HARRISONBURG, Va., Feb. 28, 2012 -- James Madison men's soccer Head Coach Tom Martin has announced the signing of seven players to scholarships at JMU.

The seven athletes represent three states, including Virginia, Pennsylvania and Ohio, and the United Kingdom.

"We're real pleased with the class; we think it's a strong class," said Martin.  "It's going to cover our graduation losses, it's going to give us more depth, and we think a number of the players coming in are going to contribute the first year."

The class of 2012 includes:

Connor Coward , 6-1, Forward/Midfielder, Centreville, Va., Centreville H.S., Club: Annandale United FC

Tyler Durbin, 6-3, Midfielder/Forward/Defender, Burke, Va., Lake Braddock S.S., Club:  Annandale United FC

Tom Fouhy, Midfielder/Defender, Buckinghamshire, England, Club:  English Schoolboys Youth Team

Christian Foust, 6-2, Goalkeeper, Vandalia, Ohio, Shattuck's St. Mary's (Minn.), Club:  Shattuck's St. Mary's USSF Development Academy

Rhys Howard, 6-4, Defender, McLean, Va., Langley H.S., Club:  Annandale United FC

Kyle Morton, 6-3, Goalkeeper, West Chester, Pa., Reed Henderson H.S., Club:  Penn Fusion Soccer Academy

Eric Schmidt, 6-0, Forward/Midfielder, Arlington, Va., Washington-Lee H.S., Club:  Annandale United FC

JMU is coming off a season in which the Dukes compiled a 13-5-2 record, finished first in the highly- competitive Colonial Athletic Association regular-season standings, and advanced to the round of 16 of the NCAA Championships.  JMU was ranked as high as 12th in all three national polls (National Soccer Coaches Association of America, Soccer America, College Soccer News).