Bowling Green State University Athletics
Nichols, Falcons Announce 2011 Men's Soccer Recruiting Class
February 03, 2011 | Men's Soccer
Bowling Green State University men's soccer coach Eric Nichols and his staff have announced the addition of six student-athletes to the program. Five of those six – Dan Baraldi (Canton, Ohio/Massillon Jackson), Alex Bechtol (Galena, Ohio/Olentangy), Tony Boerio (Pickerington, Ohio/Pickerington North), Jon Kumher (Lancaster, Pa./Conestoga Valley) and Nico Oliverio (Noblesville, Ind./Noblesville) – have signed National Letters of Intent and will join the Falcons this fall.
Additionally, Gaetano Panuccio (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Mechanicsburg), a transfer from Rutgers University, is enrolled at BGSU for the spring semester. Panuccio will have two seasons of eligibility remaining.
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2011 NLI Signees Photo Gallery
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"In this recruiting class, we had very specific needs and we set our sights high," said Nichols. "Our final product is a class of five accomplished, ambitious and driven young men. These are players who have set very high goals for themselves, and we are honored that they have chosen to come to Bowling Green to make those goals a reality."
Baraldi, a 5-10 midfielder, is currently in his senior year at Jackson H.S. A three-time All-Federal League selection for the Polar Bears, he earned All-America honors, and was the league player of the year as a senior. Baraldi was an All-Ohio First-Team performer in 2010, and also was named to the all-region first team. He was the Stark County Player of the Year, and also earned District P-O-Y honors last fall. Baraldi helped the Polar Bears to the state finals as a freshman, and to the elite eight in each of the next three years. He had a career total of 47 goals and 36 assists, including a school-record 24 goals as a senior. Baraldi has Olympic Development Program (ODP) experience, having played with the state team and participating in the regional pool. Baraldi is currently playing in the US Soccer Academy with the Cleveland Internationals.
"Danny is an explosive attacker who loves to run at defenders," said Nichols. "He is a proven goal-scorer with a lethal left foot, and is an absolute competitor. He hates to lose and plays to win every time he steps on the field."
Bechtol, a 6-0 defender, was a four-year varsity starter and two-year captain at Olentangy H.S. He was an All-Ohio Capital Conference First-Team selection for the Braves as a senior, earning all-district first-team accolades as well. Bechtol, a three-time Olentangy Scholar Athlete, earned all-conference second-team honors as a junior after garnering honorable mention in his sophomore year. He is a member of National Honor Society, and is also a National Merit Scholar. Bechtol has played with the Columbus Crew Soccer in the US Soccer Academy for four years.
"Alex is a technical player with an acute understanding of the game, stellar communication and an overall solid presence," said Nichols. "He primarily plays as a center back, but he can also play as an outside back or in the midfield."
Boerio, a 5-10 midfielder, was an All-Ohio Second-Team selection as a senior at Pickerington North H.S. He holds the school's single-season and career records for goals, assists and points. He was an All-OCC and all-district first-team choice as a senior, after earning all-league second-team honors in his junior season. Like Bechtol, Boerio is currently playing for played the Columbus Crew Soccer Academy, and previously played for Team Ohio and helped that team to a State Cup title in 2009 and a runner-up finish in '10. Boerio participated in the ODP program for the state team in 2009.
"Tony is a balanced player who can play a number of positions," said Nichols. "He is athletic, he is good with the ball, and he has a proven ability to score goals."
Kumher, a 5-11 defender, was named to the all-state team as a senior at Conestoga Valley H.S. in Lancaster, Pa. He also earned regional all-America status in his final season, after helping the team to sectional championships three times in his career. A two-time first-team all star for CVHS, Kumher played club soccer for PA Classic, and also has ODP experience. Last summer, he played for the Philadelphia Union team in the SUM Cup.
"Jon is a strong player who can play anywhere along the backline or in the midfield," said Nichols. "He has a full complement of skills but the best way to describe Jon is as a playmaker. He simply finds ways to make plays."
Oliverio, a 5-9 midfielder/defender, is a senior at Noblesville (Ind.) H.S. He earned all-state second-team accolades as a senior after being named to the all-district first team, and also was an ESPN RISE Fall State All-Star in 2010. Oliverio, a four-year starter and three-year captain, was an all-district second-team choice in his junior year, and twice was named to the All-Hoosier Crossroads First Team. He is currently playing club soccer for Indiana United Academy, and has helped that club to numerous championships.
"Nico is an explosive athlete who can play in the midfield or in the back line," said Nichols. "He is tidy with the ball, he can score goals, and he has a warrior mentality."
Panuccio, a 6-1 forward, comes to BGSU from Rutgers University. He played in 17 matches, making 13 starts, as a freshman in 2008. Panuccio scored five points that season, including a pair of goals. Both goals were game winners, against nationally-ranked UC Santa Barbara as well as Louisville. Slowed by injuries over the last two years, Panuccio played in a total of 20 games, including just four in the 2010 season, earning a medical redshirt. An all-state first-team selection at Mechanicsburg H.S., he scored 74 goals and 39 assists during his high-school career. Panuccio has ODP experience, having played multiple years at the state and regional levels, and he was also a U-17 National Team pool member from 2005-07. Panuccio played club ball with the Pennsylvania Classic Elite 89/USSF Academy.
"Gaetano can play as a forward or in the midfield, and he brings a different element to our attack," said Nichols. "He is strong in possession, he combines well with other players and he is a scoring threat with both feet.
"We are extremely proud of this class and eager to get these guys on campus and get to work."
Nichols and the Falcons lose the services of four seniors – Robert Barker, Garrett Bireline, Thomas McLean and Dusko Topolic – off of the 2010 team.
BGSU MEN'S SOCCER NEWCOMERS
Name // Pos. // Hometown (High School)
Dan Baraldi // M // Canton, Ohio (Massillon Jackson)
Alex Bechtol // D // Galena, Ohio (Olentangy)
Tony Boerio // M // Pickerington, Ohio (Pickerington North)
Jon Kumher // D // Lancaster, Pa. (Conestoga Valley)
Nico Oliverio // M/D // Noblesville, Ind.(Noblesville)
Gaetano Panuccio // F // Mechanicsburg, Pa (Mechanicsburg) (Rutgers Univ.)
