RIVERDALE, N.Y. - The Manhattan College men's soccer team, led by reigning Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Coach of the Year, Jorden Scott, will welcome eight new faces to the roster for the fall 2014.
The class will feature seven freshmen and one transfer student, who will enter the 2014 season as a junior. Five of the players hail from the tri-state area, with the other three coming to Riverdale from Pennsylvania, Ohio and Arizona.
Of his incoming class, Scott said, "Firstly I would like to credit my coaching staff for their efforts in bringing in such an elite group of young men who not only excel in soccer but also in the classroom. Being a Jasper is about being a great person first and throughout the process these young men have shown they truly have the personality to flourish in our school," Scott said. "This class will give us instant impact and a deeper roster to allow us to elevate the program once again like we have done since the day I came through the door in 2010. We are very proud of what we have achieved up to this stage but our ambitions are much greater and these are exactly the type of players and students we wanted and needed."
"The interesting part of this group is that they are very familiar with each other, having competed against their respective teams through the youth club years. That familiarity and respect will ensure they arrive ready to work together as a team and a family, which is something we pride ourselves on," Scott said.
Below is a list of the players and their accomplishments:
Matthew Barile - CM - Left footed - 5'9" - 170 - New Hope, Pa. - New Hope-Solebury
At New Hope-Solebury: Four-year varsity letterwinner as a central midfielder...Bicentennial Athletic League selection as a freshman, sophomore and senior...BAL honorable mention as a junior...Intell selection his freshman, sophomore and senior seasons...played club soccer for Lehigh Valley United under the guidance of Greg Ramos where his team won multiple state championships and a regional title.
Greg Bohn - M - Right footed - 5'11" - 165 - Loveland, Ohio - Loveland
At Loveland: Earned three varsity letters in high school...All-Conference selection his junior and senior years...named to the All-City Team his senior year...2013 Region 2 Champion...was on the 2013 United States Youth Soccer Association National Championship Runner-Up Cincinnati United Premier club team...6-time Ohio South Youth Soccer Association State Cup champion, playing for Bobby Puppione.
Tom DiGiglio - CM/CDM - Right footed - 5'9" - 175 - Northport, N.Y. - Northport
At Northport: Garnered All-League honors as a freshman...earned All-Conference accolades as a sophomore...three-year letterwinner as a central midfielder in high school...plans on majoring in engineering upon arriving at Manhattan...cited the great engineering program, soccer program and proximity to home and New York City as his reasons for choosing Manhattan...played for Albertson Academy under Chad Prince and Skip Thorp where they achieved national success within the prestigious USSDA program.
Jose Meza - MF/F - Right footed - 5'7" - 154 - Passaic, N.J. - Paramus Catholic
At Paramus Catholic: Four-year varsity letterwinner in high school as a midfielder/forward...was a 1st Team All-League selection in 2011, 2012 and 2013...earned 2nd Team All-County honors in 2012 and 2013...collected Honorable Mention All-State accolades in 2012...a Soccer Domain FC product competing at the National Level for over 5 years.
Phillip Mourikes - GK - Right footed - 5'11" - 170 - Scottsdale, Ariz. - Brophy College Prep
At Brophy College Prep: Earned four varsity letters as a goalkeeper on his high school team...started his junior and senior seasons...his team won Arizona Interscholastic Association Division-I Soccer State Championships in 2011, 2013 and 2014...was named the FOX Sports Arizona Player of the Game for the 2014 Division-I Soccer State Championship game...was an All-Arizona Boys Soccer First Team selection in 2014...was the All-Tournament Team Goalkeeper in the Montverde Academy (Fla.) Soccer Tournament...was an Arizona Republic All-State Honorable Mention...Earlier: was a United States Youth Soccer-Arizona State Champion in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013...won United States Youth Soccer National Championships in 2012 and 2014.
Alex Patel - CM - Right footed - 5'10" - 170 - Montclair, N.J. - Montclair
At Montclair: Four-year letterwinner as a central midfielder at his high school in New Jersey...intends on majoring in business...chose Manhattan over other Division-I institutions for its good coaches, academic reputation and location...played for Soccer Domain FC under the leadership of Ashley Hammond and Kieran Patrick who won 4 state cups and a USYS Regional Championship.
Ajani Phillips - F - Right footed - 5'9" - 180 - South River, N.J. - Saint Peter's Preparatory
At Saint Peter's Prep: Captained the squad his senior year...was a four-year varsity starter...named to All-County and All-State teams in each of his four seasons...intends on majoring in psychology or sociology upon arriving at Manhattan...cited the college's strong academics and love of the city as his reasons for deciding on Manhattan...was a teammate of Alex Patel at Soccer Domain FC.
Kristian Alexieff - CM - Left footed - 5'10" - 170 - West Nyack, N.Y. - University at Albany
At Albany: Earned America East Player of the Week honors...two-year starter at Albany...before Albany, Kristian played for the New York Red Bull Academy in New Jersey.
At Don Bosco Prep: Led team in goals in his senior year of high school...earned three varsity letters as a central midfielder.
The Manhattan men's soccer fall 2014 schedule will be released later this week.
