SAN DIEGO – Head coach Lev Kirshner and his staff are excited to announce their 2019 recruiting class, which was recently recognized by Top Drawer Soccer as one of the top 20 recruiting classes in the nation.
"My staff and, specifically, lead assistant, Josh Hill, have worked tirelessly to put together one of the top classes in the country and they deserve to be commended for their great work," Head Coach Lev Kirshner praised. "This highly ranked group joins a very strong nucleus of returning players, former ranked classes and ensures that our future remains bright. "
MEET THE NEW AZTECS
Matthew Hoppe – Forward – 6'2" 180 lbs. – ASU Prep Casa Grande – Barça Academy – Yorba Linda, Calif.
Hoppe, a four-star recruit, is one of the top forwards in the nation. He is ranked No. 42 Top Drawer Soccer (TDS) IMG Academy 150 and No. 5 in the Rocky Mountains & Southwest region. He was recently named to the United Soccer Coaches Youth All-American team and was one of three forwards named to the USSDA Best XI last year. A Yorba Linda, Calif. native, Hoppe currently attends ASU Prep, which has partnered with FC Barcelona to house the club's only residential program in the U.S. (Barça Academy). So far this season, Hoppe has scored 12 goals in eight matches, which leads the nation.
Ryan McCusker – Forward – 6'0" 155 lbs. – Sage Creek HS – Pateadores SC – Carlsbad, Calif.
McCusker is a four-star recruit ranked No. 63 in the TDS IMG Academy 150 as well as No. 7 in the Southern California region. A dynamic playmaker, he was one of the top goal scorers in the region after scoring 17 goals in 19 starts for Nomads SC during their playoff run last year. He currently plays for Pateadores SC in the USSDA U19 Southwest conference, where he has already put away two goals through four matches.
Victor Rangel – Defender – 5'11" 155 lbs. – Granada Hills Charter – FC Golden State – Panorama City, Calif.
Rangel is a three-star recruit ranked No. 92 in the TDS IMG Academy 150 and No. 11 in the Southern California region. A product of the U.S. Soccer Development Academy, Rangel was a member of the U-16 National Team. He currently plays for FC Golden State along with another future Aztec, Abraham Gonzalez.
Abraham Gonzalez – Defender – 5'11" 155 lbs. – Roosevelt HS – FC Golden State – Riverside, Calif.
Gonzalez is a three-star recruit ranked No. 132 in the TDS IMG Academy 150 and No. 13 in the Southern California region. Gonzalez joined Rangel on the U-16 U.S. National Team for Tournoi de Montaigu. He currently plays for FC Golden State with Victor Rangel. Prior to that, he played for the LA Galaxy U-13/14 team.
Tetsuya Kadono – Goalkeeper – 6'2" 190 lbs. – Woodbridge HS – Strikers FC – Irvine, Calif.
Kadono is one of the top goalkeepers on the West. A native of Japan, he currently is the captain for Strikers FC U-18/19 team where he has appeared in 70 matches over the past five years.
Blake Bowen – Midfielder – 5'8" 140 lbs. – San Clemente HS – OC Surf – San Clemente, Calif.
Bowen has scored 19 goals and dished out eight assists during his high school career and was an all-CIF selection a season ago. A natural goal scorer, Bowen also has been a two-time South Coast all-league selection and was named to the All-American watch list.
Austin Wehner – Forward – 5'11" 185 lbs. – Roseville HS – Placer United – Roseville, Calif.
Wehner has scored 44 goals and recorded 16 assists over his past two seasons at Roseville High School, which has earned him first team all-league honors. An elite striker, he also plays for Placer United, who he helped win the NPL Championship last year.