Feb. 2, 2006

BOCA RATON, FL -- Three local high school athletes who were teammates on the local club team Team Boca will be reunited as Florida Atlantic University men's soccer players.

Phillip Lamarre, TJ Pluskota, Trey McEntee, and Danny Gruberg will join the Owls as they enter a new conference. FAU's athletic department is transitioning entirely over to the Sun Belt Conference, which doesn't sponsor men's soccer. FAU has yet to find a new conference, but should finalize that decision shortly.

Lamarre (Margate, FL), Pluskota (Boca Raton, FL) , and McEntee (Boca Raton, FL) are all South Florida natives, and head coach Kos Donev was extremely pleased to be able to net three local talents.

"Any time you can grab local talent it's a great opportunity, and obviously we are very happy to be able to seize that opportunity. Each of them, as well as Danny, bring something unique to the table," Donev said.

Lamarre, a goalkeeper, will be expected to compete for time in the net, following the departure of Anders Granstad. Lamarre had a high school goals-against average of 0.35, including 16 shutouts, both school records while playing for Douglas High School.

The three other additions are expected to help in the middle of the field, as well as defensively.

"TJ (American Heritage High School) is a very good midfield addition, and Trey (Pope John Paul High School) will help us tremendously in the middle/outside defensive positions. Danny is a very strong competitor, and even though he was injured a year ago, he's fully healthy now and should compete for a spot in our lineup right away," Donev said.

Gruberg was a member of the Reston Football Club, the seventh-ranked club team in the nation, while earning All-District honors the previous two seasons for Lake Braddock High School in Reston, VA.