Greg Baumstein - D - 6-2/180 - Wantagh, N.Y./McArthur HS

Chose to attend URI over UMass, Cortland and Rochester… Made his decision based on URI's state-of-the-art athletic facilities and wide array of majors… Felt that the combination of the two was unbeatable.

High School: Was a team captain and four-year member of the soccer and basketball teams and MacArthur High School… Played in 52 career high school games and started in each… Recorded seven goals and six assists as a defender… Helped lead his team to three consecutive conference championships (2012-14) as well as the county title in 2014… Also anchored a back line that posted the most shutouts in Nassau County in 2014… Was a four-year All-County pick… Earned his conference's Defender of the Year award as a junior and was named Player of the Year as a senior… Also received All-Metro, All-State and All-Region accolades in 2014, in addition to earning All-Long Island First Team honors and the Newsday Nassau County Player of the Year award… Spent six years playing club soccer with the Massapequa Celtics… Was a Region 1 ODP pool player in 2011-12 as well as a member of the Region 1 ODP team in 2013… Was on the Eastern New Your ODP team in 2014… Also was an All-Conference player in basketball… Academically, he is an AP scholar and a high honor roll student… Is a member of the National Honor Society as well as the Math Honor Society and the Business Honor Society… Served two years a Peer Leader… Also was a member of the Junior Mathletes and volunteered as a peer math tutor.

Personal: Born January 6, 1997… Son of Nina and Scott Baumstein… Has a younger sister, Kate… Enjoys soccer, basketball, reading and riding his bike… Favorite athlete is Derek Jeter… Favorite teams are the New York Knicks and Manchester United… Plans to major in Kinesiology or Biological Sciences… Would like to pursue a career in physical therapy.

Elliott on Baumstein: Greg is a versatile player who brings a great mentality to the game. We are excited to see what he will bring to our defense and look forward to having him on campus in August.

 

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Keith Dixon - D - 5-11/170 - Amherst, Mass./Amherst Regional HS

Chose to attend URI over Saint Joseph's, UMass, Vermont, Hartford, UMass Lowell and Connecticut College… Selected Rhode Island based on the location of the school, the vibrant and upbeat campus, supportive faculty, historically rich soccer program, great coaching staff and players, strong support from alumni and fans and great facilities.

High School: Was a member of the soccer and track teams at Amherst Regional High School… Captained his soccer team as a senior… Played in 88 career games, recording nine goals and nine assists… Was an All-Western Mass. First Team selection… Started at center back as a freshman, helping lead his team to the 2011 Western Mass. semifinals… Moved over to right back the following season and guided Amherst to the school's first-ever Western Mass. title as well as the team's first-ever appearance in the state finals… His senior year, the team turned in an undefeated regular season for the first time in school history, and went on to win another Western Mass. championship… Also played club soccer for the Boston Blazers, registering seven goals and 11 assists… Academically, he is an honor roll student and winner of the Art Award, Physical Education Award, African-Anerican Honor Roll Award and Four-Year Varsity Player Award… Thoroughly enjoys volunteer work as he has spent time as an after school teacher/counselor at local elementary schools, has served as a volunteer soccer coach with Amherst Youth Soccer and has been a volunteer ski instructor at Mt. Snow (Vt.) for visually impaired children as well as those with mental and physical disabilities.

Personal: Born September 26, 1996… Son of Tory and Juan Dixon… Has two younger brothers, Devin and Zack… Enjoys soccer, snowboarding and working with children through various after school programs… Favorite athlete is Andrew Farrell… Favorite teams are the New England Revolution, Seattle Sounders and Manchester City… Plans to major in Elementary Education and pursue a career as an elementary school teacher or middle school psychologist. 

Elliott on Dixon: Keith is an athletic and versatile wide player with tremendous character. As team captain of both Amherst Regional High School and FC Blazers, we believe he has the right mentality and competitiveness to be very successful at the Division I level. We are excited to see what he can accomplish while wearing keaney blue over the next four years.

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Abby Elsayed - F - 6-0/170 - Hoboken, N.J./Seton Hall Prep

Chose to attend URI over Holy Cross, LaFayette, Princeton, Navy and Army… Based his decision on the campus environment, URI's engineering program, the soccer staff and players and his love for the state of Rhode Island.

High School: Was a team captain and four-year member of the soccer team at Seton Hall Prep… Finished his high school career with 20 goals and 24 assists… Was his team's leading scorer as a sophomore… Also recorded the second most assists in a single season in Seton Hall Prep history… Helped lead his team to an SEC title as well as appearances in the state and county semifinals in 2013… As a senior in 2014, Seton Hall Prep was a county finalist and a state quarterfinalist… Also played six years of club soccer with FC Copa… Academically, is an honor roll student… Has volunteered at local shelters and blood drives… Also is a member of the Ambassadors Program.

