source: uvmathletics.com

BURLINGTON, Vt. –- Five student-athletes, Nick Mead (Hinesburg, Vt.), Todd Shepardson (Hinesburg, Vt.), T.J. Gore (Macomb, Mich.), Marty Galvin (North Weymouth, Mass.) and Tyler Hasman (Portland, Oregon) will attend the University of Vermont and play soccer at the school, Vermont men’s soccer coach Jesse Cormier made the announcement today.

“We feel we have signed a good group of student-athletes with each having the successful character, personality and work ethic we strive for at Vermont,” said Cormier, who will begin his third season this fall.

Mead, a 6-1, 175-pound back, and Shepardson, a 5-10, 180-pound forward/midfielder, were teammates at Champlain Valley Union for three seasons. Shepardson graduated from CVU in 2005 and is currently spending a post-graduate year at Suffield Academy in Suffield, Connecticut. The pair also continues the long line of Hinesburg-natives with the Catamounts that includes UVM Hall of Famers, Peter Baldwin ’68 and John Koerner ’78, as well as a recent UVM captain, T.J. Mead ’04, Nick’s older brother.

A tough, hard-nosed defender, Mead was a team captain this season as CVU won its fifth straight Vermont Division I State Championship. A two-time VSCA All-State selection, he was named to the NSCAA All-New England Team and was the NSCAA Vermont High School Player of the Year. He also played for the Nordic Soccer Club and has participated in the Vermont Olympic Development Program for six years.

“We recruited Nick to compete for playing time right away,” said Cormier. “I have no doubt he will be one of the newcomers who will earn a spot in the rotation for each game because he will work relentlessly in training. His strength is his character and his uncanny ability under pressure. He is unflappable and it will be tough to find someone who will outwork Nick.”

A three-time first team selection to the Vermont All-State Team from 2002 to 2004, Shephardson led CVU to three state _title_s and then led Suffield Academy to the New England Prep School Class B Championship this fall. Very skilled with the ball, he has been an NSCAA All-New England selection for three straight seasons, two at CVU and one at Suffield. Last season he was Suffield’s Most Valuable Player and was named to the NEPSAC All-Star Team. A two-year member of the Region I ODP team, Shepardson played for his father, Dan, at CVU and for former Catamount star Ryan Levesque ‘97 at Suffield Academy.

“Todd is a special talent who is a pure attacker, because he can beat you in a number of ways,” said Cormier. “He can put the final touch on the ball to score the goal or he can make the perfect pass to eliminate defenders and create chances. We are very excited he’s decided to join us.”

Gore, at 6-0, 180-pounds, is a big, athletic forward candidate with excellent offensive skills. At Dakota High, he was named two-time All-State and last season was a finalist for Michigan’s Gatorade Player of the Year. A longtime member of the Vardar Soccer Club, Gore helped Vardar to the Michigan and Midwest Championships and was one of the leading scorers at the 2005 National Club Championships. He was a key contributor as Vardar captured the 2003 and 2004 ‘Y’ League National Championships. He also plays basketball at Dakota High and his father, Tim, was a four-year basketball letterwinner at Michigan State from 1981 to 1984.

“T.J. is a rare talent with a strong work ethic,” said Cormier. “He has natural gifts athletically, but it is his attitude to continue to grow and improve excites us. He will open some eyes with his strength and pace, but his personality and character will be his biggest gifts to our team. He has the talent to add more excitement to our attack.”

Galvin is a 6-2, 180-pound forward prospect who was a top forward in the State of Massachusetts at Weymouth High School. His size and strength are his biggest attributes. A Bay State League All-Star and a all-state selection in 2005, he led Weymouth to a 15-5-5 record, the South Sectional _title_ and a trip to the MIAA Division I Semifinals. He captained the Wildcats and was the Bay State League’s leading scorer. Galvin also played club soccer for the Cape Cod Crusaders leading them to the Region I finals last season.

“Marty has tremendous size and strength for his position which provides difficulty for opposing defenders,” said Cormier. “We are also impressed with his workmanlike attitude and refusal to be denied which makes him a real handful.”

A 5-7, 160-pound heady forward, Hasman transfers to Vermont from Yavapai Junior College in Prescott, Arizona and will have two seasons of eligibility at UVM. He helped lead Yavapai to the 2005 NJCAA Championship game and was a NSCAA Junior College All-American. Over the last two seasons, he helped lead the Roughriders to a combined 47-4-0 record going 24-2-0 in 2005. Hasman finished his career third on Yavapai’s career scoring list. Prior to the last two seasons, he was a standout at Lincoln High in Portland, Oregon.

“Tyler will bring a fresh new attitude to this program,” said Cormier. Very determined on the field, he scores goals from all angles. He will be a great addition to our environment coming from a soccer program that has great tradition and history. He has developed himself very well and we are excited to have him continue his growth as a student-athlete at Vermont.”

Vermont lost three seniors following last season, midfielders Jason Leahy (St. Albans, Vt.) and backs Jesse Brady-Searby (Petersburgh, N.Y.) and Matt Chew (Clifton Park, N.Y.). The Catamounts went 11-5-3 in 2005 and earned a home game in the America East Men’s Soccer Championship for the second straight year.