Greenville, S.C. -- Furman soccer's 2011 men's recruiting class has been ranked fifth best in the country by College Soccer News in the website's "2011 Top 40 Recruiting Classes", it was announced on Tuesday morning.
The Paladins' incoming class includes six of College Soccer News' 2011 Top 150, including United States U-18 National Team center back Walker Zimmerman, 2010 PARADE All-American defender George Fradenburg and NSCAA Youth All-American midfielder Kevin Pahl.
Furman also bolstered its incoming group with the addition of University of Akron transfer Martin Ontiveros who will compete for playing time at forward this season after helping the Zips to the 2010 national title.
The University of North Carolina's class was tabbed as the top incoming group in the nation ahead of Akron, Duke, Indiana and Furman. Virginia, Maryland, Wake Forest, Penn and Stanford rounded out the top 10 classes.
The 2011 Paladins return 10 starters from a squad that posted a 10-7-4 record and claimed a share of the Southern Conference regular season crown a year ago. Furman also welcomes back 2008 SoCon Freshman of the Year Coleton Henning. The Shawnee, Kan., native missed last season with a knee injury after netting a combined nine goals the previous to years.
Furman, ranked No. 30 in College Soccer News' Preseason Top 30, travels to Wake Forest for an August 17, exhibition match before opening the regular season at Campbell on August 26. The Paladins kickoff the home slate by hosting nationally-ranked Duke at 7 p.m. on August 29.