Personal: Born September 5, 1996… Son of Margaret Randall and Neamet Elsayed, who was a member of the Egyptian National Soccer Team and Al Ahly SC… Has an older brother Sammy, who attends Providence College… Also has a younger sister, Hanna… Enjoys art, drawing, magic tricks and playing the guitar… Favorite athlete is Alexandre Pato… Favorite teams are Al Ahly SC, Arsenal and the New York Jets, Rangers and Mets… Plans to major in Marine Engineering and pursue a career as an engineer.

Elliott on Elsayed: Abby Elsayed is a dangerous winger that could play on either side or as a #9. We are very excited about his athletic and dynamic play-making ability. He will most certainly have an instant impact on our front line.

 

 

 

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Nick Fratarcangeli - D - 6-2/185 - Milford, Conn./Notre Dams HS

Chose to attend URI over Quinnipiac and Central Connecticut… Selected Rhode Island based on the campus, the coaching staff and the players on the team.

High School: Was a captain and four-year member of the soccer team at Notre Dame High School… Also played club soccer for CFC United… Won three State Cup Championships with CFC United (2012, 2013, 2014)… Helped lead Notre Dame to the Connecticut state tournament in each of his years with the team… Was an All-Conference selection… Academically, he is a member of the National Honor Society as well as the Italian National Honor Society… Did volunteer work to help educate children with special needs.

Personal: Born January 28, 1997… Son of Tracy and Kenneth Fratarcangeli… Has an older sister, Alyssa… His aunt, Cynthia Fratarcangeli, was a member of the URI diving team… Favorite athlete is Cristiano Ronaldo… Favorite team is Manchester United… Undecided on a major.

Elliott on Fratarcangeli: Nick is a big, strong, intelligent defender who has had a lot of success at both the club and high school levels in Connecticut. We definitely believe that - with the right mentality - he will fight for a starting spot as a freshman and have a significant impact on our program moving forward.

 

 

 

 

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Matt Guminiak - F - 6-1/175 - Sheffield, Conn./Suffield HS

Chose to attend URI over Fairfield, Quinnipiac and Hartford.

High School: Was a member of the soccer, golf and basketball teams at Suffield High School… Recorded eight goals and 12 assists in an illness-shortened senior season… Finished his high school career with 41 goals and 52 assists… Helped lead Suffield to three consecutive Class M titles from 2011-13… Was a two-time North Central Connecticut All-Conference selection… Also earned Hartford Courant and Senior Bowl All-Star honors as a senior… Played club soccer with CFC United… Combined for 35 goals and 21 assists from 2013-14, leading the team to three straight CJSA spring state championships as well as a New England Premier League title… Is a Knights of Columbus volunteer as the son of a fourth-degree Knight… Also is involved with the Interact Club.

Personal: Born January 2, 1997… Son of Bozena and Gary Guminiak… Has two older siblings, Alex and Stephaine… Favorite teams are Chelsea, Barcelona and the Cowboys… Enjoys boating, golf, going to the beach and hanging out with friends… Majoring in Marketing… Plans to pursue a career in business/entrepreneurship.

Elliott on Guminiak: Matt is an athletic forward who can play effectively with his back to goal or by running in behind. He has a great work ethic and we anticipate that he will challenge for playing time right away.

 

 

 

 

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Jake McAteer - GK - 6-2/190 - Newark, Del./The Salesianum School

Chose to attend URI over Navy… Felt that Rhode Island was the best fit, both academically and athletically.

High School: Was a member of the soccer team at Salesianum… Captained the team as a senior… Helped guide his team to the state championship his freshman and senior years… Scored and then saved a penalty kick in back-to-back attempts in a shootout victory that sent his team to the state semifinals… Was the only freshman on the varsity team in 2011… Was an All-State First Team selection, Top-11 pick and MVP of the Blue-Gold game… Also played club soccer for PA Classics Academy and Delaware Rush.

Personal: Born December 23, 1996… Son of Kelly Keomanikhoth and Kyle McAteer… Has three younger sisters (Jordan, Rachel, and McKenna) and two younger brothers (Luke and Lee)… His mother was a four-year member of the swim team at Clemson… Enjoys surfing and playing ping-pong… Favorite athlete is Manuel Neuer… Plans to major in Ocean Engineering and pursue as career as an engineer.

Elliott on McAteer: Jake has played at a very high level with the PA Classics Developmental Academy and at the Salesianum School, which is one of the premier high school soccer programs in the country. He has tremendous athletic upside and we believe that he will push for a starting spot right away.