University of Albany Men's Soccer Announces Three Commitments for 2009 Season - UAlbany Sports 2009

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. - University at Albany head men's soccer coach Johan Aarnio announced on Thursday, August 6 that the program has received commitments from three student-athletes. Dylan Clements (Cherry Valley, N.Y./Cherry Valley-Springfield/SUNY Cobleskill), David Hawksworth (Sheffield, England/All Saints Catholic) and Vojislav Petkovic (Belgrade, Serbia/Sportska Gimnazija) will become Great Danes in the fall of 2009.
Clements, who can be positioned at defender and midfielder, competed at SUNY Cobleskill last season and will have three years of eligibility remaining. Making 13 starts, Clements helped the Fighting Tigers advance to the semifinal round of the Northeastern Athletic Conference Tournament and finish the season with a 7-5-2 record. Clements, who moved from New Zealand with his parents in 2006, most notably led Cherry Valley-Springfield High to the Class D sectional title, scoring both goals in the squad's 2-1 victory.

Hawksworth, a forward and midfielder, and Petkovic, a defender, each competed at some of the highest amateur levels in their respective countries. Hawksworth was most recently a member of the Sheffield FC Under-18 Team. Founded in 1857, Sheffield FC is recognized by FIFA, the international governing body of association football, as the oldest football club in the world. Petkovic most recently played for the FK Grafičar U-19 Team, a club based out of his hometown of Belgrade.

"This group should add balance to areas vacated by the outgoing class," said Aarnio, whose squad matched the program's best record at the NCAA Division I level with a 12-4-2 mark last season. "David (Hawksworth) is a forward runner and linker who can support others and score as well. Vojislav (Petkovic) is naturally left-sided with excellent recovery speed to support our defense. Dylan (Clements) is an under-the-radar kid who will bring strength, tackling ability and balance to our midfield and back areas."

2009 University at Albany Men's Soccer Commitments

Name, Pos., Ht., Hometown (High School/Previous Team)

Dylan Clements, Defender/Midfielder, 6-2, Cherry Valley, N.Y.
David Hawksworth, Forward/Midfielder, 5-10, Sheffield, England
Vojislav Petkovic, Defender, 5-10, Belgrade, Serbia