SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Orange men’s soccer coach Ian McIntyre announced the addition of 12 players who will join the Syracuse program for the upcoming 2011 season today. The group includes two transfers with college playing experience, two members of the Canadian youth national team pool and several American-born scholastic standouts.
“We are excited to welcome this fine group of student-athletes to Syracuse University,” McIntyre said. “It is a group brimming with technical and physical quality, but more importantly, each individual is a young man of the very highest character who is extremely excited to be afforded the opportunity to represent Syracuse. I would like to thank (assistant coaches) Mike Miller and Jukka Masalin for their tireless work in securing such a talented group of student-athletes.”
Here’s a look at the 12 newest members of the Orange:
Trevor Alexander, Midfield, 6-0, 165, Meriden, Conn.
Earned Connecticut First Team All-State honors from ESPN Rise … Finished with 29 goals and 21 assists in four seasons at Francis T. Maloney High School … Member of the Oakwood Soccer Club U.S. Development Academy. McIntyre on Alexander: “We have been following Trevor’s development for quite some time and he really showed well at our camp. He is a technical player who is very comfortable in possession of the ball.”
Phil Boerger, Goalie, 6-2, 190, Jamestown, N.D.
Transferred from the University of Evansville and enrolled at Syracuse in January 2011 … Will have one year of eligibility remaining … Two-year starter at Evansville … 2009 All-Missouri Valley Conference honoree … Member of the U.S. U-15 and U-17 National Teams … Parade High School All-American. McIntyre on Boerger: “We are delighted to have Phil join us in preparation for the 2011 campaign. He is an experienced, proven goalie who will tremendously enhance our group at that position.”
Grant Chong, Forward, 5-8, 150, Brighton, Mich.
Named the 2010 Livingston County Player of the Year and an all-state first-team selection at Brighton High School … Scored 25 goals and had 20 assists as a senior … Member of the Derby County Wolves U.S. Development Academy Team. McIntyre on Chong: “Grant is player who we feel has a big upside and will be able to develop here at Syracuse. He is a tricky forward who will provide us with great competition in an area of the field we know we need to improve in.”
Louis Clark, Forward, 5-10, 150, Brighton, England
Transferred from the Ashland University … Enrolled at Syracuse in January 2011 … Totaled 15 goals and five assists as a freshman at Ashland and led the team to a Division II NCAA Tournament berth … Named to the Daktronics All-Midwest Region Second Team. McIntyre on Clark: “Louis is an intelligent player who can play either as a forward or an attacking midfielder. He has the knack of finding time and space on the field and can contribute important goals to any team.”
Andrew Coughlin, Goalie, 5-11, 160, Baldwinsville, N.Y.
Led C. W. Baker High School to league, sectional and regional championships in 2010 … Named to the Post-Standard’s All-Central New York Second Team … Member of the Empire U.S. Development Academy … 2010 Syracuse Soccer Camp Goalkeeper MVP. McIntyre on Coughlin: “We have closely watched Andrew’s progress during the past year and he is an excellent shot stopper with very good reflexes.”
Tyler Hilliard, Defense, 6-0, 170, Atlanta, Ga.
Teammate of fellow Syracuse signee Hugh Pringle with the Concorde Fire Elite in the U.S. Development Academy … Entering his senior season at The Westminster School after leading the Wildcats to a state runner-up finish as a junior. McIntyre on Hilliard: “Tyler has been a player that we have been following for quite a while and we are excited to have him join us. He is an athletic player who can play anywhere along the backline.”
Connor Jacobson, Goalie, 6-6, 210, Avon, Conn.
Posted a 23-10-2 record in two seasons at The Loomis Chaffee School … Ranked third on Topdrawersoccer.com’s 2011 list of Northeast players to watch …ESPN Rise New-England Prep School All-Star. McIntyre on Jacobson: “CJ has great size and range while also possessing the ability to make big saves. He showed very well at our camp and we feel that he has the physical attributes to make the adjustments to life here at Syracuse.”
Chris Makowski, Midfield, 5-11, 185, Quakertown, Pa.
Faith Christian Academy career leader in points (145) … ESPN Rise Pennsylvania All-star and Atlantic Coast Christian Athletic Conference (ACCAC) MVP. McIntyre on Makowski: “Chris is a strong, physical player who we believe has the opportunity to excel here. He’s a versatile player who can open up the field with his range of passing and his quality on the ball.”
Jordan Murrell, Defense, 5-10, 165, Markham, Ontario
Plays for the Toronto FC Academy and was recently invited to the U-18 Canadian National Team training camp in Costa Rica … Will be eligible for U-20 competitions heading into the 2013 U-20 World Cup and the 2016 Olympic Games. McIntyre on Murrell: “Jordan is a cultured, versatile defender who will provide us with great balance in the back. He has the athleticism to immediately compete in the BIG EAST.”
Hugh Pringle, Forward/Midfield, 6-2, 180, Decatur, Ga.
Enters his senior season with 33 goals and 21 assists for Woodward Academy … Woodward team captain … Two-time all-region player … Member of the Concorde Fire Elite team in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy. McIntyre on Pringle: “Hugh is a player built for the BIG EAST. He has good feet and the physical traits to allow him to quickly make the transition to our league.”
Matt Stith, Goalie, 5-10, 160, Montclair, NJ.
Starting goalkeeper for the Matchfit Chelsea Bulldogs and a member of the Super Y League National ODP Select Team … Posted a career goals-against average of 0.92 at Montclair High School. McIntyre on Stith: “Matt showed well at our Syracuse camp and we have been impressed every time we have watched him play. He possesses excellent athleticism and has the ability to pull off game-changing saves.”
Skylar Thomas, Defense, 6-3, 180, Pickering, Ontario
Captain of the Ajax U-18 soccer team … Invited to play with the Canadian U-18 National Team in Cost Rica where he was a teammate of fellow SU signee Jordan Murrell … McIntyre on Thomas: “We quickly identified Skylar as a player who we felt could become an integral part of our program as we moved forward. In addition to his physical and technical talents he possesses the necessary intangible qualities, personality and drive to be successful here at Syracuse.”
2011 Syracuse Men's Soccer Signees
Trevor Alexander, M, 6-0, 165, Meriden, Conn/Francis T. Maloney HS
Phil Boerger, GK, 6-2, 190, Jamestown, N.D./Jamestown HS/Evansville
Grant Chong, F, 5-8, 150, Brighton, Mich./Brighton HS
Louis Clark, F, 5-10, 150, Brighton, England/Hove Park School/Ashland
Andrew Coughlin, GK, 5-11, 160, Baldwinsville, N.Y./C.W. Baker HS
Tyler Hilliard, D, 6-0, 170, Atlanta, Ga./The Westminster School
Connor Jacobson, GK, 6-6, 210, Avon, Conn./The Loomis Chaffee School
Chris Makowski, M, 5-11, 185, Quakertown, Pa./Faith Christian Academy
Jordan Murrell, M/D, 5-10, 165, Markham, Ontario/Unionville HS
Hugh Pringle, F/M, 6-2, 180, Decatur, Ga./Woodward Academy
Matt Stith, GK, 5-10, 160, Montclair, NJ./Montclair HS
Skylar Thomas, D, 6-3, 180, Pickering, Ontario/Dunbarton HS