Feb. 9, 2004

Berkeley, Calif. - The California men's soccer team signed four athletes to national letters of intent and announced one transfer Wednesday afternoon.

Coach Kevin Grimes and his staff signed Juan Cardenas, a 5-6, 147 pound midfielder out of Richmond, Calif., Luke Sassano, a 6-0, 165 pound midfielder/forward out of Orinda, Calif., Javier Hil, a 5-7 145 pound forward out of East Palo Alto Calif. and Jacob Wilson, a 5-10, 160 pound, midfielder out of Fremont, Calif. The Bears also welcomed junior goalkeeper Eric Kronberg, a 6-4, 197 pound transfer from the Fresno State Bulldogs.

"We are extremely happy with the 2004 recruiting class," Grimes said. "With the loss of only four seniors, our intent was to recruit the best four soccer players that fit our programs needs and that would mesh with our current team. I think we have done just that. The late addition of Eric Kronberg as a transfer was icing on the cake for this coming season."

Cardenas, out of Richmond HS, was a high school captain all four years. While playing for Richmond, he was a three-time first team all-league player in the ACCAL. In addition, he plays club soccer with the Central Marin Bandits. He was a three-time Cal-North ODP state and regional team selection, and made the U.S. National Youth Team in 2000. Cardenas has made trips with the Region IV and national teams to Costa Rica, Mexico and England.

Out of Miramonte HS, Sassano is a three-time all-league selection. He had a remarkable junior year, scoring 14 goals and 14 assists from central midfield and has continued his senior year with 11 goals and 11 assists thus far. Sassano has been a member of his club team, Lamorinda United, since he joined the Under-12 squad. Playing in the Y-League for De Anza Ruckus, he was selected to the Y-League Regional team pool.

At Menlo-Atherton HS, Hil was a four-year starter on the varsity, and first-team all-league selection. Playing for his club team, the Palo Alto Crew, he helped them reach the 2003 Cal-North state cup finals. A Cal-North ODP selection from 2000-2004, Hil also was named to the Region IV team in 2002 and 2004.

Wilson, at Washington HS, was a three-time MVAL all-league selection and player of the year in 2002. He led the MVAL in scoring twice and is currently leading the league again this season. In addition, Wilson plays for his club team, the Central Marin Bandits, where he is teammates with Cardenas. The last four years he was selected to the Cal-North ODP state team and has been selected to the Region IV team the last three years.

Kronberg, out of Montgomery HS in Santa Rosa, Calif., spent two years with Fresno State. He started all 19 games for the Bulldogs in 2003, allowing 35 goals in 19 games played. He is a four-time Cal-North ODP state team member and two-time Region IV team member. He will have two years of eligibility left when he joins the Bears next fall.

The five newcomers will join a program on the upswing the last several years. Grimes has guided the Bears to the NCAA tournament the last three seasons, a school record, where Cal has reached as far as the Sweet 16. In 2003, Cal surged at the end of the season, winning four out of its last five games to finish 11-9-2 and advance to the NCAA Tournament second round.