May 24, 2005
University of New Mexico men’s soccer coach Jeremy Fishbein announced today that three more players are set to join the Lobos in 2005. UNM will welcome a pair of talented transfers and one current Lobo student-athlete when they take the field in August. Josh Brown, a senior defender from Portland, Ore., is transferring from the University of Portland, and David Peplinski, a sophomore midfielder from Milwaukee, Wisc., is transferring from Saint Louis University. Junior Lars Loeseth, a two-time All-American member of UNM’s Ski Team will also be a part of the Lobo soccer squad.
Brown joins UNM from the University of Portland where he was a three-year letterwinner in the Pilot backline. He was a 2004 1st Team All-West Coast Conference selection and a 2004 3rd Team All-Far West Region member guiding Portland to a 12-8-2 record. He started 19 games for the Pilots last season, including playing all 90 minutes in a 4-1 loss to the Lobos in the second round of the NCAA Tournament at the UNM Soccer Complex on Nov. 23, 2004. Portland made three straight NCAA Tournament appearances in each of Brown’s three seasons.
Loeseth has already had a stellar collegiate athletic career, leading the UNM Ski Team to the 2004 NCAA Championship and earning four All-American awards in two years at UNM. He is one of the top Alpine skiers in the country, but will take on a new challenge on the soccer field this fall. Loeseth trained with the Lobo soccer team this spring and impressed the coaches and players so much that he was invited to join the team. A native of Oslo, Norway, Loeseth attended the prestigious NTG-Geilo before coming to UNM. Skiers joining the soccer team is not a new concept at UNM. Stian Eriksen was a three-year starter for the Lobo soccer team from 2001-03 and was a three-time NCAA qualifier for the UNM ski team during that time.
Peplinski comes to New Mexico from Saint Louis University where he was enrolled last season but was not a member of the soccer team. He played for the Billikens as a freshman in 2003, scoring two goals and two assists in 17 games. He made nine starts for SLU, helping them advance to the Elite Eight of the 2003 NCAA Tournament and a 15-4-3 record. Peplinski was the Wisconsin Player of the Year following his senior campaign a Marquette High School in Milwaukee, Wisc. He was also an NSCAA Midwest Region All-Ameircan and an Adidas All-American following a stellar prep career, which included stints with U.S. Youth National Teams.
Brown, Loeseth and Peplinski join the five prep players who signed with the Lobos in February. These players include Jason Aul (Dallas, Texas), Brandon Barklage (St. Louis, Mo.), Mike Giffin (St. Charles, Ill.), Jack Smithson (Hinsdale, Ill.) and Chris Wright (Sacramento, Calif.).
“Josh, Lars and David round out our recruiting class, strengthening what we already thought was one of the best incoming classes ever at New Mexico,” stated Fishbein. “These players give us added experience and fill holes that we needed to solidify. They all have the potential to be impact players and will be valuable additions to our program.”
The following are the new players who will suit up for the Lobos in 2005:
| Name | Pos. | HT | WT | Hometown (High School/Club) |
| Jason Aul | D | 6-2 | 160 | Dallas, Texas (Plano West HS/Dallas Texans) |
| Brandon Barklage | F/MF | 5-11 | 165 | St.Louis, Mo. (Christian Brothers HS/Scott Gallagher) |
| Josh Brown | D | 6-4 | 200 | Portland, Ore. (Portland) |
| Mike Giffin | D/MF | 6-2 | 165 | St. Charles, Ill. (Burling Central HS/Sockers) |
| Lars Loeseth | MF | 5-10 | 170 | Oslo, Norway (NTG-Geilo) |
| David Peplinski | MF/F | 5-10 | 155 | Milwaukee, Wisc. (Saint Louis) |
| Jack Smithson | MF/F | 5-9 | 145 | Hinsdale, Ill. (Hinsdale Central HS/Chicago Magic) |
| Chris Wright | MF | 6-4 | 185 | Sacramento, Calif. (Jesuit HS/San Juan Rangers) |
|
Jason Aul D 6-2 160 Dallas, Texas Plano West HS Dallas Texans
Three-year starter for Plano West high school, which is currently ranked sixth in the nation in the NSCAA top-25…Plays for the Dallas Texans club team who won the 2004 Disney and Premier league championships…Was a Region III semifinalist with the Texans in 2004…Finished third in the USYSA national championships in 2003…The Dallas Texans are one of the elite clubs in the U.S. and have produced world class players…Born on October 27, 1986, Jason is the son of Kevin and Jacquelin Aul…He has one sister, Megan (16)…His father played Division I basketball at Pittsburgh.
