Despite losing six seniors to graduation from last year's team that secured the highest winning percentage in the program's 21-year history, third-year Clarke College Head Men's Soccer Coach Sean Esterhuizen is extremely optimistic about the 2008 season.

Esterhuizen returns eight starters from last year's squad and has bolstered his program with an impressive recruiting class.

"We brought in a fantastic recruiting class of 11 standout players that will immediately give us credibility in the attack and depth off the bench - qualities that were sorely missed these past two seasons," said Esterhuizen. 
 
Leading the scoring threat for Clarke will be Dino Ramic (Boznia) and junior college transfer Abdulwami Aman (Ethiopia). 

Ramic, a product of Hanford High School, was considered one of the top talents in the state of Washington, and was his conference's leading goal scorer and MVP in 2007. 

Aman led Whatcom Community College to its first Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges (NWAACC) championship with 26 goals and was also voted MVP of the NWAACC. 

"Both Ramic and Aman know how to find the back of the net, which will make us an exciting attacking force this season," says Esterhuizen. 
 
Aman and fellow transfer Ishmail Hamza are of Ethiopian descent, and will be joined by several other international recruits, including Chris Rogers (Wales), central defender Peter Baylis (England), winger Joshua Lister (Australia), midfielder Tankiso Sekese (Lesotho), and defender Jaryd Wagner (South Africa). 

"Wagner is currently ranked No. 2 in South Africa in the Mens Under-19 triathlon," says Esterhuizen. "He is a remarkable athlete who will also compete in track for Clarke."
 
Rounding out the 2008 recruiting class are three outstanding regional talents, midfielder Sean Fidlow (Gurnee, Ill.), and goalkeepers Charlie Fast (Minneapolis, Minn.) and Gustavo Esquivel (Chicago, Ill.).

Last year's most valuable player Kraig Moore (So, M, Kennewick, Wash.) returns this year as does 2007 leading scoring Dustin Whelan (Sr., M, Richland, Wash.).

Clarke opens the 2008 season on August 29 at Loras College.