May 1, 2014
SAN DIEGO - The San Diego State men's soccer team has added three more members to its nationally-ranked 2014 recruiting class, head coach Lev Kirshner recently announced. With these additions, the Aztecs will now have 19 first-year players arriving to Montezuma Road for the fall 2014 season.
Forward Forrayah Bass (Leeds, England), defender Zach Neiberger (Minneapolis, Minn.), and Nedin Tucakovic (San Jose, Calif.) have been added to a class that has already been ranked 37th in the nation by College Soccer News. The 2014 class accolades include, but are not limited to, a JC All-American, U.S. National pool members, multiple four-star recruits as well as numerous regional and state ODP team members.
"It is very exciting that our 2014 class has already received national recognition without the inclusion of these three, very talented players; all are highly touted and will compete to make an immediate impact on next year's team," Kirshner said. "These young men will certainly increase the quality of this class and, more importantly, the future of our program."
Bass spent 10 years playing academy level soccer in England for professional clubs, Bradford City and Leeds United. In 2013, he played 10 games his freshman season at Louisburg College (N.C.), where he recorded 11 points on five goals, one assist, and had two game-winning goals.
Neiberger is a two-time all-State selection and was runner-up for Minnesota's 2013 Mr. Soccer. He also participated in the 2013 All-American game, was the Metro Player of the Year and a finalist for Gatorade Player of the Year. A four-year varsity starter and two-time team captain at Minneapolis Southwest HS, Neiberger helped lead the Lakers to the state championship game as a freshman and a third-place finish as a sophomore.
Tucakovic was a member of the Residency Program for the United States U-17 National Team and utilized his dual citizenship while competing with the Serbian U-17 National Team. Ranked as high as 50th in the country by TopDrawerSoccer.com and 55th by CollegeSoccerNews.com, Tucakovic plays his club soccer for U.S. Soccer Development Academy (USSDA) De Anza Force U-17/18.
San Diego State competes in the Pac-12 soccer conference, which was the No. 1 ranked RPI league in the nation last season. Its 2013 schedule included a top-10 opponent in seven of the final nine weeks of the season, featured 11 matches against teams who made the NCAA Tournament, and produced two ties against a Sweet 16 participant.
The rest of the 2014 class and significant accomplishments are listed below:
Kevin Baboiyan, midfielder
Member of Cal-South and Region IV ODP teams. A two-time National Champion with West Coast F.C. and the first player in Capistrano Valley history to receive first-team All-Southern California.
Donald Benamna, forward
All-Region, two-time All-State, and All-MET selection at Montgomery Blair High. Surf Cup MVP.
Aleks Berkolds, defender
Mission League, Defensive Player of the Year and first team All-CIF. Two-time first team All-Mission League selection and a three-time All Mission League all-Academic selection at Crespi Carmelite High.
Brady Blackwell, midfielder
Ranked 108th in 2014 freshman class by CollegeSoccerNews.com, as well as 17th in the region and a four-star recruit by TopDrawerSoccer.com. Four-year member of USSDA's, Columbus Crew, Blackwell has been a two-time captain for them.
Matthew Callahan, defender
Northeastern University transfer. Callahan started all 16 games he played in as a freshman for the Huskies in 2013. Helped lead North High to the Division I North Championship as a senior.
Finn Crozier forward
Third-leading goal scorer in Berlin's top city league in 2012-13; 24 goals in 32 games. Golden Boot getter for 2013 Solar Cup in Dresden (10 regional teams-14 goals) and 2013 Copa Maresme in Spain (44 international teams-12 goals).
Sergio Enriquez, defender
San Diegan from Helix High School. First-team All-Grossmont Hills selection, Team MVP, and a four-year honor student. Starter for USSDA's Nomads Soccer Academy.
Bryce Flores, forward
San Diego product ranked 33rd in Southern California region by Top Drawer Soccer and ranked 71st by OWTY. 2013 Palomar League Player of the Year and first team All-CIF selection. Region IV ODP selection and played for USSDA's Surf Academy and currently with Coach Kirshner at Carlsbad Elite.
Amon Frazier, defender
First-team 5A Colorado Springs All-Metro Division selection and an All-Gazette Prep Soccer honorable mention. Plays for USSDA's Real Colorado.
David Olsen, forward
Four-star recruit by Top Drawer Soccer. Currently, leading goal scorer for USSDA's Seattle Sounders after being the second leading scorer in 2012-13 with 18 goals. Won ODP and club regional championships as well as the state championship with Jefferson High in 2010 and 2011.
Ozzie Ramos, midfielder
According to Maxpreps.com, led California in assists with 29 (20th in nation) and was second in the state in total points (91). Two-time All-District MVP and two-time All-Western Athletic Conference MVP at Central Valley High.
Ernest Reyes III, midfielder
San Diego product. Four-star recruit and U.S. Soccer Market Training Center participant. Led Poway Titans to the Palomar League championship in 2011-12 and 2013-14 while garnering first team All-League honors and voted Team Defensive MVP. Former USSDA's Surf Academy player and currently with Coach Kirshner at Carlsbad Elite.
Mark Revell, midfielder
University of Hawaii-Manoa transfer and San Diego product. Led Torrey Pines High 2009 CIF championship while being named second team All-League and Team MVP. A four year scholar-athlete, Revell played youth club soccer for CV Manchester and former Aztec standout Darren Parker.
Jeffrey Rhodes, midfielder
A member of the U-15 National Team. National ranking as high as 100th by TopDrawerSoccer.com and is 149th by CollegeSoccerNews.com.
Thom van den Berg, midfielder
Played several games against other highly-regarded youth academies including Ajax, Feyenoord and PSV in six years playing in the youth academy of Vitesse.
Pablo Vazquez, midfielder
NSCAA first-team All-American and two-time all-South Region first-team selection as a sophomore at San Jacinto College, Vazquez recorded 35 points on 11 goals and 13 assists. NJCAA All-Region and NSCAA All-Region second-team selection as a freshman, tallying a team-high 25 points behind eight goals and nine assists.