Quoting Coach Fishbein
“Jason is a tenacious, athletic defender who is dominant in the air. He has played for outstanding coaches and has a great understanding of different systems of play. He can play either as a center-back or right-back and his athletic ability will allow him to comfortably compete as a freshman. I am confident that Jason can become one of the best defenders in collegiate soccer.”
|
Brandon Barklage F/MF 5-11 165 St. Louis, Mo. Christian Brothers HS Scott Gallagher
Scored 16 goals for his Missouri State Champion Christian Brothers high school team that finished 2004 ranked No. 5 in the nation by NSCAA…1st team all-state performer as a senior in what is traditionally one of the hotbeds for soccer talent in the country…Club team, Scott Gallagher, won the 2004 U-17 and 2003 U-16 USYSA National Championships…Two-time member of the Missouri State ODP team…Born November 2, 1986, Brandon is the son of Gary and Rhonda Barklage…He has one sister, Andrea (15).
Quoting Coach Fishbein
“Brandon is a fierce competitor who has won at every level he has participated. His winning attitude exemplifies the type of player we want here at New Mexico. I expect him to come in and immediately compete for playing time as a freshman. He can play any of the attacking positions, either center-midfield, wide-midfield or as a forward. We feel that Brandon is going to be an impact player at the collegiate level.”
|
Josh Brown D 6-4 200 Portland, Ore. University of Portland
Transferred to UNM from Portland prior to the season…Three-year letterwinner and two-year starter for the Pilots…Played against the Lobos in the 2004 NCAA Tournament second round game at the UNM Soccer Complex on Nov. 23, 2004…Saw 90 minutes of action in UNM’s 4-1 win…Led Portland to three -straight NCAA appearances…Started 19 games for the Pilot defense…Recorded one assist on the year…Named 3rd-Team All-Far West Region…Earned 1st Team All-West Coast Conference honors…2003 graduate of Jesuit HS where he was a three-year…Helped Jesuit to three league and state titles…First team all-state as a senior…Also lettered in basketball…Born September 20, 1983…Mother is Cindy Baker…Majoring in sociology.
Quoting Coach Fishbein
“We are fortunate to have Josh come in a fill a need for us as a central defender,” stated Fishbein. “Josh is an excellent player who has been in a lot of big-time collegiate games and high-pressure situations during his time at Portland. He is great in the air, athletic and makes excellent decisions with the ball. His experience should allow him to have a significant impact in the Lobo defense next season.”
|
Mike Giffin D/MF 6-2 165 St. Charles, Ill. Burling Central Sockers FC
Played only two years of high school soccer, starting his freshman and sophomore seasons for Burling Central…Was all-conference and all-area both seasons… His junior and senior years he was a member of Sockers FC top-talent program…His Sockers club team won the state cup championships in 2003 and 2004…His club team also won the Jefferson Cup and Raleigh Shootout in 2004 with Sockers…Mike has been fortunate to play for some of the best coaches in the country and on one of the top club teams in the nation…Member of the Illinois State ODP team for four years…Born December 14, 1986, Mike is the son of Ken and Debbie Peterson…He has one sister, Kelly (20).
