April 28, 2005
Long signs with USI men’s soccer
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Southern Indiana men’s soccer team announced the signing of Matt Long to a national letter of intent for the 2005 season. Long is the eighth player to sign with USI Head Coach Dan Hogan this spring.
A three-year varsity performer at Reitz High School, Long was the Panthers’ 2003 and 2004 Offensive Most Valuable Player and led the state with 16 assists in 2004. The 2003 All-City player also scored 12 goals.
Long, who was coached at RHS by former USI soccer player B.J. Babb, scored 20 goals and dished out 26 assists during his high school career. He also earned Academic All-State and All-District honors as a senior and was named All-City and All-Conference the last two years. RHS was a combined 39-12 during the last three years.
“Matt had a fantastic senior season,” said Hogan. “He is one of those players that can make something happen out of nothing.
“Many times you would think that the ball is going over the end line and all of the sudden Matt has it on the head of one of his forwards in the 18-yard box,” continued Hogan. “He has above average speed and work rate. We think he is one of the best players in the city.”
In addition to Long, USI has signed junior forward/midfielder Brett Palazzolo (St. Louis, Missouri) junior midfielder/back Eric Brewer (Granite City, Illinois) freshmen forward Mike Bendzen (Evansville, Indiana) freshman midfielder Tyree Robinson (Jefferson City, Missouri) freshman midfielder Dan Grunewald (Munster, Indiana) and freshmen goalkeepers Jake Bryan (Portage, Indiana) and Adam Churchill (Warsaw, Indiana).
Ray Simmons, USI Sports Information
Assistant Coach
