Feb. 7, 2006

EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern head coach Tim Lenahan announced the signing of four student-athletes to National Letters of Intent who will join the Wildcats for the 2006 season. The class includes two NSCAA All-Americans and an NSCAA Regional All-American and is comprised of two defenders, a midfielder and a forward from three states. This class includes the Ohio Player of the Year and Delaware Player of the Year, respectively.

First on the list is Mark Blades (Lakewood, Ohio/St. Ignatius), a 5-foot-7-inch, 150-pound defender who is considered one of the top recruits in the nation. An NSCAA All-American, Blades led his high school team to a 42-2-2 record and two state championships in three years as a starter. He tallied 17 goals and 41 assists during his high school career and was the 2005 Ohio Player of the Year.

Fellow Ohio native Pat Coleman (Chagrin Falls, Ohio/Chagrin Falls) is an NSCAA Regional All-American defender who will join the Wildcat backline in the fall. Coleman was named All-State and Chagrin Valley Conference Most Valuable Player in 2005 and was a three-time All-CVC first team member. He led his team to an Ohio Division II state championship appearance in 2003 while playing sweeper and was a four-time Ohio North State Team member. In club play, he led the Cleveland Internationals club team to four-consecutive Ohio North State Cup Championships.

Eamon O'Neill (Wilmington, Del./Salesianum) is a two-time NSCAA All-American who was one of the most sought after recruits in the country. O'Neill led his high school team to three state championships in three years as a starter and a perfect 40-0-0 record his junior and senior seasons, helping them reach a No. 8 national ranking. He recorded 69 goals and 64 assists in high school and was twice invited to the Adidas ESP--an invitation granted to only the top-150 high school players in the nation.

Forward Kevin Valenta (St. Louis, Mo./St. John Vianney H.S.) is a 2005 first team all-state selection who took his team to a state championship appearance as a captain. He was a three-year starter, two-time first team all-conference selection and two-time team Most Valuable Player. He led his club team to the US Club nationals in 2003 and followed that up with a state championship and Midwest League championship in 2004.

"This class really helps us to reload after the loss of 10 seniors last year and should keep us in the hunt for success in the Big Ten and national levels," Lenahan said. "We will have an additional release in April with the rest of what will be a very, very good class for Northwestern."

Mark Blades
5-6 * 150
Defender
Lakewood, Ohio
St. Ignatius HS
High School:Led High School St. Ignatius to two state championships including 45-1-0 record during Jr. and Sr. and a #1 final national ranking in 2005 with 10 goals and 21 assists... Tallied 17 goals and 41 assists in three years as a starter ... Named Ohio Player of the Year in 2005, over teammates Barry Rice (Kentucky) and Justin Morrow (Notre Dame) ... NSCAA High School All-Amercan in 2005, NSCAA Youth All-American in 2004 and 2005 ... Named to the Adidas ESP All-Star team in 2005 and four year member of the Region II team ... Played Region II with fellow signee Pat Coleman ... Played club soccer for Cleveland Soccer Academy.

Personal:Born Jun. 1, 1988 ... Son of Dr. Edward and Jane Blades ... Father ran track for Harvard, mother played basketball for Case Western in Cleveland ... Brother Gavin plays soccer at Yale... Chose Northwestern over Yale and Wake Forest.

Lenahan on Blades: "Mark was one of the top recruits in the country. He was an ESP All-Star, which puts him among the top-25 players at the youth and high school level. He has a great work rate and is very focused. The best way to describe Mark is to say that he is a left-footed pit bull who is relentless on the field."

Pat Coleman
6-0 * 165
Defender
Chagrin Falls, Ohio.
Chagrin Falls
High School:NSCAA Regional All-American, All-State and Chagrin Valley Conference MVP in 2005 ... First team CVC 2003, 2004 and 2005 ... Third team All-Greater Cleveland 2004 ... First team All-Greater Cleveland 2005 ... 28 goals and 14 assists for career ... Led the team in goals and assists this past year with 18 goals and 14 assists ... Led team to the State regional finals scoring a goal in each playoff game except sectionals and the regional final ... Two goals and one assists in a 3-1 regional semi-final win ... Was Ohio Division II state runner up in 2003 while playing sweeper and set the all-time record for least goals allowed in a season ... Led Cleveland Internationals Club Team to four-consecutive Ohio North State Cup Championships the last four years in a row making regional finals as U14's and Regional Semi-Finals as U17's ... Four-year Ohio North State Team Member and two year Region II Regional Team member ... Has competed over the years with the Region II team with fellow NU signee Mark Blades ... National Honor Society, Student Council and involved on the Superintendent Advisory Committee.

Personal: Born July 20, 1988 ... Son of Vincent and Eileen Coleman ... Anticipated Major is pre-medicine ... Chose Northwestern over Stanford, Xavier, Colgate and Northern Illinois

Lenahan on Coleman: "Pat really caught our eye and he impressed us a little more every time we saw him. He was one of the top players at our camp last summer. Pat is very athletic and possesses all the intangibles that you look for in a successful player. He is hard working, competitive and tough. I am sure he is going to find a way to get on the field."

Eamon O'Neill
6-1 * 175
Forward/Midfielder
Wilmington, Delaware
Salesianum
High School:Led High School Salesianum to three state championships and a 40-0-0 record during junior and senior season ... Led high school to a final-national ranking of No. 8 in 2005 ... Tallied 69 goals and 64 assists in three years as a starter ... Two-time Delaware Player of the Year ... NSCAA High School All-Amercan in 2004 and 2005, one of only two repeat All-Americans in the country ... NSCAA Youth All-American in 2004 and 2005 ... Twice invited to Adidas ESP for nation's top 150 players. Played club soccer at FC Delco leading them to four-consecutive state championships from 2002-2005.

Personal:Born January 26, 1988 ... Son of Liz and Brendon O'Neill ... Father, Brendon was a running back at Dartmouth ... Mom, Liz, swam at Northeastern and recently completed Marine Corps marathon ... Chose Northwestern over Boston College, South Carolina, and James Madison.

Lenahan on O'Neill: "Eamon was one of the top-100 recruits in the country. He is a big, strong and emotional player who has great instincts for the game, is fiercely competitive and has a pretty good nose around the goal. I think he'll have a great Big Ten career."

Kevin Valenta
5'9" * 155
Forward
St. Louis, MO
St. John Vianney HS
High School:Led his High School team to a state final appearance as captain ... Score 10 goals and had 17 assists ... Had 28 goals and 35 assists for his career...Was a three-year starter and two time team MVP ... Two-time first team all-conference and first team all-state selection in 2005 ... Named to the Quincy All-Tournament Team as tournament MVP ... Plays his club ball with Scott Gallagher where he has played with current NU player Geoff Fallon ... His club team won US Club nationals in 2003 and followed up with a State championship and a Midwest league championship in 2004.

Personal: Born on May 31, 1988 ... Son of Tony and Laura Valenta ... His father, Tony, attended Vianney where he won the school's first of seven state championships and later played at Rockhurst University ... Chose Northwestern over Butler and Lafayette.

Lenahan on Valenta: "Kevin was one of the top players at our camp last year. He really impressed us with his smoothness on the ball and one-on-one attacking ability. I really like the fact that he was able to take his high school team on his back and carry them to the state finals in a very competitive soccer environment in St. Louis and Missouri. He could be a good one."