2005 boys soccer outlook: WesCo makeover for UW

Call it the Big Catch.

The University of Washington men's soccer program stayed close to home for its 2005 recruiting class, reeling in four whoppers from the fully stocked WesCo Conference.

On Feb. 8, the Huskies signed four in-state players who live within 25 miles of each other — Mariner forward Mike DeSimone, Shorecrest goalkeeper Rylan Hawkins, Shorewood midfielder George John and Snohomish midfielder/forward Taylor Cochran.

Each offers a different ingredient for the Huskies, but the quartet shares size and talent along with those strong local ties. Each stands 6 feet 2 or taller and grew up playing with or against each other since age 11.

"This has got to be one of the best graduating classes we've seen in WesCo in a long time," said Drew Thompson, Shorewood's 14th-year coach. "I think George is arguably the best player in the state. ...

"WesCo is one of the strongest leagues in the state."

Cochran and DeSimone played on rival youth club teams — Cochran for Snohomish United F.C. for nine years, and DeSimone for the Marysville Force. Those teams combined three years ago and they became teammates. Hawkins joined them last year. The trio helped the Washington Under-18 Olympic Development Program (ODP) team win a regional championship and take fourth nationally.

"It's fun to go against those guys, because it's a battle," Cochran said. "I will definitely like having them on my side, too." "I saw Cochran play when I went to watch Mike DeSimone," UW coach Dean Wurzberger said. "DeSimone was more of a known quantity."

Not for long, though. Hooking local talent is part of Wurzberger's blueprint to keep the Huskies a Pac-10 and national power.

"We want to build our core around local players," he said. "That's going to be the formula for our success. We know we can't get every good player in our state, but we want to get ones who fit here." George likes Wurzberger's local emphasis.

"They're basically putting a fence around the whole state," John said. "It's nice that they didn't overlook us."

The 6-3 George, who was the state's Gatorade Player of the Year, is the class's prize catch. The four-year starter at central midfielder distributes the ball superbly. He had 14 goals plus 10 assists last season to earn National Soccer Coaches Athletic Association (NSCAA) High School Adidas All-American honors.

"We think he's the closest to playing immediately," Wurzberger said. "I see him fitting in somewhere as a freshman. He stood out to us long before high school."

Said Shorewood's Thompson of his star player: "He can score or defend. He's got the whole package. He's 6-3 or 6-4 with the quickness of a small guy."

DeSimone, a 6-2, 220-pound three-year letterman in football, is a bruising, physical goal scorer. He collected 12 goals and nine assists as a junior. "Mike, he's just this big guy who's extremely strong on the ball," Hawkins said. "He can bring it down with two or three guys on him. Plus, he's agile enough that he can still crack a shot with guys on him."

Hawkins, at 6-2, 185, has brawn, but also is a thinking-man's keeper. He owns a 3.97 grade-point average and 1,490 SAT score, and has been accepted to the UW's college of engineering, where his focus will be computer and electrical engineering.

"I like to think of myself as a smart keeper, both technically and tactically," said Hawkins, a four-year starter who has 25 shutouts the previous two seasons. "I have to control the defense, because they're on the field working for you as a keeper."

Washington's lone out-of-state signee, speedy, 5-6 Jo-Jo Katz of Mission Viejo, Calif., will be surrounded by size.

"We have four giants coming in," said Wurzberger. "They have skill and knowledge, too. We've decided to go for the bigger player, knowing that the college game is more physical."

Shorecrest coach Teddy Mitalas knows what UW is getting.

"Those four guys are heads and heels above anybody in our league," Mitalas said.