ELON, N.C. – Elon head men’s soccer coach Darren Powell announced the addition of five student-athletes who will play for the Phoenix in 2011. Thomas Allen, Jr. (Greensboro, N.C./Western Guilford), Austin Dunker (Greensboro, N.C./Southeast Guilford), Chris Essman (Spartanburg, S.C./Dorman) and Modou Jadama (Alpharetta, Ga./Milton) will don the maroon and gold next season. Nathan Dean, a native of Prescot, Liverpool, England, has also recently joined the squad and will compete for Elon during the spring season.

“We are excited to add five additional players to our squad for the 2011 season,” commented Powell. “Each of these players bring his own unique qualities to our program. We feel that all five will have a positive impact on our squad during their careers at Elon University. We look forward to these talented student-athletes joining us as we look to regain the Southern Conference championship and take the program to its first NCAA Division I Tournament.”

Thomas Allen, Jr., 6-5, 185, Defender, North Carolina Fusion Academy

Allen was the starting center back for three years at Western Guilford, captaining the squad for each of those seasons. A four-time all-conference, all-area and all-region performer, Allen scored 45 goals and added 31 assists during his four prep seasons. Allen was named to the all-district team on two occasions and helped his team to four straight playoff appearances. His club team, coached by Marc Nicholls, was ranked second in the nation in 2011 by Top Drawer Soccer and won the Atlantic Division in 2010.

Why Elon: “I decided to go to Elon because it was the best fit for me. Being one of the top universities and having an outstanding soccer program really stood out to me. The mixture of coaches, players, campus and academics makes Elon a top university.”

“I am looking forward to gaining a great education while getting the opportunity to play very high quality soccer at the same time. I can’t wait to start next fall.”

According to Powell: “Tommy has been observed by the coaches for the past few years and is definitely improving as a player. He is a strong center back who reads the game well. He is honest and brave which are good characteristics for his position. As he matures as a player, we feel he can become a very strong center back in the Southern Conference.”

Austin Dunker, 5-9, 135, Defender, North Carolina Fusion Academy

Dunker was a four-year starter for Southeast Guilford, helping the team from a winless record in 2007 to a 16-6-2 mark in his senior year. The team made two playoff appearances, advancing to the third round in 2010. Dunker was named to the all-region and all-conference teams for three consecutive years as was the team MVP in both 2009 and 2010. The Greensboro, N.C. native captained the team as a junior and senior and was a scholar athlete in each of his four years. Dunker was named a ‘Player to Watch’ and was recognized as the 14th-ranked player in the South Atlantic Region on TopDrawerSoccer.com in 2009. He and Allen played together for North Carolina Fusion.

Why Elon: “I chose Elon because of the strong academic programs. The style of soccer that Elon plays seems to be a perfect fit for me.”

“I am really looking forward to the new challenges in the classroom as well as on the soccer field. I am very excited to get to know the other players and start my first soccer season at Elon.”

According to Powell: “The coaches have observed Austin grow into one of the more comfortable left backs in the region. He is very good on the ball and makes good use of the ball from the back. As Austin adapts to the physical side of the college game, he should continue to progress in his career.”

Chris Essman, 5-8, 145, Midfielder, Carolina Elite Soccer Academy 1992 Premier

Essman, an outside midfielder and team captain at Dorman, scored 40 goals and had 19 assists during his high school career. Named the 2010 All-Region Player of the Year, Essman has been an all-state and all-region selection and was honored as the Herald-Journal Player of the Year in 2009 and 2010. His CESA 1992 Premier club team coached by Bruce Murray was the state champions from 2003-2010. The squad also won the Disney Soccer Showcase and the CESA Soccer Classic in 2010.

Why Elon: “I chose Elon because it is a great school with a beautiful campus and a close-knit community. I feel this kind of environment is the best place for me to thrive academically and athletically and ultimately grow as a person.”

“I am looking forward to Elon as being my next step in life. I can’t wait to be part of the soccer team and put on that Elon jersey to compete at the Division I collegiate level.”

According to Powell: “Chris has been at our camps the past few summers and caught the staff’s eye with his technical ability. He has good skills on the ball and good balance to beat players one-on-one. He has played well with the USYSA Region III team and as he adapts to the physical side of the college game, we feel that he will become a good attacking option for our program.”

Mo Jadama, 5-11, 170, Forward, Norcross Soccer Academy

Jadama hails from Alpharetta, Ga., but was born in Sierre Kunda, Gambia. The forward played three years of varsity soccer for Milton High School, earning offensive MVP honors in 2010. He helped his team to the state finals as a junior. Jadama also played for the Andy Clarke-led Norcross Soccer Academy club team, leading the group to a state finals appearance in 2008. Jadama was an ODP player from 2007-2010.

Why Elon: “I chose Elon because I liked the style of play and the coaching staff. I also felt very comfortable with my future teammates.”

“Going to Elon will provide me an opportunity to get a great education with the smaller class sizes and support system and still play soccer at a high level. I feel like the team can win some conference championships and get to play in the NCAA tournament.”

According to Powell: “Mo is an exciting attacking player. He is also a member of the USYSA Region III team and comes from the same club as current Southern Conference Player of the Year Chris Thomas. We feel that Mo has the technical and physical abilities to make an impact in our program from day one. As he learns to play in our system, we feel he can be a dangerous scoring threat in the league.”

Nathan Dean, Prescot, England

Dean arrived at Elon this spring and will compete with the Phoenix during its spring slate. This 6-0 goalkeeper hails from Prescot, Liverpool, England where he attended Rainhill High School. He part of the Manchester City FC program from 2003-2010. Dean’s father, Martin, played college basketball in Kansas.

Why Elon: “Elon has showed a lot of potential in recent years and I believe I can achieve my athletic goals by working with the coaches and the rest of the team here. Equally, the academic program is growing in status every year and by the time I graduate I expect it will have developed an even stronger reputation throughout the U.S. The weather isn’t too bad either!”

According to Powell: “We are glad that Nathan has been able to join us this spring. He has transitioned into U.S. college life as a student and a player well so far. We are looking forward to seeing his development this spring in preparation for the fall season. We hope that is previous experiences will be helpful for our program.”