St. John's University Athletics
Men's Soccer Announces 2008 Signees
3/26/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
March 26, 2008
QUEENS, N.Y. - Head men's soccer coach Dr. Dave Masur has announced the signing of eight players for the 2008 soccer season. Nunzio Belfiore, Matt Bienkowski, Josh Faga, Cristian Gonzales, Walter Hines, Connor Lade, Austin Phillips and Pablo Punyed have all signed on to play for the Red Storm in the fall.
Belfiore, a goalkeeper, comes to St. John's from Xaverian High School. Born and raised in Brooklyn, Belfiore served as a team captain at Xaverian for three seasons. Belfiore is currently the starting keeper for the U18 MLS Academy New York Redbulls.
Bienkowski earned All-State honors as a junior at East Catholic. A member of the West Hartford Premier club team, Bienkowski also played for the Oakwood Soccer Club. Bienkowski played for the Connecticut ODP team, made the Region I Pool and was invited to train with the national team in Bradenton, Fla.
Faga earned NSCAA All-Region and Scholar All-Region honors as a senior at McQuaid Jesuit. An all-state selection during his junior and senior seasons, Faga was also named the City Catholic Player of the Year as a senior and earned All-City Catholic first team honors in all four seasons. Faga spent five years playing with the New York State West ODP and currently plays for the USYSA Region 1 team.
Gonzales was born in Queens before moving south to Miami. He was a four-time letterwinner at Miami Sunset Senior High and won both the state and national championships with the squad in 2004. Gonzales has been invited to train the men's U-17 Colombian National Team and has also been invited to play with the U-20 United States National Team.
Hines earned NSCAA/adidas All-America honors as a senior and was named to the PSAL Exceptional Seniors Team, as well. Hines has spent time playing on numerous teams, including the ODP New York State squad, the ODP Region 1 team, L.D.A A Liga Deportiva Alajuelense in Costa Rica. He currently plays on the U18 MLS Academy New York Redbulls.
Lade, a four-year letterwinner and two-time team captain at Morristown High School, was named team MVP and also earned all-conference, all-county and all-state honors during each year from 2005-07. Lade was named one of the top 45 players in New Jersey in 2007. He currently plays on the U18 MLS Academy New York Redbulls and was named to the Super Y ODP National Select team in 2006 and 2007.
Phillips has played for the Maryland ODP for two years, during which he helped the squad win the regional and national championship. A three-year captain, Phillips was also a two-time All-District of Columbia selection and a two-time first team All-WCAC pick. Phillips currently plays with the U18 MLS Academy DC United squad.
Punyed was a four-year starter at Coral Park Senior High in Miami. An all-county selection, Punyed also earned All-America honors as a senior. Punyed recently traveled to Mexico as part of the U-20 United States National Team camp.
