RIVERDALE, N.Y. – Manhattan head men's soccer coach Jorden Scott announced the 2013 recruiting class on Friday afternoon. It is the first class of recruits signed by Scott as head coach after taking over the program in January. Daniel Laguna Kennedy, Dean Habeeb, Andreas Melitsanopoulos, Dominic Chavez, Eli Bunton, Brian DeLaurentis, and Alex Coates McDowall will join the program this coming fall.
“We've brought in a lot of highly competitive and technical players this year that will add to the philosophy the current players have bought into and accepted,” said Scott, who spent the three previous years as the Jaspers' top assistant. “The most exciting part is that each one of these players comes from a high level of competition and is ready to compete immediately and help take us to the next level.”
Kennedy (Madrid, Spain/I.E.S. Jorge Manrique), a forward, comes to Riverdale after an impressive club career in Spain. A top goal scorer, he was a member of both Union Adarve and Atletico Madrid soccer clubs, leading Atletico Madrid to the second best ranking in division history. He was also promoted to the under-19 level as a 17 year old and competed every week against top academy programs from FC Barcelona and Real Madrid.
”Daniel has great movement, very good size and quick feet,” said Scott. “He played against the highest level of youth competition in Spain the last couple years and will be our primary source of goals during his time with us after proving himself in Europe. We are very proud that he has chosen to become a Jasper.”
A midfielder, Melitsanopolous (Norwalk, Conn./Norwalk) was a four-year varsity player and three-year starter for NorwalkHigh School leading his team to a program best 21-1-1 record as a senior. A first team All-FCIAC player, he scored the game winning goal in the state championship game after helping capture the FCIAC tournament crown en route to a #7 national ranking.
“Andreas is a true leader in every sense of the word with good size and speed,” mentioned Scott. “He is great with both feet on distribution and will make everyone around him better and be a key part of our program for the next four years.”
A four-year varsity starter and three-time All-Portage Trail Conference (PTC) nominee, Habeeb (Columbus, Ohio/Theodore Roosevelt) comes to Manhattan with a strong offensive pedigree. After winning two PTC titles, including one as a senior, Habeeb went on to lead his Everest Soccer Club U-18 Black squad to a championship at the 2012 Disney Soccer Showcase.
“Dean's speed and strength will be great assets to us,” Scott said. “He has applied himself at the national level and is a prominent goal scorer but is very capable of playing in multiple positions. I'm excited to see him develop over the next four years.”
Another four-year starter in high school, Chavez (San Diego, Calif./St. Augustine) will add depth to the Jasper midfield. Leading his team in assists in each of his final three seasons, he helped St. Augustine win two Western League titles, one California Interscholastic Federation championship and a state crown in his tenure. Chavez was also a two-time All-Western League player while winning back-to-back national championships with his club team, Albion SC, in San Diego.
“Dominic is a left foot genius and extremely creative,” Scott noted. “He can change the game in a second and immediately gives us attacking options. He was recognized at the National level by the U.S Soccer federation and he fits perfectly into our style.”
One of Chavez' club teammates will also be donning the Green and White this fall. Bunton (San Diego, Calif./Greater San Diego Academy), who did not play high school soccer, helped to lead Albion SC to two national championships as well as two Puma Cup titles as an attacking midfielder.
“Eli has all the characteristics of an impact player, year one,” said Scott. “He is extremely creative and technical and will greatly help our midfield with his desire to create and score goals. Both Dominic and Eli come from a club that has always produced top Division 1 players and we are delighted to have them both.”
DeLaurentis (Kensington, Md./St. John'sCollege) will begin his career at Manhattan after leading St. John'sCollegeHigh School in assists in two seasons being the leading scorer as a junior. He also comes from a strong development background, playing in the U.S. Soccer Academy as a senior following two stints with Potomac Academy in Virginia.
“Brian is another player who will add depth and cover at the midfield position,” Scott mentioned. “He possesses good feet and can play on both sides of the field with an eye for goal an creating for others. He will improve greatly when working under the staff we have here.”
The Jaspers' final recruit looks to strengthen the team's last line of defense in the coming years. A goalkeeper, McDowall (York, England/ YorkCollege) will look to immediately see time in net after a strong career in England. He was named to the English National Team as a high school player, representing the country in matches in both Scotland and Estonia while plying his trade with Blackburn Rovers FC Academy.
“Alex comes from the top level of competition back in England,” noted Scott. “We are hoping that he comes in and can be the leader at the back to replace George Ellis. He has excellent technique and will be a key part of the way we play both as an attacking force and defensive unit.”
These seven recruits will join a Manhattan squad that saw 75 percent of its offense in 2012 come from underclassmen and is just one year removed from a conference championship appearance.
