Rohrman Announces Men's Soccer Signees
February 04, 2005 | Men's Soccer
Head men's soccer coach Jeff Rohrman announced seven student-athletes have signed National Letters of Intent and will join the Badger roster for the 2005 season. Forwards Eric Conklin (Rockford, Ill.) and Sam Van De Laarschot (Eden Prairie, Minn.), forward/midfielder Scott Lorenz (Barrington, Ill.), midfielder Kenny Dix (Atlanta, Ga.), goalkeeper Byron Neal (Cincinnati, Ohio) and defenders Zack Lambo (Crystal Lake, Ill.) and Andy Miller (Barrington, Ill.) will attend the University of Wisconsin beginning with the 2005-06 school year.
'With this class I think we filled a couple holes and we 've also provided some depth,' commented Rohrman. 'I also think that in this class we're going to have a couple kids who were a little under the radar maybe a couple that were late bloomers. There are certainly some players who are tremendous athletes who I feel, in time, will be able to help us on the field. '
A brief breakdown of each player is provided below in alphabetical order:
Eric Conklin
Forward ' 6-0 ' 160 lbs.
Rockford, Ill. (Rockford Guilford)
Four-year varsity player'team co-captain junior and senior years'an all-conference selection junior and senior years'post-season team MVP as a junior'named to Chicago Tribune all-state team as a senior 'Super-Y League Regional Team and National Pool 2004'member of the National Honor Society and Guilford Honorary English Society'earned high honor roll status'named an Illinois State Scholar'Who's Who Among High School Students, 2004'coached by Gordon Poluyanskis'intends to major in business management'parents are Jon and Denise'born 3/28/87
Rohrman on Conklin:
'In Eric Conklin we are getting a forward who has great instincts in and around the goal. He has continued to get better and better as he has put himself into more competitive environments. He has always risen to the levels that he has competed at and we are certainly looking for Eric to do the same here.'
Kenny Dix
Midfield ' 5-8 ' 140 lbs.
Atlanta, Ga. (Brookwood)
Competed on the USYSA Region III team, 2001-04'participated in the Georgia Olympic Development Program 2000-05'led his team to 2004 Georgia AAAAA state high school championship'attended 2004 ESP camp'named to 2005 NSCAA Club Youth All-American team'2004 USYSA Region III Premier League Eastern division runners-up'coached by Mike Coulter'competed for AFC Lightning club team'intends to major in business'parents are Barbara and Karl 'born 5/10/87
Rohrman on Dix:
'We got onto Kenny late'I actually didn't realize he was still available. I thought he would be picked up by a couple of different schools before we got a chance to see him. Being from Atlanta it's tough to see a kid like Kenny as often as we'd like. He's a skillful interior midfielder who is a good possession player, good attacking player and I think will add some great depth to our team. I feel Kenny will compete for us from day one.'
Zack Lambo
Left Defense ' 5-10 ' 170 lbs.
Crystal Lake, Ill. (Marian Central Catholic)
Competed on the USYSA Region II team, 2001-04' participated in the Illinois Olympic Development Program 2001-04'Named team MVP as a senior 'selected to all-conference and all-section teams junior and senior years 'named team's best offensive player junior year'played club soccer first two years of high school'coached by Tony Allen'competed for Chicago Magic club team'earned academic high honor roll status'parents are Louis 'Mark' and Irene'born 4/8/87
Rohrman on Lambo:
'In Zack we get a polished left-footed defender who can play a couple of different positions. I think Zack will compete on the left side in the back 'whether it's an outside back or in the center. Potentially, he could also compete as a defensive midfielder. He's got a lot of valuable experience at the regional team level and is very good technically. He plays a very intelligent game and we're looking for some good things from Zack as he comes in.'
Scott Lorenz
Midfield/Forward ' 6-0 ' 155 lbs.
Barrington, Ill. (Barrington)
Team captain as a senior'led the team in goals (19) 'named all-conference player of the year'also recognized on all-area and all-state teams'named team's most improved junior year'coached by Scott Steib'competed for FC 96ers and Chicago Sockers club teams'also competed four years on volleyball team earning all-conference and all-area honorable mention as a junior'named to academic honor roll every semester 'parents are Eric and Lori'born 7/23/87
Rohrman on Lorenz:
'Scott is one of those kids who was a bit of a late bloomer and has become a very, very good athlete. He is a left-footed player who can get up and down. He's got decent size and has an extraordinary vertical jump. I think in time, as he gets himself into the right environment, he has the potential to be a very good player at the collegiate level.'
Andy Miller
Defense ' 5-10 ' 150 lbs.
Barrington, Ill. (Barrington)
Played varsity all four years of high school'earned all-conference recognition junior and senior years'all-conference honorable mention nod his sophomore year'voted team's best defensive player junior and senior years'senior year named to all- state and captain of Daily Herald all-area team'also team captain and MVP'coached by Scott Steib 'competed for Chicago Sockers club team'earned academic high honors 'intends to major in engineering'parents are Roger and Laura 'born 5/1/87
Rohrman on Miller:
'We were able to tap into some of the better kids in Chicago and I think with Andy Miller we have a tenacious, hardworking defender who has the right mindset to defend. He's a tough player to beat. He's got outstanding speed and he's a great athlete that will compete to play in the back somewhere 'possibly as an outside back. Andy's a great kid who's got a big heart and certainly loves to defend. He will bring a lot of competitive fight and competitive spirit.'
Byron Neal
Goalkeeper ' 6-3 ' 185 lbs.
Cincinnati, Ohio (Lakota East)
Four-year varsity starter'earned all-conference honors as a sophomore'as a senior named the Cincinnati player of the year'first team all-state'team MVP'coached by Danny Landrum'competed for Ohio FC club team'also competed two years on basketball team'earned academic honor roll'involved in Spanish club and peer counseling'parents are Bob and Mona'born 10/4/86
Rohrman on Neal:
'Byron is a young man we saw in the middle of the summer with his club team. I think Byron has a tremendous upside. He's a little bit under the radar and at 6'3'' is a very good athlete. Coming into our program, as he works hard and gets the training he needs, he has the potential to be a very, very good goalkeeper. We're not looking for Byron to come in and step in right away, yet I think he's capable of competing from day one.'
Sam Van De Laarschot
Forward ' 5-11 ' 170 lbs.
Eden Prairie, Minn. (Eden Prairie)
Team captain senior year'named 'most dedicated ' by coaches, junior and senior years' 2004 all-Midwest region team 'three-year all-conference selection'twice named to all-state team ' St. Paul Pioneer Press' all-Metro first team 2003, 04 'Minneapolis Star Tribune's 2003 All-Metro first team member 'named to the all-state tournament team sophomore and junior years'led his team to conference, section and state championships as a sophomore'was his team's leading scorer as a freshman'named to Who's Who in Sports-High School edition, 2002, 03, 04'also competed in basketball, intramural football and track'set freshman record in the 4x400, all-conference selection and placed second in the conference 400m race (2002)'coached by Vince Thomas'competed for Bangu FC club team'intends to major in political science'parents are Bill and Paula'born 11/23/86
Rohrman on Van De Laarschot:
'Sam is definitely one player that was a little under the radar. He wasn't involved in the (Olympic Development Program), but at the same time helped lead his team to the state championship his sophomore year. He was one of his team's leaders his junior and senior year as well. He's a very athletic, left-footed kid. He has that rare combination of being skillful and elusive, but also possessing great strength and power. In addition, he's got a great nose for the goal and we're looking forward to some exciting things from Sam.'
