Feb. 14, 2006

Tulsa, Oklahoma - Tulsa Head Men's Soccer Coach Tom McIntosh announced today the signing of seven high school players to National Letters-of-Intent during the early signing period. The 2006 freshmen class includes Steffen Canty, Hunter Christiansen, Kyle Culhane, Jose Parada, Daniel Dittus, Kilian Poeschk and Brian Wurst.

"I am very pleased to sign these seven players to our program," McIntosh said. "We have added a group of talented individuals, who possess great character and competitiveness. We know these players are going to add to both the talent level and chemistry of our squad for next year. I think there is potential for most of these players to make an immediate impact on our team."

Among the signees, Tulsa inked two local players to national letters-of-intent. Culhane and Dittus both played the defender position in high school.

A native of nearby Broken Arrow, Okla., Culhane is a 6'4" defender from Metro Christian Academy, where he is a three-year letterwinner. He concluded his junior season with 12 goals and nine assists for 33 points, while starting 18 games. He was an all-district selection and was named the MCA Offensive Player of the Year. As a sophomore, Culhane started 18 games and produced 10 goals and eight assists for 28 points. He was an honorable mention all-district performer and was named his high school's Offensive Player of the Year. Culhane started nine games and registered three goals and two assists for eight points as a freshman, and was named the metro Newcomer of the Year. He played eight seasons with the Tulsa Soccer Club and led that team to two state championships in 1999 and 2001.

Culhane picked Tulsa over New Mexico.

Dittus is a 5'11" defender, who hails from Tulsa, and is a three-year letterwinner at Jenks High School. The Trojans began the season ranked first in the state in the preseason rankings. Dittus started all 18 games and was an all-district and all-conference performer, and served as the team captain during his junior season. He helped lead his squad to a conference runner-up finish and state quarterfinal appearance. As a sophomore, Dittus started 18 games and helped Jenks win a conference title and to the quarterfinal round of the state tournament. He played in 10 games as a freshman and led the Trojans to a second place finish in the conference and to the state quarterfinals. Dittus has played the last eight seasons for the Tulsa Soccer Club `88 and has been a part of two state titles, a state runner-up finish and has made four state semifinal appearances.

He picked Tulsa over Penn, Hartwick College, Bradley and Central Arkansas.

Canty is a 5'11" forward from Santa Margarita Catholic High School in Coto de Caza, Calif. A three-year letterwinner, his team began the 2006 campaign ranked fourth in the nation. During his junior season, Canty started every game and led the team in scoring with 21 goals and 10 assists for 52 points. He guided the squad to a league title and state semifinals, and was named to the all-league and all-county first team, team MVP and was an all-state second-team performer. As a sophomore, he scored 11 goals for 22 points and guided SMCHS to a league championship and state quarterfinal appearance. Canty has played 12 years of club soccer for the Pateadores and was a part of a national club championship team in 2005.

He chose Tulsa over Cal-Irvine and Washington.

A 5'10" midfielder from Denton, Texas, Christiansen is a three-year letterwinner at Denton High School. His team began the 2006 season with a state preseason ranking of No. 8. During his junior campaign, he scored seven goals and earned 13 assists for 27 points, and was named district defensive MVP, team MVP and served as a co-captain while leading DHS to a regional runner-up finish. As a sophomore, Christiansen earned district co-utility Player of the Year honors, was selected as team MVP and served as a co-captain. He was named team MVP and district co-Defensive Player of the Year, and led the team to a bi-district title as a freshman. Christiansen played club soccer for the Solar (2005-06), ASG (2003-05), Comets (2002-03), Hawks (2000-02) and Hurricanes (1998-2000).

He selected Tulsa over Rutgers, Navy and North Carolina State.

Parada is a 5'7" midfielder/forward from Bellaire High School in Houston, Texas. He is a two-year letterwinner with career numbers of 41 goals and 14 assists for 96 points. During his junior campaign, he chalked up 25 goals and 10 assists for 60 points in 23 games, and was named district MVP, first-team all-district and to the Diadora Cup all-tournament team. He led the team to a district runner-up finish. As a sophomore, Parada was named to the all-district team after he tallied 16 goals and collected four assists for 36 points, and BHS was the district runner-up. He has played the last nine years of club soccer for the Houstonians. Parada was named team MVP in 2003 and led the team to a state runner-up finish in 2005.

He chose Tulsa over Bucknell and Temple.

Poeschk is a 6'2" forward, who is originally from Berlin, Germany, but came to the United States and prepped at Plano (Texas) West High School. In 2004, he was the district Newcomer of the Year and was named to the all-district squad while leading his team to a regional runner-up finish. He was a two-time Dallas Morning News Athlete of the Week, and played high school soccer for former Tulsa standout Jimmy Dowell. In Germany, he was named to the Berlin all-district team and helped his squad to the Berlin Cup finals. Poeschk played club soccer in Texas for the Comets Blue `86 and in Germany for the Tasmania Gropiusstadt.

He chose Tulsa over Penn State, Virginia, New Mexico, Notre Dame and VCU.

A 5'9" midfielder from Kansas City, Mo., Wurst is a three-year letterwinner at Park Hill South High School. He has helped his team to three district and conference titles and an overall record of 54-17-5 during his prep career. Wurst was a two-time member of the all-district, all-conference and all-Northland first teams. As a senior, he scored 11 goals and recorded seven assists for 29 points, and helped the team post a 20-6 overall record. He was named first-team all-state and all-Western Region. During his junior season, she scored nine goals and earned seven assists for 25 points, and received all-Western Region honorable mention merits. He helped PHSHS team to a state quarterfinal appearance and a 17-6-2 overall mark. As a sophomore, he registered six goals and six assists for 18 points and guided the squad to a 17-5-3 mark, and was an honorable mention all-conference selection. He played club soccer for the K.C. Pace and led that team to a 2005 state title. He was a member of the Missouri `87 State ODP team from 2001-04, and regional pool in 2003.

Wurst picked Tulsa over Creighton, Northwestern and Northern Illinois.

2006 Signees
Name	Pos.	Ht.	Cl.	Hometown (High School)
Steffen Canty	F	5-11	Fr.	Coto de Caza, Calif. (Santa Margarita Catholic)
Hunter Christiansen	MF	5-10	Fr.	Denton, Texas (Denton)
Kyle Culhane	D	6-4	Fr.	Broken Arrow, Okla. (Metro Christian Academy)
Jose Parada	MF/F	5-7	Fr.	Houston, Texas (Bellaire)
Daniel Dittus	D	5-11	Fr.	Tulsa, Okla. (Jenks)
Kilian Poeschk	F	6-2	Fr.	Berlin, Germany (Plano (TX) West)
Brian Wurst	MF	5-9	Fr.	Kansas City, Mo. (Park Hill South)