Columbus, Ohio (Worthington Kilbourne) (Univ. of Akron)

Ryan Snashall M Dublin, Ohio (Coffman)

Mike Wiest GK Naperville, Ill. (North)

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