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Schellas lands two more transfers from UMBC. Twin soccer players with some credentials. The SMU website says they'll play this fall. There is going to be a ton of competition for playing time on this team.

I believe that makes 32 possible players. I wonder who is not coming back because I would be surprised if he carried more than 24 and even that seems high.

From SMUMustangs.com:


Dallas Natives Esteban and Manuel Mariel Join Mustang Men's Soccer For Fall

Twin Brothers Transferring to SMU via UMBC

June 27, 2006

DALLAS (SMU) - Dallas natives and twin brothers Esteban Mariel and Manuel Mariel are transferring to SMU via Univeristy of Maryland-Baltimore County and will be sophomores this fall as members of the SMU men's soccer team.

Esteban stands at 5-10 and plays midfield. While at UMBC, Esteban saw action in 13 games his freshman season, totaling two assists on six shots (three on goal). A graduate of Lake Highlands High School, Esteban was a three-year member of the ODP state team and earned club team MVP honors in 2002. He competed with a regional squad which traveled to Costa Rica in 2004 and has played in Brazil as part of a team which advanced from the second division to the first, won the First Division, captured a state title and earned a berth in the regional finals in the same season. He performed well in a 2005 "friendly" match with FC Dallas. Esteban is son of Solange and Federico Mariel.

A 5-10 midfielder/forward, Manuel was named to the America West All-Rookie team in 2005. He saw action in 14 games, including 11 starts. Manuel totaled four goals (including two game-winners) on 18 shots (eight on goal). A member of the national team pool in 2003-04, Manuel is a 2003 adidas All-American and a three-year member of the ODP regional team. He was named the NSCAA/adidas Texas Player of the Year in 2003. He earned All State and All Regional honors that year and scored the game-tying goal in the state title game. A former member of the United States U-16 national team, Manuel has competed with the likes of Diego (Santos, Porto), Freddy Adu (DC United) and Mike Bradley (Metrostars). He is the son of Solange and Federico Mariel.

With all due respect to Coach Doherty, Coach Bennett and the rest of the coaches on the Hilltop, Coach Hyndman is still the best coach at SMU, and his reputation as one of the very best in the country is what allows things like this to happen.

Congratulations, Coach!

That and the fact that he has the only Div. 1 men's soccer program for 500 miles.

None of these guys had to transfer to SMU.
I don't know the specific reasons for their choices, but I have to believe Coach Hyndman factored in there somewhere.
How many transfers are there now .... 5 or 6?

Glad we are updating Wescott, but sure wish we had more fan support. Even the Aggies can get 2000 people a game (women's)

How does the difference in Aggie soccer attendance compare to the difference in numbers of students?

To make that comparison, we would need our actual attendance average, and thats a number I'm not even sure is accurately kept.

Whats the population size comparison look like when you compare Dallas to College Station?