COLLEGE RECRUITING WATCH
ATHLETE: Zach Herstek
SPORT: Soccer
HIGH SCHOOL/CLUB: Trinity High School/U.S. Soccer Development Academy (Pennsylvania Classics)
COLLEGE: George Mason
THE DETAILS
Delivering a belated present to himself, Herstek wrapped up a fairly quick courtship by committing to the Colonial Athletic Association program just a day or so after Christmas. Although Mason hadn't witnessed one of Herstek's games until Pennsylvania Classics' U-18 Development Academy team made an October visit to suburban D.C., Patriots assistant coach Trevor Singer sought out the talented attacking midfielder/forward right after that game. Several weeks after Herstek made an official visit to Mason -- in early December -- the Trinity senior verbally committed to join Greg Andrulis' Patriots.
THE SCHOOL/PROGRAM
Founded in 1957 as a University of Virginia branch campus in Fairfax, Va., George Mason University was reborn in 1972 when the Virginia General Assembly passed legislation separating the suburban D.C. campus (Mason sits 15-20 minutes from Washington) from its parent institution in Charlottesville. Sporting four northern Virginia campuses these days, Mason is home to some 33,000 undergraduate and graduate students.
One noted Mason alum is Republican political consultant Karl Rove, who also served as deputy chief of staff under former President George W. Bush. Bob Lilley, Mark Pulisic, Denis Hamlett, Ian Carter and Vinny Marcotrigiano, all of whom played professional indoor soccer for the Harrisburg Heat, are products of Mason's men's soccer program. Brent Brockman, who just finished his first year as Red Land High School's boys' soccer coach, also is a Mason grad.
Andrulis has spent eight seasons at Mason, going 74-59-19 during that stretch while piloting the Patriots to a pair of appearances in the NCAA Division I men's soccer tournament. Andrulis, who has won 200-plus games at the college level, had a 12-year run at Wright State before landing on the coaching staff of Major League Soccer's Columbus Crew.
Andrulis eventually ascended to the Crew's head coaching post, spending four-plus seasons in that role and compiling a 49-43-32 record. In 2004, he was tagged Major League Soccer's coach of the year.
THE DECISION
"The main reason I chose this was for the coach," said Herstek, who also considered Georgetown, Fordham, James Madison and Coastal Carolina before accepting Mason's scholarship offer. "He's the only coach at the Division I level who coached in MLS and he still has connections there. He really knows his stuff and the school is one of the top schools around. I can get a job working in the city and the location's great. All around it's a pretty good fit."
Projected as an attacking midfielder, Herstek is ticketed for a Mason program that last season finished 11-6-2, 4-5-1 in the CAA. Two other local products -- Carlisle's Brennan Zizzi and former Susquenita standout Chase Miller -- remain on the Patriots' roster. Miller played only one year at Susquenita, then joined U.S. Soccer's U-17 Residency program. Said Herstek: "That's the position I want to play, so that'll be good."
PROJECTED MAJOR
Herstek plans to enroll in Mason's pre-veterinary program.
THE ATHLETE
Possessing remarkably refined technical skills and a blistering shot with either foot, the 5-10, 150-pound Herstek also has enough quicks and speed to thrive in the midfield or up top at forward.
A three-time Mid-Penn Capital Division all-star, Herstek totaled 81 goals and 14 assists for Trinity teams that advanced to the District 3-AA tournament all three years. He also landed on The Patriot-News' Big 11 team (first-team selection) following his junior season.
Herstek opted to join Pennsylvania Classics' U-18 entry in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy program as a senior and has pocketed three goals in 13 appearances thus far.
Herstek also played for the Classics' U-16 team that reached the Development Academy's 2011 national championship game in Milwaukee.
THEY'RE SAYING
"Zach has been a real creative player for us the last three years," said Classics coach Steve Klein, the former Hershey Wildcats/Harrisburg Heat star. "To have a kid like him come all the way through [our club] is quite exciting.
"He had a real impact in our program and was a key player on the team that went to the finals," Klein added. "He's a creative player who can play anywhere. He can play any of the midfield spots, he can play wide, he can play forward. He's one of those guys who gets assists with good passing or he can score goals on his own. He's a real dynamic player."
"He's a true attacking player who has a very good shot with either foot and he's really good in the air," Trinity coach Alan Blackledge said. "Just all the way around, he's a threat. And he's very coachable. He's always there to practice, he practices hard, he puts his time in. He's just good to have around."
MICHAEL BULLOCK: mbullock@pennlive.com
BULLOCK ON TWITTER: @thebullp_n