VU signs six players

The Vanguard University men’s soccer team will be fully stocked for

2003, thanks to Coach Randy Dodge’s recruiting effort that brings in

six new faces to the team.

Less than a month from the official season opener, the Lions

roster is looking solid with 10 returners and six newcomers in the

mix. Mark Babel, Jose Hernandez, and David McAulay have transferred

to Vanguard, while Darin DeVore, Christian Marston, and Aaron Rossi

join the team from the high school ranks.

Babel (Chino Hills), Hernandez (Inglewood), and McAulay (Tustin),

are all California athletes transferring in from various schools from

within the state.

Babel is a midfielder who will be a sophomore after playing his

freshman year at NCAA Division II Cal State San Bernardino, and

redshirting for a season.

McAulay, a 5-foot-9 forward, used his first year of eligibility at

NCAA Division I Fresno State University and will also be a sophomore

for the Lions.

Hernandez played two seasons at L.A. Harbor College and will be a

junior on the 2003 roster that includes only two seniors and four

juniors. The 5-foot-9 midfielder was an all-conference selection for

the South Coast Conference champs at L.A. Harbor.

DeVore graduated from Granite Hills High School in 2003 where he

was named his team’s Most Valuable Defender and the Player of the

Year for the conference. During his high school career, Granite Hills

had a 56-game undefeated streak and three successful runs in CIF

competition.

Marston joins the Lions from Hanalei, Hawaii. He was the team

captain at Kapa’a High School and helped lead his team to two

conference championships.

Rossi, a 5-foot-8 defender, attended high school at St. John’s

International School in Waterloo, Belgium. The son of missionary

parents, he has returned to his home state to attend Vanguard. The

three-sport high school athlete was named the Athlete of the Year at

St. John’s.

The Lions kick off the season on the road in Utah on Aug. 28th,

after an alumni game.