Quoting Coach Fishbein
“Mike is a good-sized natural athlete, who is extremely comfortable on the ball. He is a natural left-footer and can play anywhere in the back or midfield. Mike’s passing skills, decision-making and ability to attack from a defensive position are what greatly excite our coaching staff. He has some big-time players playing in front of him next year, but we think he is going to compete next fall and after that become a mainstay in our line-up.”
|
Lars Loseth MF 5-10 170 Oslo, Norway NTG-Geilo
Came to UNM as a member of the highly-ranked UNM ski team…Walked on the soccer team in the spring and was so impressive he was invited to join the team…Will have an immediate impact this season…Two-time All-American in the slalom and giant slalom and led the Lobo ski team to the school’s first NCAA Championship as a freshman in 2004….Born on September 11, 1982…Son of Erik Loeseth and Kari Sunde…Majoring in business.
Quoting Coach Fishbein
“Our coaches and players have become very familiar with Lars this year,” continued Fishbein. “He is a world-class athlete who brings a champion’s attitude to the field every day. He is very explosive, composed and is a dangerous one-versus-one player. He strikes the ball well with both feet and is going to make an immdeiate impact as a wide midfielder.”
|
David Peplinski MF/F 5-10 155 Milwaukee, Wisc. Saint Louis University
Talented attacking player who transferred from Saint Louis prior to the 2005 season…Will have three years of eligibility remaining…Attended Saint Louis University but was not on the soccer team last season…Finished his freshman season with a knee injury that hampered him toward the end of the season, but still scored two goals and two assists in 17 games…Made his ninth start of the year in the C-USA final…Was named C-USA Offensive Player of the Week and to Soccer America’s National Team of the Week for the period ending Aug. 31…Netted the OT winner at Virginia and assisted on Vedad Ibisevic’s goal against the Cavaliers…Named Gatorade Wisconsin Player of the Year, NSCAA Midwest Region All-America, Adidas All-America, first-team All-State and first-team All-Conference after his senior year when he totaled 35 points (10G, 15A) for Marquette HS in Milwaukee, Wisc…Was nominated for Gatorade’s National Player of the Year award…Led the Hilltoppers to four consecutive state championships under head coach Bob Spielman…Born on March 5, 1985.
Quoting Coach Fishbein
“We recruited David out of high school and were very impressed with him when he visited New Mexico during his senior year,” added Fishbein. “He decided to go to Saint Louis, and when it didn’t work out there, we thought that later was better than never. He was one of the top prep players in the country and had a solid freshman season at SLU. He has big-game collegiate experience and has the ability to step in and make an immediate impact either as a forward or midfielder.”
|
Jack Smithson MF/F 5-9 145 Hinsdale, Ill. Hinsdale Central HS Chicago Magic FC
Talented midfielder/forward who has played for the six-time Illinois club state champion Chicago Magic, one of the top club teams in the country…Scored the game-winning goal in the 2003 USYSA U-17 National Championship game…Seven time member of the 1986 Illinois State ODP team and a three time Region II ODP pool player…MVP of both his club and high school teams…Named to the 2004 Illinois high school all-state team…All-time leader in career goals (53) and goals in a season (22) at Hinsdale Central…Scored 22 goals and 17 assists for a Hinsdale team which finished the 2004 season ranked No. 18 in the final NSCAA Top-25 with a 21-1-2 record…Born on June 27, 1986, Jack is the son of Craig and Clarice Smithson.
Quoting Coach Fishbein
“Jack has had a very successful career thus far and brings a winning attitude to our program. He has been instrumental in the success of his high school and club teams. He has played and been successful in a lot of high-pressure situations and that will definitely help his collegiate career. His vision and ability to make medium and long-range passes out of the midfield are what make him such a special player. He loves soccer, is versatile and will come in and push players at a number of positions. He is going to play a major role in our future success.”
|
MF 6-4 185 Sacramento, Calif. Jesuit San Juan Rangers