NEWARK, NJ--NJIT men's soccer head coach
Fernando Barboto has announced the addition of 11 student-athletes for the 2019 season.
Here is a look of each of the Highlander newcomers, along with quotes from Coach Barboto.
Ryan Melink, MF, Cincinnati, OH/University of Cincinnati/Loveland High School
Melink comes to NJIT after three seasons at the University of Cincinnati.
He played in 55 career matches, including 40 starts, scoring nine goals, six assists for 24 points.
The 6-foot midfielder was named to the 2016 American Athletic Conference (AAC) All-Rookie team, sitting atop the team with five goals, including two game-winners.
Melink attended Loveland High School and lived overseas in Ankara, Turkey, before returning to the United States as a high school sophomore.
He was named Rookie of the Year as a sophomore, ranking fourth in the Eastern Cincinnati Conference with 10 goals as a junior, earning second team All-League honors and led the ECC in goals and assists as a senior, earning first team All-Conference, first team All-City and second team All-State.
Melink was selected to Southwest Ohio All-Star Game as a senior and played club for Ohio Elite Soccer Academy, helping the team to a 17-2 mark. He guided the club team to a pair of CASL Showcase Championships, as well as the 2013 Disney Showcase Championship where they beat the third-ranked club team in the nation, FC Dallas.
He helped Ohio Elite Soccer Academy achieve a top 25 national ranking and will pursue his maters in management in the Fall 2019.
Coach Barboto on Melink: "Ryan is a very versatile player, transferring in from University of Cincinnati to do graduate work in our prestigious computer science program. He is a strong, fast, and has a lot power to his game. He will add experience and leadership to our team."
Jason Ricca, MF, Bloomfield, NJ/Bloomfield
A four-year starter at Bloomfield High School, Ricca was a three-year captain, earning All-Conference and All-County first-team and All-State second-team honors.
Ricca, a 5-foot-6 midfielder, played club for Cedar Stars and intends to major in business at NJIT.
Coach Barboto on Ricca: "Jason is very quick, with good balance and agility. He is left footed and elusive on the dribble. He will add great depth to our midfield and attack"
Santiago Martinez, MF, Hackensack, NJ/Hackensack
Martinez, who was a part of the 2017 National Champions with St. Benedict's, finished his high school career at Hackensack High School.
The 5-foot-7 midfielder played club for the New York Red Bulls and intends to major in general engineering at NJIT.
Coach Barboto on Martinez: "Santiago is a very hard working midfielder who covers a lot of ground and has good vision on the field. His time at Red Bull Academy has made him mature beyond his years."
Andreas Nicolaou, D, Nicosia, Cyprus/The Grammer School
Nicolaou joins the Highlanders from Cyprus, an island in the Eastern Mediterranean. He attended The Grammer School in Nicosia, Cyprus and played for Anorthosis FC.
Nicolaou intends to major in computer engineering at NJIT.
Coach Barboto on Nicolaou: "Andreas brings experience and a high level of maturity. He is a very strong wing back that has a great engine to cover ground up and down the flank."
Samuel Reisgys, GK, Rimbach, Germany/Martin-Luther Gymnasium
Reisgys, comes from Rimbach, Germany after attending Martin-Luther Gymnasium.
The 6-foot-3 goalkeeper earned third-place of 22 with the Baden regional team at the DFB 18 national tournament in Duisburg in the Fall 2018.
He played club for SV Darmstadt (2014-16) and SV Walkdhof Mannheim 07 (2016-19).
Reisgys intends to major in business at NJIT.
Coach Barboto on Reisgys: "Samuel is a player coming from Germany where he plays in the very competitive Oberliga. He has great size and is agile and light on his feet for 6'3."
Joao Costa, D, Lisbon, Portugal/Lisbon/VCU
Costa comes to NJIT after playing one season at VCU.
A member of the Sporting Lisbon Academy U-19's, the Academy won a national championship in 2017.
The 5-foot-9 midfielder was a member of the Portuguese National Team in 2015 and 2016 and intends to major in business at NJIT.
Coach Barboto on Costa: "An all-around very technical player which can play as a central defender and in the midfield. He brings a wealth of experience coming from one of the best academies in Sporting form Portugal."
Jose Adames, D, Bilbao, Spain/El Salvador Maristas
Adames, a 5-foot-9 left back from Bilbao, Spain, attended El Salvador Maristas High School.
He was selected as 2017 Most Valuable Player at Phelps School and played club for Santutxu FC.
Adames intends to major in bio-chemistry at NJIT in the Fall.
Coach Barboto on Adames: "Jose is a very athletic and versatile defender. He can play center back or as a left back. He has a great engine to get up and down the field. He has good heading technique and good size which will strengthen our defensive."
Arrio Rusnak, D, Maui, Hawaii/Montverde Academy
Rusnak, who joins the Highlanders from Maui, Hawaii, guided Montverde Academy, which is located in Florida, in capturing the High School National Championship title.
The 6-foot center back played club for Alboraya U.D. and intends to major in business at NJIT.
Coach Barboto on Rusnak: "Arrio is a defender that we see playing as a central defender. He has played in Spain for a year in the prestigious U19 "division de honor.
Gabriel Souza, D, Cliffside Park, NJ/Bergen County Technical
Souza, a 6-foot-3 defender was a three-time USSDA Player and US Market Training Participant.
He took part in playing in Brazil's "Campeonato Mineiro" League and trained in Brazil with professional club Cruzeiro EC.
Souza played in Spain's MIC Cup, participated in ID2 Player Development Program and was selected co-captain for the CSA Monmouth U19.
Souza attended Bergen County Technical High School and intends to major in computer science/information technology at NJIT in the Fall.
Coach Barboto on Souza: "Gabriel has the size and technique to really add depth to our defensive line. He is a very intelligent defender and has good positional play."
Alejandro Rabell, F, Guaynabo, Puerto Rico/Baldwin School of Puerto Rico
Rabell joins the Highlanders from Guaynabo, Puerto Rico where he played club for the Bayamon FC and the Puerto Rican National team.
Bayamon FC captured the U15 and U17 titles twice and guided the Baldwin School of Puerto Rico to the PRHSAA Championship title twice.
Rabell intends to major in civil engineering at NJIT.
Coach Barboto on Rabell: "Alejandro is a very strong and fast attacking player. We think he will make an immediate impact to our attack with his penetrating passes and finishing quality. His experience with Puerto Rico Men's National Team will give him instant experience for D1 soccer."
Michael Gomez, D, North Arlington, NJ/Paramus Catholic
Gomez, from nearby North Arlington, attended Paramus Catholic High School.
The 5-foot-10 full back played club for Cedar Stars Academy and intends to major in business at NJIT.
Coach Barboto on Gomez: "Michael brings power, speed, and strong balance as a player. He will add plenty of depth to our back line and look to compete immediately for playing time."
