Soccer adds pair of southern California midfielders
5/10/2011 12:00:00 AM | Soccer
May 10, 2011
University of Montana soccer coach Mark Plakorus may be entering his first year as a collegiate head coach, but years of coaching experience have taught him the value of strong midfield play.
"The midfield is the key to any soccer team, especially ours in the way we're going to play," said Plakorus. "The more you can control the ball in the middle of the field and maintain possession, it opens up the game for you.
"Your players in the middle have to be comfortable with the ball and have to make good decisions. You want them to be smart, leadership-type kids because they are going to be the heart of your team."
Plakorus added to his team's midfielders recently when he signed Tyler Adair of San Diego, Calif., and Chloe Torres of Arcadia, Calif., to National Letters of Intent.
Plakorus's newest signees join the six players who signed NLIs in February: Kelsey Carlson of Granite Falls, Wash.; Shannon Lindsay of Spokane, Wash.; Ciara Lozier of Tacoma, Wash.; Brooke Moody of Parker, Colo.; Allie Simon of Cary, Ill.; and Paytyn Wheeler of Kelso, Wash.
Adair, a 5-7 midfielder, is currently a senior at Rancho Bernardo High. She was recognized all four of her prep years by the Palomar League: honorable mention as a freshman, second team as a sophomore and junior and first team as a senior when she led the Broncos to a 13-6-4 record and the second round of the CIF playoffs.
She was voted team captain as a junior and senior and the team's MVP her final season.
"Tyler is a very athletic, strong and powerful player," said Plakorus. "She has really good pace, she's good in the air, and she is good with the ball at her feet. She distributes the ball very well.
"I look for midfielders who, in addition to being able to take players off the dribble, can spray the ball around, and Tyler does those types of things. I think that is going to help us a lot in the attacking side.
"At the same time, she's going to provide a presence in the middle of the field defensively, winning balls out of the air. She does a great job of reading the play, intercepting balls and getting her team on the counterattack."
Adair, who currently plays club soccer for Carlsbad Elite, was looking to continue her education and soccer career in the Northwest.
A coaching contact pointed Plakorus toward Adair. He liked what he saw, and Montana had what Adair wanted.
"It's exciting to be a part of the new program that Mark is establishing," said Adair. "Hopefully I will help make a difference with the direction the program is heading.
"I was a little unsure about Montana before my visit, but once I got there I felt really comfortable. It definitely felt like a place where I could fit in.
"Mark was very easy to talk to and welcoming, and the girls seem like they are a friendly, tight-knit and outgoing group. It all helped me make my decision. Plus I've always wanted to experience more than the one season San Diego has to offer.
"I am very thankful for the opportunity, and I am really excited for the next few years. I can't wait to be a Grizzly!"
Torres, a 5-3 midfielder, is a senior at Arcadia High and spent the last four years playing for one of California's top club programs, Real So Cal.
Torres was voted first-team All-Pacific League as a freshman, sophomore and senior while playing for the Apaches, then added to her prep seasons with high-level club experiences.
Torres and her teammates on Real So Cal White U17 won the Cal South National Cup in 2010. They also won the U.S. Youth Soccer Far West Regional and tied for third at last summer's USYS national championships at Overland Park, Kan.
She has been a member of the Cal South Olympic Development Program since becoming eligible in 2006, and she was a member of the Cal South team that won the 2007 USYS Region IV ODP championship.
"Chloe is a very dynamic player and very creative in everything that she does. She can do so many things that it opens the door for you in the attack," said Plakorus.
"But what I really like about her is her work rate and her understanding of the game and what needs to happen."
Plakorus first met Torres three years ago when he did a clinic for her club team. He saw Torres play in Las Vegas in March, and her official visit to Missoula shortly thereafter sealed the deal for both.
"I really like the fact that Missoula is a college town," said Torres. "Seeing `Go Griz' all over the place shows how much the university and its students mean to Missoula, and that helps create a great sense of community.
"Mark is awesome. His passion for the game and knowledge assure me that under his guidance the program will be successful and prosper my four years and beyond that.
"The girls on the team have good chemistry on and off the field. I've learned that chemistry like that can have a great impact on the success of a team."
"I'm excited to add Tyler and Chloe to this year's recruiting class," said Plakorus. "I think all of our incoming players have a lot to offer and will be great additions to our program."
Plakorus inherited 22 players from the former coaching staff. He added the six newcomers in February, and the signing of Adair and Torres give him a full roster of 30.
But that does not mean this closes the book on his 2011 roster.
"I'm someone who will never say I'm done recruiting," said Plakorus. "You just never know when you're going to see someone, or somebody is going to show up at your school looking for a chance to show you what they can do, and they can be fantastic.
"That's the thing about recruiting. It's not an exact science. There are very talented kids all over the country who coaches never see, so you never know who you're going to find.
"So I'll never say I'm done. (With a roster of 30) I'd be surprised if I added any more, but I would never say it won't happen."
