First-year head coach Nick Deren has announced that seven new athletes will join the Detroit men's soccer team, beginning with the 2010 season.

The athletes are: Adam Bedell (D, 6-6, 195, Livonia, MI/Winston Churchill), Kevin Gill (F/MF, 5-11, 170, Sterling Heights, MI/De La Salle Collegiate), Andrew Huang (D/MF, 5-8, 155, Canton, MI/Canton/Schoolcraft/Northern Kentucky), Mike Pugh (D, 5-10, 165, Shelby Twp., MI/De La Salle Collegiate), Patrick Soltys (D, 6-2, 165, Mississauga, ON/St. Joan of Arc Catholic Secondary School), Anthony Shepherd (GK, 6-1, 185, Rochester, MI/Stoney Creek) and Yaya Toure (F, 6-2, 185, Ypsilanti, MI/Willow Run/Schoolcraft).

"The main objective of this recruiting class was to address the defensive needs of our team by bringing in four natural defenders who will bring athleticism and an added toughness to our backline," stated Deren. "In addition, I wanted to add more of an offensive punch to our already talented group of attacking players with two incoming forwards."

Adam Bedell (D, 6-6, 195, Livonia, MI/Winston Churchill)
Will graduate from Winston Churchill in 2010… Four-year varsity letterwinner in soccer at WCHS… Garnered All-Michigan First Team honors in 2009 and second team the preceding season… Chargers were Kensington Lakes Athletic Association (KLAA) South Division champion both junior and senior seasons… Named to KLAA All-Conference team and Observer & Eccentric All-Area Team in both 2008 and '09… Squad was district finalist last two years… 2009-10 MHSAA DI Scholar-Athlete Award finalist… Selected for BCAM/MHSAA "Reaching Higher Program" junior year… Ended high school career with 26 goals, which is fourth all-time in the Chargers' record books, along with 31 assists, which is second all-time… Played basketball all four years for WCHS and ended with two varsity letters… Earned Scholar-Athlete Award all four years… Member of the National Honor Society… St. Mary Mercy Hospital Intensive Care Unit volunteer… Accounting Aid volunteer… Played for the Michigan Wolves Academy for six years.

"Adam will come in to shore up our backline and give us some height and athleticism that we've lacked recently," said Deren. "His technical ability and passing range will make him a threat offensively and Adam will pose problems for the opposition on offensive set pieces."

Kevin Gill (F/MF, 5-11, 170, Sterling Heights, MI/De La Salle Collegiate)
Will graduate from De La Salle Collegiate in 2010… Earned three varsity letters in soccer at DLSC… Earned all-district honors last two years… Ended as the squad's leading goal scorer with 10 junior year… Earned team Most Improved Offense award after 2008 season… Closed out senior campaign with 10 goals and a team-high 11 assists… Pilots were Petoskey Invitational Champions in 2007 and '09, Zionsville Invitational Champions junior year, Catholic League Champions all three seasons and district champions in 2007 and '08… Finished career with 21 goals and 16 assists… Played for the Carpathia Kickers for five years… Kickers were John Talley Showcase Champions in 2009.

"Kevin should come in and compete for a position as either a striker or an attacking center midfielder," commented Deren. "He has great 1v1 ability on the dribble and is a proven goal scorer coming out of high school and club soccer."

Andrew Huang (D/MF, 5-8, 155, Canton, MI/Canton/Schoolcraft/Northern Kentucky)
Played two seasons at Schoolcraft…Helped lead the Ocelots to 13 shutouts en route to the NJCAA semifinals in 2008… On Northern Kentucky's roster in 2009… Played in 14 games and was in the Norse's starting line-up five times… 2007 graduate of Canton High School… Two year varsity letterwinner in soccer… Earned all-division honors senior season… Competed on the varsity track & field team freshman and sophomore seasons… Played for the Michigan Wolves from 2003-08… Wolves were 2006 Disney Showcase Champions, 2006 USL Super-Y League-fourth place, 2007 USYSA Michigan State Cup Semifinalists, 2007 USYSA Midwest Regional League-fourth place and 2008 USYSA State Cup Finalists.

"Andrew will bring a defensive-minded attitude to the game," added Deren. "He is a tenacious tackler who will make an immediate impact in the Titan backline or midfield."

Mike Pugh (D, 5-10, 165, Shelby Twp., MI/De La Salle Collegiate)
Will graduate from De La Salle Collegiate in 2010… Earned four varsity letters at DLSC… Earned all-district team honors in 2008 and '09… Named Pilots' Most Valuable Midfielder senior season… Team was Catholic League Champions last three years and district champions in both 2007 and '08… Closed out high school career with five goals and 10 assists… Played club ball for Vardar Academy for three years.

"Mike will come in and give us more defensive stability as an outside back, as well as the versatility to get forward and play make from that position," said Deren.

Patrick Soltys (D, 6-2, 165, Mississauga, ON/St. Joan of Arc Catholic Secondary School)
Will graduate from St. Joan of Arc Catholic Secondary School in 2010… Played soccer all four years for the Angels… Named Angels' Junior Athlete of the Year in 2008… Awarded Personal Achievement Award for Music sophomore year… Member of the Honor Roll all four years… Trained in Poland with Lech Poznan 1992 Youth Academy Team in 2009… Participated in Gothia Cup Tournament in Sweden in 2007… Played for Erin Mills Soccer Club for five years and Brampton East Soccer Club for two.

"Pat will come in and make an immediate impact on defense as his height and athleticism are great assets for his technical ability and tactical awareness," added Deren.

Anthony Shepherd (GK, 6-1, 185, Rochester, MI/Stoney Creek)
Will graduate from Stoney Creek High School in 2010… Played three years of soccer at SCHS and earned one varsity letter… Cougars were OAA Division I District Finalists senior season… Allowed only seven goals in 2009… Played for club team, Waza '93 Royal for five years… Royal was crowned Troy Classic champions three years in a row and were Novi Jags Invitational back-to-back champions… Member of Business Professionals of America.

"Anthony will add some depth to the goalkeeping position," said Deren. "He has good hands for a goalkeeper and it takes something special for an opponent to score on him."

Yaya Toure (F, 6-2, 185, Ypsilanti, MI/Willow Run/Schoolcraft)
Played two seasons at Schoolcraft College… Ended 2009 campaign first among teammates in points with 31 points after scoring 14 goals and earning three assists… Scored 16 goals and dished out four assists in 2008… 2008 graduate of Willow Run High School… Played four years of basketball and earned three varsity letters at WRHS… Flyers advanced to districts and regionals junior season… Played for club team Ann Arbor United for two years.

"Yaya will be an immediate offensive threat on the Titan frontline due to his ability to break players down 1v1 and create problems for the opposition's defense," commented Deren.