June 5, 2014
ROCHESTER, Mich.- The Oakland men's soccer team and head coach Eric Pogue announced on Thursday that Brendan Woodfull, Nick Strack and Dean Akeel have each signed to play for the Golden Grizzlies next season. They will round out the 2014 recruiting to 10 players.
| Player | Position | Hometown | Previous School | Player Highlights |
| Brendan Woodfull | Forward | Belle River, Ontario, Canada | Oregon State | - Played in 11 games for Oregon State in Fall 2013
- Youth member of Toronto FC Academy |
| Nick Strack | Defender | Fort Wayne, Ind. | Bishop Luers HS | - Indiana High School All State 2012-2013
- Three-time All-Conference selection and Conference MVP in 2012 |
| Dean Akeel | Midfielder | Rochester, Mich. | Detroit Country Day School | - Won Michigan HS State Championship in 2011
- Member of the Vardar Academy team 2012-2014 |
Pogue on Recent Additions to 2014 Recruiting Class
"These three young men round out a very strong recruiting class for 2014 for Oakland University that already includes seven from our initial signing period in February. This recruiting class addresses a lot of immediate needs for us, but also adds much needed depth and versatility to our team. We expect each of these 10 players to help us compete for our first-ever Horizon League championship in Fall 2014, as well as be the backbone of our team for many years to come in the Oakland Black and Gold."
Pogue on Individual Players
Brendan Woodfull: "Brendan is someone we recruited pretty heavily out of high school where he was one of top forwards in Canada playing for the Toronto FC Academy and Vaughan Azzuri Soccer Club under Patrice Gheisar. After a year playing Pac 10 soccer in one of the strongest conferences in country as a freshman at Oregon State, we are excited Brendan decided to come back closer to home and make a big impact for us at Oakland. Brendan, at 6-foot-3 190 pounds, is a big strong target striker that also has the speed to get in behind defenses. He will be a big presence in the air for us, as well as being someone that show up in the 18-yard box and score important goals for us. We expect Brendan to make an immediate impact for us this Fall."
Nick Strack: "Nick is someone myself and assistant coach Stephen Gorton earmarked last spring playing in the National Premier League (NPL). Nick has great size, athleticism, skill and versatility to play as a center back, but also as a holding midfielder for us down the line. He is a very intense and physical competitor that will add that Oakland blue collar grit and physicality that Oakland soccer has always been known for. Nick comes from a great soccer background being a part of the Fort Wayne United FC for many years under Coach Bobby Poursanidis."
Dean Akeel: "Dean is a young player with a tremendous upside. He is a midfielder with an excellent work ethic, tremendous soccer IQ, and great versatility to play anywhere through the midfield. Dean is a high character young man that is infectious to his teammates on and off the field. Dean comes from a great soccer background and has had tremendous coaching having grown up playing in the Vardar Academy under Coaches Demir Muftari, Mike Lupenec, and Mark Christensen, as well in high school at DCDS under Coaches Paul Bartoshuk, Bob Bukari, and Dave Hicklin."
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