UCSB’s rebuilding defense received a boost with the addition of Daniel Welsh, a transfer from the University of Maryland Baltimore County.
Gaucho men’s soccer coach Tim Vom Steeg announced the inclusion of the Scotland native to his program on Tuesday.
Transfer Daniel Welsh played two seasons at UMBC.
Welsh played center back and right fullback for UMBC, earning NSCAA All-Northeast Region Third-Team and All-America East Second-Team honors last season. He was named to the America East All-Rookie team in 2010.
“Danny Welsh is a player we are excited to get because, in addition to being versatile, he can play right away and will compliment (current Gaucho center back) Peter Schmetz.“
The 6-2 Welsh made 29 starts for the Retrievers over the past two seasons. He helped UMBC advance to the NCAA Tournament Second Round in 2010.
Welsh prepped at Stewart’s Melville College in Scotland. He also represented his native country as the captain of the U-18 Scotland National Team. He additionally competed with Livingston FC and Inverness FC.
Welsh joins a group of incoming defenders that have been recruited to bolster the backline and help replace seniors and 2012 All-Big West honorees Tim Pontius and James Kiffe. Along with Welsh, UCSB has also added defenders Dylan Murphy (hailing from Australia) and Brandon Brockway (transferring from Oregon State).
“As a coach, this is exciting,” Vom Steeg said. “The keys to winning in collegiate soccer are having depth and experience. If there was one area where we were still thin, it was in the back, which is a position that is very hard to develop younger players.”
The Gauchos will also welcome freshmen Ema Boateng (Cate School) and Nick Savino (Moorestown High School) and transfers Dion Accoff (Creighton), Achille Champoin (Belhaven University), Javier Castro (Mt. San Antonio College) and Cesar Castillo (Cerritos College) for the fall 2012 season.
