May 28, 2010
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State men's soccer program has added three newcomers to its roster who will begin play for the Nittany Lions and newly appointed head coach Bob Warming in 2010. Alexander Adelabu (Houston, Texas) will enroll as a freshman while Daniel Burnham (Boise, Idaho) and Daniel Parr (Hummelstown, Pa.) are sophomore transfers.
Alexander Adelabu, a forward, starred at Alief Taylor High School in his hometown of Houston, Texas. The Nigerian native was named second team all-district in 2006 and first team all-district in 2009 and 2010. A speedy and skilled striker, Adelabu led the Lions in scoring in 2006, 2009, and 2010 and was the district's top scorer in 2009. Also accomplished in the classroom, he was recognized as an AP Scholar Athlete in February 2010.
Originally from Boise, Idaho, Daniel Burnham last played collegiately in 2007 at Treasure Valley Community College in Ontario, Ore. As a freshman, he topped the Chukars and the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges with 28 goals and four assists, earning First Team All-Star honors. At Mountain View High School in Meridian, Idaho, Burnham, a forward, was a First Team All-State honoree as a junior and senior and was nominated as a Gatorade Player of the Year candidate in 2006. A four-year letterwinner and two-time captain, he helped the Mavericks win the 2006 Idaho High School State Championship, earning MVP honors for the title game.
Daniel Parr, brother of Penn State senior defender Andy Parr, will join the Nittany Lions after playing his first year collegiately at Rutgers. As a freshman in 2009, Parr saw action in nine games, starting three in the midfield for the Scarlet Knights. He finished tied for third on the team with two goals, notching his first collegiate goal on his first-ever shot in a 2-1 double overtime win over South Florida. At Lower Dauphin High School, Parr was a four-year starter, receiving All-State honors as a senior. Also a two-time selection to the Mid-Penn Keystone Division Team, he was named MVP of the division as a senior. Parr was also a member of the Super Y ODP National Team in 2006 and 2008 and competed on the USYSA Region I ODP Team for three years, winning a regional championship in 2007.
Penn State returns 17 letterwinners and nine starters, including four All-Big Ten performers and 2009 team leaders in goals and assists, from a squad that won 12 games, advanced to the Big Ten Tournament title game, and earned a berth in the NCAA Championship last season. The Nittany Lions will make their first appearance under first-year head coach Bob Warming on Sat., Aug. 21 when they host Hartwick in a 3 p.m. exhibition match. Penn State will open the 2010 regular season on Fri. Sept. 3 with a 5 p.m. contest against Buffalo at Ohio State's Wolstein Classic in Columbus.