April 10, 2003

DENVER - Colorado high school star midfielder Ben Mendozza (Aurora, Colo./Grandview HS) has signed a National Letter of Intent to enroll at the University of Denver and play soccer, head coach Chad Ashton announced today. Mendozza, a first-team All-Colorado selection, will join five other newcomers on the pitch in 2003.

These six student-athletes are really excited to part of Pioneer soccer," Ashton said. "They are all versatile players with great fundamentals. I expect all six to complete at a very high level."

Midfielder James Merriman (Nanaimo, British Columbia/Cedar Community Secondary School), one of two Canadian newcomers, is a product of the Canadian U18 program. Fellow countryman midfielder Mike Seager (Victoria, British Columbia/Belmont Secondary School) is also a product of the Canadian U18 program.

Forward Colin Rigby (Mercer Island, Wash./Mercer Island HS) will be one of only two members of the squad from the state of Washington. Rigby was part of the Olympic Development Region IV Pool. First-team all-state member forward Kyle Christensen (Layton, Utah/Layton HS) was the 2001 MVP of the Utah State Cup and member of the olympic development team. The lone transfer, midfielder John Mendes (La Mesa, Calif./St. John's University) was also a part of an olympic development team.