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msoc signing day 2019

Men's Soccer

#UDMSOC Adds Four To Program

The Flyers Signed Four Student-Athletes For The Upcoming School Year

DAYTON –  The University of Dayton men's soccer team and head coach Dennis Currier released information about the addition of players to the 2019 roster.
 
The Flyers welcome Dominic Ruffolo, Russel Pienias, Andres Sanchez, and Xavier Zengue to UD.
 
"These four student-athletes were selected to compliment the large group of returners that we have," said head coach Dennis Currier. "They have experienced the highest youth levels in us soccer and accumulated many accolades for their efforts. They will be joining a very experienced and motivated group that is led by seven seniors. Their preparation over the next several months will dictate how well they will do their first season."
 
Dominic Ruffolo, Forward, Dayton, Ohio
Ruffolo is a forward-midfielder hybrid coming from a successful career at Archbishop Alter High School in Dayton. With the Knights, Ruffolo was named Soccer Player of the Year of the Dayton area, All-American by the United Soccer Coaches, Penn Station Athlete of the Month, and Alter High School Winningest Boys Soccer Player (68-9-14) in 2018. Both in 2017 and 2018, he earned First-Team All-Midwest Region, First-Team All-State and First-Team All-District. These honors follow being named Player of the Year in the Greater Catholic League his junior year of high school. In addition to serving as team caption for two years, Ruffolo was the four-time leading scorer for the Metro Rapids FC and a three-time letter winner as a basketball point guard for the Knights. He follows a long line of Flyer soccer players. His father and mother, Richard Ruffolo and Tina D'Epiro, played for UD the 1980s. Danielle Ruffolo, a senior soccer player at Dayton, is Dominic's sister. Ruffolo plans to major in business.
 
Russel Pienias, Goalkeeper, Tampa, Florida.
Pienias is a 6-3 goalkeeper from Alonso High School in Florida where he was named MVP in 2017 and served as team captain in 2018. He earned All-State honors his sophomore and junior year of high school and All-Conference his junior year. Pienias also played for Tampa Bay United, winning the National Championship in 2017, finishing second in the National Championship in 2018, and State Cup champions in back-to-back years. For two years, Pienias played for Florida's State ODP team. He ran track for one year during his high school career as well. Pienias plans to major in physics.
 
Andres Sanchez, Midfielder, Bradenton, Florida.
Sanchez is a Venezuelan-born attacking midfielder out of IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. While training with the Development Academy, he played with the Davie United Sharks. Sanchez' time with the club earned him 2016 State MVP honors and a State Championship. In addition, he achieved 2016 Region III Champion and Region III MVP. Sanchez secured 16 goals in his 2017 season and 20 in his 2018 season. In 2013, he was in the Olympic Development Program State Pool for Alabama. He plans to major in sport management.
 
Xavier Zengue, Defender, Shoreview, Minnesota.
Zengue will become a Flyer after playing one year on varsity for Mounds View High School and two years for the Minnesota Thunder Academy. The 6-0 defender was named to All-Conference his sophomore year of high school. Zengue played for the St. Paul Blackhawks and the Minnesota Thunder Academy Premier team. In 2017, he trained with the Olympic Development Program. Zengue collected an All-Conference title for men's triple jump during his time at Mounds View High School. He plans to major in exercise science.
 
For more information regarding the Dayton men's soccer program, check back at DaytonFlyers.com.
 
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