Feb. 12, 2004

Los Angeles, Calif. - One week into his tenure as UCLA men's soccer head coach, Jorge Salcedo has signed eight standout players to national letters of intent. The eight signees are U.S. Under-18 National team member Michael Zaher, Under-17 National Team member Greg Folk, adidas All-Americans Kamani Hill and Marvell Wynne, All-CIF selections Richard Flores and Edwige Ligonde and all-league performers Eric Conner and Ryan Munoz.

Zaher was a Parade All-American as a junior in 2003 and also earned All-Region and All-State honors. The midfielder/defender from Las Vegas, NV (Bishop Gorman HS) has been a member of the U.S. Under-18 National Team.

Folk, a defender from Woodland Hills, CA will be graduating from Edison Academic Center a year early to join the Bruins. He is part of the U.S. Soccer residency program in Bradenton, FL and formerly played prep soccer at Notre Dame HS in Sherman Oaks, CA. The adidas All-American was also a member of the USTSA U16 national champion So Cal United team.

Hill, a forward from Berkeley, CA (Berkeley HS), was an adidas All-American in 2002 and 2001 and has been in the U.S. Under-18 National Team pool. He is also a member of the ODP Regional team. As a sophomore at Berkeley HS, he scored 37 goals. Hill and Zaher will be reunited with their former ODP Region teammates and current Bruins Chad Barrett, Taylor Canel, Patrick Ianni, Damon James and Kiel McClung.

Wynne, a defender from Poway, CA (Poway HS) is considered one of the most athletic players in the nation. He is a member of the ODP Regional team and earned NSCAA/adidas All-America honors in 2003.

Flores is a forward from Inglewood, CA (Animo Leadership School) who has led his league in scoring the past two years. He earned All-CIF honors a year ago, and over the past two seasons alone has tallied nearly 100 goals. He is a member of the Region IV ODP team.

Ligonde , a midfielder from Fresno, CA (Buchanan HS) has earned All-San Joaquin Valley honors the last two seasons and led his team to the Valley championship a year ago.

Conner, a goalkeeper from Trabuco Canyon, CA (Mission Viejo HS), was an all-league performer as a sophomore and junior and his school's Defensive Player of the Year. He plays club soccer with the Mission Viejo Pateadores U-17 Premier team.

Munoz is the leading scorer on the Santa Margarita HS squad and has earned all-league honors. The forward hails from Coto de Caza, CA and was recently selected the Orange County Register Athlete of the Week. He also plays club soccer for the Pateadores in the Premier League, one of the most prestigious youth leagues in the country.

"Once again, we are very happy to sign such a well-balanced group of players," said Salcedo. "This class, coupled with last year's number one ranked recruiting class, gives us a strong foundation for the future. The balance in the class will give us depth and experience in all positions on the field.

"In Eric Conner, we are getting one of the top goalies in Southern California, and he will grow into yet another quality goalkeeper here at UCLA. In Marvell Wynne, Greg Folk and Mike Zaher, we are receiving three of the top defenders in the nation. With his tenaciousness and athletic ability, Wynne will be a very tough defender for any forward in the nation. Folk and Zaher can adeptly play as both wing backs and wide midfielders. Their national team experience has taken them around the world to compete at a high level, which will ultimately be beneficial. Edwidge Ligonde is the sleeper of the class and brings both a physical presence and a solid knowledge of the game. Rounding out the class are three outstanding forwards in Kamani Hill, Richard Flores and Ryan Munoz. Hill brings a prowess as a proven goal scorer who flat-out finds ways to score goals. Flores has always been the top forward in each of his teams and enjoys the pressure of having to be the go-to guy. Munoz has raised the level of his game each year, and we look forward to reaping the benefits of his continued progression."

"They all have had success at many levels and are proven winners," Salcedo continued. "We look forward to seeing this class flourish and realize their potential in the years to come."