March 11, 2002

MILWAUKEE -- UWM men's soccer coach Louis Bennett has announced that Neil Dombrowski (West Allis, Wis./Hale H.S.) intends to enroll in the university and play soccer next fall.

A 5-foot-11 midfielder, Dombrowski played varisty soccer all four years of high school and was selected to the all-conference team the past three years. Currently playing club soccer for F.C. Milwaukee, he chose to play college soccer at UWM over interest from Notre Dame. He will become the fourth in his family, and third current, to play for UWM under Bennett.

"I think it's fantastic that Neil has decided to continue his soccer and academic education at UWM, considering the choices he had available," Bennett said. "Obviously having had four people from the same family play soccer here may seem unusual, but I've basically recruited four talented individuals that happen to be from the same family."

Brother Scott Dombrowski played from 1997-2000, and was joined by brother Chad Dombrowski in 1999 and brother Tighe Dombrowski in 2000. Scott was named to the All-MCC First Team and the All-Great Lakes Region SecondTeam during his career at UWM. Chad and Tighe earned All-Horizon League First Team honors this past year, with Chad also earning a spot on the All-Great Lakes Region First Team. Both Chad and Tighe received All-Newcomer honors to the conference their freshman seasons.

"Neil has some traditional Dombrowski traits, but he is very much an individual when it comes to his strengths and his understanding of the game," Bennett said. "Every time I've seen him play in the last year, he has increasingly impressed me. He'll give us size, substance and skill at several positions--most of them having an attacking emphasis. It's wonderful to think the experience his three brothers have had and are having is encouraging others in the family to look at UWM. Especially when other schools are looking at this very talented family."

Neil Dombrowski joins Eric Mickschl and Billy Meier as incoming freshmen for the 2002 season. Cliff Ellsworth, David Ballantyne, Daniel Saavedra and Alejandro Munoz are currently training with the team this semester and will play next season. Ellsworth and Ballantyne transfered to the university this semester, while Saavedra and Munoz return to the squad after missing the 2001 season.