DAVIS, Calif. — UC Davis head men's soccer coach Dwayne Shaffer announced Monday that three high school standouts have signed National Letters of Intent to continue their academic and athletic careers with the Aggies beginning with the 2019 season.

Maximilian Arfsten (Fresno, Calif. / Cal Odyssey SC), Sean Bilter (Hillsborough, Calif. / De Anza Force Academy), and Ryan Dieter (Santa Rosa, Calif. / Atletico Santa Rosa), will have four years of eligibility remaining beginning next year.

"We are excited to add three outstanding student-athletes to our program," Shaffer said. "Each one of them will add a special quality to strengthen our program during their careers as Aggies."

Brief bios on each of the UC Davis signees are below.

The Aggies, who played 13 of their 20 matches on the road — including all three of their tournament matches — and posted a 7-2-4 in those contests, wrapped up a 2018 campaign with an 11-4-5 overall record and a 3-2-2 mark in Big West Conference play, reaching the championship match of the league tournament for the second consecutive year as the No. 5 seed before falling in penalties to UC Riverside.

UC Davis' 11 wins matched its win total from 2017 and gave the program back-to-back seasons with double-digit win totals for the first time since 2007 (12) and 2008 (13), while the four defeats were tied for the fewest in the program's Division I history, matching the 2014 squad that finished 7-4-9 overall. The Aggies finished the season unbeaten in their last five contests (3-0-2), posting three shutouts and surrendering only three goals in that span.

MAXIMILIAN ARFSTEN (6-0, 170, M/F, Fresno, Calif. / San Joaquin Memorial HS '19, Cal Odyssey SC)
Three-year varsity letter winner at San Joaquin Memorial HS in Fresno, Calif., entering his senior season… Helped his team to a pair of CIF section quarterfinal berths as a sophomore and junior… Two-time County Metro Athletic Conference first team selection as a sophomore and junior… Named the league MVP as a junior after scoring 20 goals and assisting on 21 others… Finished with 21 goals and 11 assists as a sophomore and added four goals and five assists as a freshman… Holds the school record for career goals and is a three-time team MVP… Parents are Michael and Shelly… Has two younger siblings: Alexander and Zachary… Intends to major in managerial economics at UC Davis… Played club soccer for the Cal Odyssey SC and has been a member of the NorCal State Pool for the last seven years… Led the NPL in goals in 2017-18… Member of the US Club Soccer Player Development Pool's select team in 2018 that finished first fourth in their group but won their playoff draw at the Gothia Cup in Sweden, surrendering only two goals and outscoring the opposition, 27-2, in their bracket.

Head Coach Dwayne Shaffer: "Max is an exceptional talent with the ability to score goals. He has excellent technique as well as a high soccer IQ and will help us in all the attacking positions."

SEAN BILTER (6-0, 165, D, Hillsborough, Calif. / St. Ignatius College Prep '19, De Anza Force Academy)
Entering his third varsity season at St. Ignatius College Prep in San Francisco as a senior… Has helped the Wildcats to a pair of West Catholic Athletic League titles as a sophomore and junior, as well as a Central Coast Section and NorCal regional title as a junior… Team is a combined 32-3-5 in his two varsity seasons… All-WCAL second team selection as a sophomore, scoring a goal and assisting on five others… Finished with three goals and seven assists as a junior… Also ran two years of track… Parents are Scott and Tracey… Has two sisters: Brianna and Claire… Father was a member of the track and field team at Stanford.

Head Coach Dwayne Shaffer: "Sean is an excellent soccer player with outstanding athleticism and speed, who has seen a lot of success at the high school level. He will strengthen and add depth to our team on the back line as a defender."

RYAN DIETER (5-11, 151, W, Santa Rosa, Calif. / Maria Carrillo HS '19, Atletico Santa Rosa)
Entering his senior season at Maria Carrillo HS in Santa Rosa, Calif… All-North Bay League first team selection and team captain as a junior, scoring seven goals and assisting on another… Helped the Pumas to a round of 16 section finish as a junior… Scored five goals as a sophomore… Member of the US Club Soccer Player Development Program since 2012 and a member of the PDP state pool since 2016… Also a member of the football team as a senior… Parents are Chris and Miu… Intends to major in managerial economics at UC Davis… Was one of four players from his club team to be selected to train with Mexican club Monarcas Morelia when he was 11 years old.

Head Coach Dwayne Shaffer: "I am excited to add Ryan to our program. He is physically very quick and fast, as well as very technical. I believe his best position will be as an attacking right fullback similar to Justin Wright this season. However, he is a versatile soccer player that will help our program at several positions."

2018 UC DAVIS MEN'S SOCCER EARLY SIGNEES
Name (Height, Weight, Position, Hometown / Previous School, Club Team)
Maximilian Arfsten (6-0, 170, M/F, Fresno, Calif. / San Joaquin Memorial HS '19, Cal Odyssey SC)
Sean Bilter (6-0, 165, D, Hillsborough, Calif. / St. Ignatius College Prep, De Anza Force Academy)
Ryan Dieter (5-11, 151, W, Santa Rosa, Calif. / Maria Carrillo HS '19, Atletico Santa Rosa)

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Providing a small-town community feel while providing a world-class academic experience, UC Davis is home to more than 37,000 students and centrally located between San Francisco, Lake Tahoe, and the Napa Valley. The No. 5-ranked public university in the nation according to the Wall Street Journal and Times Higher Education, and among the top 10 public universities nationwide according to U.S. News and World Report, UC Davis offers nearly 100 graduate programs and more than 100 academic majors across four colleges and six professional schools, ranking among the world and nation's best in numerous disciplines, including veterinary science, agriculture, and plant and animal programs.

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