PEORIA, Ill. -- The Bradley Soccer team's recruiting class continued to grow today with the announcement that a pair of local stars from Peoria Notre Dame High School -- attacking center midfielder Rudy Garcia and defensive center midfielder Michael Motteler -- both have signed financial aid agreements with Bradley University and will play for the Braves during the 2007 season, according to 12th-year head coach Jim DeRose.
The pair of Notre Dame products join a group of five recruits DeRose announced in February, pushing Bradley's 2007 recruiting class to seven players. The duo joins former high school rival Packy Amundsen (Peoria, Ill./Dunlap H.S.), Ephraim Beard (Schaumburg, Ill./Schaumburg H.S.), Nathan Groesch (Decatur, Ill./MacArthur H.S.), Wolfe Repass (Geneseo, Ill./Geneseo H.S.) and Paul Tracy (Naperville, Ill./Waubonsie Valley H.S.).
Garcia and Motteler helped Peoria Notre Dame to the 2004 IHSA Class A state title as sophomores in 2004, four straight region titles and a 90-3-9 overall record in their four seasons.
“We are extremely excited to add Michael and Rudy to our class,” said DeRose. “Certainly they are both good players, but what I am most proud of is the academic work these two young men have done over the past six months. Both of them are keenly aware of the privilege being a student-athlete is at Bradley, and their commitment to their academics has been fantastic.
“As players they both have been very successful at the club and high school level, they have played in big games and they both are very competitive,” DeRose added. “Like Packy, I firmly believe once they are immersed full time in a Division I year-round soccer program they will achieve great things and carry proudly the banner for the many Peoria area players that have represented Bradley so well during the years.”
The addition of Garcia gives Bradley the last two Peoria Journal Star Players of the Year in this recruiting class. Amundsen was the 2006 winner, following Garcia's selection in 2005 when he scored 25 goals and 12 assists for the Irish. Garcia went on to earn all-state honors from the Chicago Tribune and second-team all-state honors from the Illinois High School Coaches Association following his senior season in 2006.
“Rudy has the soccer IQ of very few players anywhere in the country,” said DeRose. “He loves the game, has immersed himself in the sport from a very young age and I have seen a determination in him over the past six months that indicates he is very ready for Division I soccer. He is a great passer and makes those around him better, and he has wonderful flair and creativity, but yet a great understanding of playing simply. I think the development in his game over the past few months has shown great willingness to play any role needed; wide in the midfield, defensively in the center of midfield or as a forward, and will lead to him challenging right away for a spot in the line-up.”
“Simply put, Rudy is a tremendously talented individual who has the ability to control and even take over any game he participates in,” said Notre Dame head coach Peter Nash. “He is creative with the ball, has great field vision and awareness and is a legitimate scoring threat in the offensive third of the field. He is without exception one of the most-talented soccer players to play at Peoria Notre Dame and his presence will be sorely missed.
“Rudy made an immediate impact to Peoria Notre Dame's soccer team as a freshman, stepping into the big shoes left by former Notre Dame standout and Bradley player/graduate Shannon Taylor,” added Nash. “In fact, as a four-year varsity starter, he has been a major contributor to Peoria Notre Dame's most successful teams. Rudy's significance can also be highlighted through the words of opposing coaches in scouting/discussing PND ? ?If you don't already know about their number 10 (Rudy Garcia) then you're going to have a problem trying to stop them.'”
While Garcia grabbed many of the headlines for his offensive contributions at Notre Dame, Motteler controlled the defensive effort for the Irish. A three-time all-conference pick, Motteler also earned all-section and all-area honors during both his junior and senior seasons. Also playing wide midfield for the Irish, Motteler contributed a goal and eight assists while working from end-to-end during his senior season.
“Competitive and determined best describe Michael,” said DeRose. “He is a fiery competitor who I have watched on many occasions sacrifice personal statistics for wins. He is small in stature but plays like he is 6-4 and will be the first into the fray. He has good versatility to play in the midfield, centrally or wide, and will bring great energy, passion and enthusiasm.
“I honestly believe he was one of the more underrated players in the state and area his senior year,” added DeRose, “and with a large senior class leaving next season, especially wide in the midfield, Michael can really be in a good position to help us at that position.”
“Michael's greatest attributes, aside from being a talented soccer player, are his tenacious/aggressive style of play and his ability to play numerous positions on a soccer field,” said Nash. “Although small in stature, Michael's performance on the field makes him appear much bigger.
“Michael is not only an excellent one-on-one defender, but he also possesses the qualities that make him a successful midfielder as well ? fast, technically strong on the ball, distributes well and has good field awareness,” added Nash. “It is this versatility and hard-nosed style of play that sets Michael apart from his peers and additionally, has aided in PND's success.”
In addition to teaming at Peoria Notre Dame, both Garcia and Motteler played for Bradley Associate Head Coach Brad Ruzzo with the Central Illinois Soccer Academy. Garcia also played for the Illinois Olympic Development Program team in 2004.
Although Bradley graduates three key seniors -- Zach Bell, James Hedges and Mark Wallace -- from the 2006 squad that became just the third team in Missouri Valley Conference history to win back-to-back regular-season championships, the Braves hope to challenge for a third straight Valley title with a lineup that includes 22 returning lettermen and two redshirt freshmen. Bradley's returning unit includes 2006 Valley Freshman of the Year Chris Cutshaw, fellow All-MVC second-team picks Grant Campbell and Joe Donoho, honorable mention All-MVC goalkeeper Mike Haynes and MVC All-Freshman pick Justin Bigelow.
