SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The men’s soccer team announced its second signing of the 2002 season by inking Valley High School defender Utodi Madu on Thursday. Madu will enroll at Sacramento State as a freshman in the fall.
The defender was a member of the U-19 Cal-North State Cup Champion River City Rush club team which reached the Western Region Finals last year. He was teammates with Alexis Maúrtua, Matt McDougall, Marcos Mercado and Patrick Nelle, who each joined the Hornets as freshmen in 2001. Madu is now the 10th member of River City Rush to join the Hornet program.
Madu played three seasons for the Sac United club team and led the U-14 squad to a state cup final. He was also a member of the U-16 Olympic Developmental Program team which made an appearance in the state and regional finals.
Sacramento State head coach Michael Linenberger expects Madu to start as a defender for the Hornets in his first season to fill the void left by three-year starter Jason Gantt. Madu would join former teammates Maúrtua and Mercado in the defensive backfield.
