Four high school seniors have committed to Penn State to play men's soccer in the fall and commitments by two or three other prospective players also are expected.

The four athletes are Mark Yanni, Pat Gray, Brett Swanger and Steve Dougherty. They have paid deposits for admission next fall and are recruits who will not receive athletic scholarship aid their first year but may the following year depending on each's performance and contributions to the program, Coach Barry Gorman said.

"We've been successful with that incentive," Gorman said. "We want to help anyone who is contributing to our program" and who is doing well academically.

Even though letter of intent signings began Feb. 13, Penn State has received no official acceptance of scholarship recruiting offers; however, Gorman said he is confident if everything goes right that within the next week Penn State should receive commitments from two or three blue chippers who could not be identified at this time; these players will receive partial athletic scholarships.

Gorman attributes the delay to the changing of the letter of intent day from April 15. Gorman said after a few years things should adjust.

He said if Penn State lands the three blue chippers, and the other recruits are able to prove themselves at this level of play then we will certainly be able to replace our graduates and complement the kids coming back.

This year the team is looking for a goalkeeper, a sweeper, a central midfielder, and a goal-scorer, Gorman said, adding he is also looking to bring in better and better players, athletes and students overall.

Three of the four who have committed are from Pennsylvania, the other from Miami, Fla. They will not receive athletic scholarship aid next year because of a certain number of scholarships available determined by NCAA rules, thus the coaches are careful in determining who will receive scholarships their first year, Gorman said.

That hasn't discouraged Mark Yanni, a senior at North Allegheny High School, who turned down a soccer scholarship from Pitt.

"I thought Penn State's soccer program was better," said Yanni, adding he was influenced by how up front and honest the coaches were by not promising anything except a fair shot to play.

Pat Gray, a senior from Germantown Academy High School in Philadelphia, said Gorman only promised an education. Gray said he turned down offers from other colleges because he feels, "If I can play at Penn State, I could have played at most anywhere."

From Elco High School in Lebanon, senior Brett Swanger said he has always wanted to play for Penn State. He said Gorman was his high school's soccer coach when he was in sixth grade.

"I like his style of play, and I think I can help the program," Swanger said.

All three prospective players feel they need to build up their strength with the help of weight training.

Yanni and Gray both said they liked the way Penn State treats its athletes through support academically and athletically.

Swanger and Yanni have been named to All-State and Regional All-America teams this year while Gray has received a sportsmanship award for academics and athletics while being named to his All-City team.

All three have expressed confidence in their ability to succeed at the collegiate level although remaining uncertain of exactly what to expect except that it will be a more difficult and agressive style of play.

The fourth recruit, Steve Dougherty, from Miami, was unavailable for comment.

Penn State's first game will be a Big Ten match at Indiana on Sept. 6.