With former teammates and future stars looking on, Yarmouth senior Chris Knaub signs his National Letter of Intent Friday afternoon to attend and play soccer Bryant University.

Knaub, one of the state’s premier goalkeepers and Yarmouth’s Forecaster Fall 2011 Male Athlete of the Year, was also joined by his mother, Judy (to his left), Clippers varsity assistant coach Dale Wing (seated to his right) and head coach Mike Hagerty (standing, far left).

“I was looking at a couple Division 3 schools, like Tufts, but Bryant contacted me and I went to their camp. I liked their program and academics,” said Knaub, who plans to major in biology. “They have a young team. They just became Division I. They have a lot of young recruits so in the next few years, they’ll be looking good.”

Hagerty thinks Knaub will make a big impact at the next level.

“As a goalkeeper, he’s got the most complete skill set I’ve seen in Maine for a long time,” Hagerty said. “He could easily start in college in the field. He can distribute with his feet as well. His size and decision making are exceptional too. He has the foot skills, hands and from the neck up, he’s as good as anyone you’ll see. I look for him to play even better in college. I think he’ll keep improving.”

Knaub is the latest in a line of Clippers to go on and play in college.

“We’ve had a ton of kids go and play in college, but we don’t get a lot of kids with scholarship opportunities,” Hagerty said. “He does a great job being a role model. It’s nice for the younger kids to see that if they work hard they can achieve goals.”

Knaub said his time in a Yarmouth uniform taught him numerous life lessons.

“The experience was incredible,” Knaub said. “I was coached by two great coaches, on and off the field. I’m not just a better player, but I’m a better person off the field now too.”

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