| Men’s
Soccer Inks Five from State of Texas 3/10/03
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Head coach Tim McClements and the
Vanderbilt men’s soccer program has announced the signings
of five players from the state of Texas. Defenders Jordan
Dale (Dallas, Texas), Tim Lonergan (Lake Highlands, Texas),
Ryan McGrath (Sugar Land, Texas), defender Eric Steen (Duncanville,
Texas) and midfielder Justin Shephard (Missouri City, Texas).
For a biography and a quote from McClements on each recruit,
please read below.
 Jordan
Dale
Defender
Dallas, Texas • Richardson J.J. Pearce H.S.
High School: Named to the 2002 All-District and City
teams … Earned 2002 Outstanding Achievement in Soccer
Award and J.J. Pearce H.S. … High School team won district
and regional championships and was a semifinalist at the state
tournament … Named Sophomore of the Year at J.J. Peace
H.S. in 2001.
Club: Currently plays for the Dallas Solar Soccer
Club U-19 squad … Member of the Olympic Development
Program Regional and State teams … In 2002, team was
Surf Cup/Super Group Finalist … Finished runner-up at
the 2002 State Cup … Team was crowned 2002 Score by
the Shore Minor Division Champions … Played for six
years with Andromeda ’85 … Competed in the prestigious
Dallas Cup on four occasions.
Personal: Jordan Tyler Dale born March 20, 1985 …
Son of Julie and Russell Dale … Member of his high school
football team for two years … Earned All-District and
City football honors in 2001 … Program editor for the
daily J.J. Peace H.S. Mustang Morning News … Dale lists
psychology, communications and law as his possible majors
at Vanderbilt … Was also recruited by Clemson, Ohio
State, Bradley, George Washington, Coastal Carolina and Providence.
Comment on Dale from Vanderbilt head coach Tim McClements
“Jordan is a hard nose defender who is known for his
man-to-man marking ability. He is a tenacious defender who
has the ability to get forward and add to the attack.”
 Tim
Lonergan
Defender
Lake Highlands, Texas • Lake Highlands H.S.
High School: Captain of the Lake Highlands H.S. soccer
team his senior year … Three-year member of the varsity
squad … High school team won the 2003 Ice Bowl and Garland
Invitational tournaments … Named 2003 Ice Bowl Most
Valuable Player … Three-year recipient of the Lake Highlands
Player’s Choice Most Valuable Player Award … Named
first team All-District his junior season.
Club: Currently plays for the Dallas Inter Soccer
Club … Captain of the Dallas Inter Soccer Club …
Club team placed first at the Plano Labor Day tournament in
2002 … In 2001, his team made the semifinals of the
North Texas State Soccer Association tournament.
Personal: Timothy Carlton Lonergran born December
12, 1984 … Son of Kim and Dave Lonergran … Tim
is one of six siblings (three brothers, two sisters) …
Member of the National and Mathematics Honor Societies …
Was named Optimist Club Youth of the Month and Exchange Club
Student of the Month … Member of the Peer Helper Program
… Lonergan lists biology/pre-medicine as possible as
his possible majors at Vanderbilt … Was also recruited
by Texas Christian and Bucknell.
Comment on Lonegran from Vanderbilt head coach Tim McClements
“Tim is a defensive minded player who can also play
in the midfield. He is captain of his high school and club
teams and has outstanding leadership qualities. Tim is a very
hard worker and with his athleticism and leadership, he shows
excellent potential.”
 Ryan
McGrath
Defender/Midfielder
Sugar Land, Texas • Strake Jesuit College Preparatory
High School: While competing at Strake Jesuit College
Prep, he had a successful offensive career despite playing
as defender/midfielder … Finished 2002 season with 10
goals and 15 assists, which were both career highs over his
high school career … Over his sophomore, junior and
senior seasons, he tallied 26 goals and dished out 33 assists
… Captain of his high school team his senior season
… Named to the Students Sports All-Tournament team for
the 2002-03 year.
Club: Currently plays for the Houston Classics Soccer
Club … Teammates with fellow Vanderbilt signee Justin
Shephard … Member of the Olympic Development Program
from 1999-2001 … Club team finished runner-up at the
prestigious Dallas Cup in 2002 … In 2001, his team won
the Plano Labor Day tournament, while finishing runner-up
at the Raleigh and Puma Invitational tournaments … Won
Texas State Championship in 2002 … Crowned 2001 Disney
Soccer Showcase champions.
Personal: Michael Ryan McGrath born April 13, 1985
… Son of Twana and Michael McGrath … Some academic
achievements include being a member of the National Honor
Society, ‘Who’s Who Among American High School
Students and the Recommended National Leadership Conference
Continuous Honor Roll … Member of the Young Businessman
of America, Spanish and Young Republicans clubs … Ryan
lists pre-medicine as his possible major at Vanderbilt …
Was also recruited by Boston College, Georgetown and Yale.
Comment on McGrath from Vanderbilt head coach Tim McClements
“Ryan is a versatile player who has the potential to
play in several positions. Ryan is comfortable playing any
position in the back as well as defensive midfield. Ryan is
a Division I athlete who comes from a great soccer background.”
 Eric
Steen
Defender
Ducanville, Texas • Duncanville H.S.
High School: While competing at Duncanville High School,
he was named first team All-District in 2002 and first team
All-District in 2001 … Team captain of his high school
squad in 2002 and 2003 … Named Defensive Most Valuable
Player of his high school team in 2001 and Offensive MVP in
2002.
Club: Currently plays for the Dallas Texans Soccer
Club … Won North Texas State and Region III championships
in 2002 … Placed third at the U.S. Youth Nationals.
Personal: Eric Andrew Steen born on October 29, 1984
… Eric is the only child of Roxsana and Mark Steen …
Was also recruited by Southern Methodist, Coastal Carolina,
Bradley and Central Florida.
Comment on Steen from Vanderbilt head coach Tim McClements
“Eric is a versatile, no-nonsense defender/midfielder
with the technical ability to make our team better. He is
a blue-collar player that gets the job done and doesn’t
make many mistakes. Eric comes from an excellent soccer background.”
 Justin
Shephard
Midfielder
Missouri City, Texas • Elkins H.S.
High School: Named captain of his high school soccer
team his senior year … Earned Honorable Mention All-District
honors is sophomore year … A standout athlete, he also
competes on the Track & Field and Power-Lifting squads.
Club: Currently plays for the Houston Classics Soccer
Club … Teammates with fellow Vanderbilt signee Ryan
McGrath … Member of the South Texas State Olympic Development
team in 2001 and 2002 … Club team finished runner-up
at the prestigious Dallas Cup in 2002 … In 2001, his
team won the Plano Labor Day tournament, while finishing runner-up
at the Raleigh and Puma Invitational tournaments … Won
Texas State Championship in 2001 … Crowned 2001 Disney
Soccer Showcase champions.
Personal: Justin Howard Shephard born July 22, 1985
… Justin is one of Claudia and Howard Shephard’s
two siblings … Member of the National, English, French,
Science and Math Honor Societies … Justin lists civil
engineering as his possible major at Vanderbilt … Was
also recruited by Stanford, Yale, South Carolina, Brown, Boston
University and Boston College.
Comment on Shephard from Vanderbilt head coach Tim McClements
“Justin is an exceptional athlete, who will add much
needed speed to our attack. He has the ability to play wide
in the midfield as well as up front. Justin will be a great
addition to our program.”
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