NEWARK, NJ—NJIT men's soccer coach Pedro Lopes announced that eight recruits will join the Highlanders early next month when the team comes together for preseason training in preparation for the 2009 season. Half the recruits are from outside the United States and the other half are from New Jersey.
The signees are: Kevin Connolly, a wing midfielder from Scotland; Jack McVey, a center midfielder from Isle of Man in the Irish Sea; Rahim Stennett, a forward from Jamaica; and, Pete Walker, a center forward from England.
Also set to join the Highlanders are four New Jersey-based recruits. They are: Daniel Correia, a center midfielder from nearby Elizabeth High School; Nate D'Aversa, a transfer from Montclair State and graduate of Hunterdon Central Regional High School; Franco Gamero, a midfielder/forward from nearby Kearny High; and, Trevor Nye, a defender from Wyckoff, who graduated from Hawthorne Christian Academy.
“The traits (the recruits) bring are things we've missed in the past,” said Lopes. “They're a technically strong group and they bring the work ethic we need. I'm optimistic this group is going to bring the needed goal scoring that we've lacked.”
Here is a look at the signees:
Kevin Connolly, midfielder from Kirkcaldy, Fife, Scotland … graduate of Kirkcaldy High School in his hometown plans to major in architecture at NJIT … his last club team was the Thornton Hibs Junior Football Club, which he helped to a rare double in 2008-09, winning the league and league cup … Lopes expects the 18-year old to bolster the NJIT attack as a wing midfielder or striker. “He gives us a very good pace and a great work ethic,” said Lopes. “He fits the Division I soccer profile with the speed of the game. We have missed speed on the wing and he has a great opportunity to establish himself. He's physically ready to compete right away.”
Jack McVey, a center midfielder from Manx Arms, Isle of Man (located in the Irish Sea at the center of the British Isles) … he is a graduate of St. Ninian's School who plans to major in business at NJIT … his last club team was St. George's AFC, which won its league in 2007, 2008, and 2009, its cup in 2008 and 2009 and charity shield in 2009 … “He's a true center midfielder with the ability to operate between defending and attacking midfield,” said Lopes. “He can come in and fight for a spot in a strong area of our team. He's going to help us compete in the physical part of the game where we haven't always been strong.”
Rahim Stennett, a forward from Kingston, Jamaica, has attended two colleges in the United States previously. He was a freshman at national power University of Maryland in 2007, but redshirted for the team that reached the third round of the Division I College Cup. Last season he played at Cincinnati State Technical and Community College. The graduate of Meadowbrook High School in Kingston plans to study electrical engineering at NJIT … At the club level, he led Bull Bay FC to the 2007 under-20 Jamaican national semifinals … “Rahim will bring a big presence to our team,” said Lopes of the signee who is 6-2 and 200 pounds and will come into NJIT with sophomore playing eligibility. “He is strong on the ball and good in the air and he's able to play a target position. With the experience from his time at Maryland, practicing against some of the best players in Division I and then what he did at Cincinnati State, we expect him to have an impact. He will become a leader for us up top.”
Pete Walker, a center forward from Fairford, Gloucestershire, England … He is a graduate of Farmers School … His club team, Fairford Town FC, where he began playing when he was eight years old, won the county cup three times … “He never stops,” Lopes said of a player who is a leading candidate to earn a starting spot in 2009. “He's constantly moving and harassing defenders and he has a knack for getting in scoring positions. He's also capable of outrunning the defense and he's always looking for space behind the defenders.”
Here is a look at the local recruits:
Daniel Correia is a center midfielder out of Elizabeth High School, which he helped to the 2008 North Jersey Group 4 Section 2 championship, scoring a team-high 17 goals and adding six assists … He scored his team's goal in a 2-1 loss in the 2008 Group 4 state semifinal and the Star-Ledger named him to its all-Union County first team and Group 4 all-state second team … “He's a technically strong player who covers box-to-box and is good going from offense to defense and back,” said Lopes. “He has a good shot and can score and he'll help solidify the midfield for years to come.
Nate D'Aversa is a center midfielder who graduated from Hunterdon Central Regional High School in 2008 and was enrolled as a freshman at Montclair State University. The Whitehouse Station resident ,who plans to major in communications at NJIT, was on the roster, but did not see game action for Montclair, which finished 2008 with a 21-1 record, losing in the NCAA Division III sectionals. … “We recruited Nate when he was in high school and now he's decided to come to NJIT,” said Lopes. “He has very good vision and the ability to help set the tempo of the game and get the ball into scoring position by finding the open man. He has the tactical and technical awareness to make an impact.”
Franco Gamero comes to NJIT out of soccer-rich Kearny, which is just across the Passaic River from Newark and with a population of less than 40,000 has produced numerous college and professional stars including former US National Team star Tab Ramos, who played in three World Cups for Team USA; longtime national team goalkeeper Tony Meola; and former national team star John Harkes, the first United States native ever to play in the English Premier League. … Gamero plans to major in architecture at NJIT … He earned numerous honors at Kearny High, including all-Hudson County first team, all-area, all-state second team, all-North I first-team, and all-Watchung Conference first team. He was later selected for the New Jersey/Pennsylvania team that faced New York/Connecticut in annual Red Bull High School Cup, hosted June 20 at Giants Stadium by Red Bull New York of Major League Soccer … “He's left-footed, which is an asset, and he can play wide left midfield or forward for us,” said Lopes. “He has that nose for the goal that coaches look for and he has the potential to be an immediate impact player. His work ethic is very good.”
Trevor Nye, the only defender among the new recruits, graduated from Hawthorne Christian and also plays for the Red Bull Academy under-18 team, as part of a nationwide program that has “academy” teams, some of which are affiliated with MLS teams. Like several others in the NJIT recruiting class, the Wyckoff resident plans to study architecture … Nye was a two-time all-Passaic County first-team pick in high school, winning the 2008 honor as a defender, even though his coach, Tyler Van Dyk, used him all over the field, helping Hawthorne Christian to its best-ever season with a 16-4-1 record … A year-round player with his Red Bull Academy commitment in addition to high school, Nye's experience and skill are plus for NJIT. “He's going to be a steady player,” Lopes said. “He's courageous and good athletically, so he has the potential to make an impact at the college level.”
The recruits will report to preseason training the second week in August, with the season opening on September 1 in West Point, NY, against Army. The home opener for NJIT is on September 6 at 1 pm on Lubetkin Field against powerful Monmouth.
