SPOKANE, WA — (Shadow release) The Spokane Shadow announced that the club will feature five players from Gonzaga University this summer during the debut season of the Evergreen Premier League. Joining the team will be Keane Ellis, Aaron Jeffery, Andrew Newman and local products Dustin Ferger (East Valley HS) and Graison Le (Coeur d’Alene HS).

“We are excited to welcome these players into the squad this season,” said Spokane Shadow General Manager Gerald Barnhart. “They are all up-and-coming talents that played for a team that posted one of the best defensive records around the nation last year in Division I soccer, and were ranked much of the campaign.”

Dustin Ferger (midfielder) was a standout player for East Valley prior to joining the Bulldogs in 2012. He was an all-league selection three times in the Greater Spokane League and Great Northern League and helped lead the Knights to third place in the Washington 2A postseason during his senior season.

Graison Le (forward) was named an all-league selection all three years he played in the Inland Empire League and was co-MVP of the 5A IEL as a senior for the Vikings. Le is also a former Shadow youth player, having previously commuted to play with the club.

Andrew Newman (defender) hails from Shoreline, Washington, where he received All-Metro League honors as a junior and senior playing at Bishop Blanchet High School. He was also an accomplished wrestler in Region 3.

Keane Ellis (goalkeeper) joins a long list of Hawaiian players that have donned a Shadow jersey. Among them is former Shadow and Gonzaga standout keeper Josh Fouts, who was Ellis’ coach for his club team for 2007-08. He comes to the Shadow after four long years at the GU program. He was redshirted as a freshman but then suffered a broken leg the following year. He made his first appearances in 2012 and spent most of 2013 as the back-up for Ryan Caballero’s outstanding campaign this past fall.

Aaron Jeffery (midfielder/defender) is originally from Perth, Australia. The 2013 season was his first for the Zags after leading Peninsula College to a pair of NWAACC Western Division titles in 2011-12 and the NWAACC Championship in 2012 with three shutout performances. The Pirates were a combined 30-2-3 during the tenure of the 2012 NWAACC All-Star.

“I think its gonna be a good experience for them, and obviously benefits us in that they get to play in the summer in a good league,” said Gonzaga coach Einar Thorarinsson. “I am optimistic that league is going to be very quality and a go in the future. The five guys, they are all hungry to play.”

The Spokane Shadow open their season May 3 at the newly-renovated Spokane Falls Community College. Ticket packages are available at the Shadow Shop.



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