Birkelbach Announces Three Additional MSU Soccer Recruits
John Birkelbach, Mountain State University’s Assistant Athletic Director and Soccer Coach has announced three more recruits for MSU’s soccer team, which will begin its first season this fall.

Among those signed is Tyler Evans of Granville, Ohio, who played forward for Granville Christian High School. Evans holds several goal scoring records: single game (6), year (26) and career (92). He was voted all ALPS League for all four high school years and voted All-Licking County his junior and senior years. Tyler was a starting forward of the NASA Xtabi that was voted by Soccerincollege.com as 4th in the state of Ohio, 6th in region II and 33 in the U.S.

Also joining the team is Anthony Collins of Callao, Virginia. Collins is also a forward and played for Northumberland High School where he was a four-year varsity starter and has earned several honors. He was the leading goal scorer his freshman, sophomore, and junior years, and is leading the scoring department this year. Anthony has over 50 goals for his career along with over 40 assists. His superior leadership and spectacular play have earned him spots on the All-District and All-Region teams ever since his freshman year; he has also been awarded team MVP.

Keith Allison of St. Albans, West Virginia has committed to play for MSU. Allison was a forward for St. Albans High School and a starter for all four years of high school. He was captain of the team his junior year, and was chosen for the 2005 Kanawha-Putnam All County Team. Allison was second leading scorer during his junior year and leading scorer during his senior year. Allison was on the SAHS wrestling team and went to the state tournament for three years, placing in each event. He also served on the Charleston Town Center Teen Board for one year doing community service projects during his sophomore year.

Birkelbach, who won a national championship at Bluefield College last year before becoming MSU’s soccer coach, said recruiting is going very well. “Both Anthony Collins and Keith Allison are outstanding athletes with just plain raw talent. They have amazing work ethic which I expect them to bring to the program. Both will be getting playing time as freshman and they will have to adapt quickly. Tyler Evans is a natural goal scorer whose numbers are absolutely amazing and I expect great things from him.”

Birkelbach has put together a schedule for the fall season that includes NCAA Division II and III teams and NAIA schools. “We’re not on any kind of easy schedule, even though it’s our first year,” laughs Birkelbach. “We have a very competitive schedule against very solid teams beginning in September and continuing on through the season.”

MSU’s first home game is September 18 against Bluefield College.