NEWARK, NJ–With the start of the 2023 season less than a month away, NJIT men's soccer head coach Fernando Barboto, who is entering his eighth season at the helm of the Highlanders, announced the addition of 16 newcomers.
The incoming class will be joining a Highlander squad that advanced to the America East Conference Tournament the last three consecutive seasons.
Listed below is the full 2023 men's soccer recruiting class along with a short biography on each player:
Alvaro Heredia, Castellon, Spain, Midfielder, Xavier
Heredia comes to NJIT after playing one season at Xavier. He started 14 matches with two starts and scored his first collegiate goal against DePaul on October 15, 2022.
He played for CSD Castellon Academy, capturing the league title five consecutive years.
Heredia intends to major in Industrial Engineering.
Barboto Quote: " A very talented and experienced player coming to us from Xavier. He is very skillful and elusive with the ball. He improvises very well in small spaces and will make an immediate impact."
David Santiago, Lleida, Catalonia, Spain, Goalkeeper, St. Francis BK
Santiago joins the Highlanders from St. Francis Brooklyn where he started 21 matches in goal for the Terriers, combining for 68 total saves and an 11-7-3 overall record, including seven shutouts.
A 2021 NEC All-Conference second-team selection and two time NEC Fall Academic Honor Roll honoree (2021, 2020), Santiago recorded six clean sheets in 2021 in addition to 57 saves and a 1.089 goals against average.
Prior to St. Francis Brooklyn Santiago competed for Lleida Esportiu. He represented the club in the División de Honor youth competition and completed his studies at INS Maria Rúbies.
Santiago will pursue his masters in Management.
Barboto Quote: "David comes to the program with Division I experience (21 matches started at St. Francis Brooklyn). He controls his goalkeeper box extremely well and is expected to push all of our goalkeepers and make a run for the top spot."
Ramchwy St. Vil, Brooklyn, NY, Midfielder, St. Francis BK
Ramchwy comes to NJIT after attending St. Francis Brooklyn for three seasons. He played in a total of 40 matches, including 23 starts, tallying five goals, seven assists for 17 points. In 2020, he was named to the NEC All-Rookie Team and Fall NEC Academic Honor Roll. He recorded the team's second-highest point total (7) on two goals and three assists.
In High School, Ramchwy attended MLK High School in Manhattan. He earned academic honors for achieving a GPA of 85% or higher and intends to major in Financial Technology.
Barboto Quote: "Ramchwy joins us from St. Francis BK. He is a strong and powerful defender with a great left foot. He will help us compete physically in the American East."
Kendell Thomas, Brooklyn, NY, Defender, Iona
Thomas comes to NJIT after a career at Iona, playing in 13 career matches with four starts on the backline for the Gaels. He scored his first career goal, a game-winner against NJIT on September 6, 2021.
Thomas was recognized at Iona Honors Convocation as part of Sigma Nu Tau (Entrepreneurship) and earned Iona Athletics Merit Award for maintaining 3.5 or better cumulative GPA
A three-time MAAC All-Academic selection and Academic Honor Roll honoree, Thomas will pursue his masters in Business Administration.
Barboto Quote: "A central defender with plenty of experience coming from Iona. He has size, speed and passing ability to really impact our team."
Furkan Yildirim, Berlin, Germany, Midfielder, Niagara
Yildirim comes to NJIT after playing at Illinois Central College, Gannon University and most recently Niagara. At Niagara, he played in 19 matches, including seven starts.
He played club for SV Empor Berlin and intends to major in Management.
Barboto Quote: "Furkan joins us from Niagara University for his graduate year. He will add experience and leadership to our midfield. We are excited for him to be a Highlander."
Sebastian Sunol, San Jose, Costa Rica, Forward, Futbol Consultants
Comes to NJIT from San Jose, Costa Rica after attending Blue Valley School and playing for Futbol Consultants. Two-time member of the U15 Champions LIASCE and top goal scorer.
Sunol intends to major in Financial Technology.
Barboto Quote: "A very quick and sharp attacking player. He comes to us with good playing experience playing at a high level in Costa Rica and adds to our attack."
Cristian LoGrasso, Montville, NJ, Midfielder, Queensboro FC
Attended Montville Township High School and played for Queensboro FC.
LoGrasso intends to major in Finance.
Barboto Quote: "A very technical midfielder who is a very good passer. He has a high soccer IQ and will add talent to our midfield."
Andres Lazo, Montville, NJ, Midfielder, FC Copa
Guided Montville High School to two State Sectionals and Conference Championship. He earned first and second team All-County in addition to All Group 3 and All-Conference selections.
Lazo played club for FC Copa and intends to major in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering.
Barboto Quote: "Andres is a very talented player with great size, speed, maturity and has excellent 1v1 ability to take players on."
Jake Rubis, Wayne, NJ, Midfielder, FC Copa
A two-time All-State and All-County selection, Rubis was a four-year letterwinner at Wayne Valley High School.
He played for FC Copa and was also a member of the Wayne Valley track and field team, earning second-team all-league.
Rubis intends to major in Business.
Barboto Quote: "Jake is extremely technical on the ball and is very quick. He will be a great addition to our midfield."
Bryan Sanchez, Toms River, NJ, Midfielder, Cedar Stars Academy
Attended Toms River (South) High School South and played for the Cedar Stars Academy.
Sanchez was an MLS NEXT quarterfinalist, ranking No. 9 in the class.
He intends to major in Computer Science.
Barboto Quote: "Bryan is very quick and agile on the ball. A very talented player with plenty of versatility around the field."
Jakub Cielak, Defender, Sayreville, NJ, Saint Joseph (Metuchen)
Attended Saint Joseph High School Metuchen with Giancarlos Garay.
A three-time All-Conference first team, three-time All-County first team and two-time All-State first team honoree, Cielak led the team with 12 goals during his senior campaign.
He intends to major in Forensic Science.
Barboto Quote: "Jakub has excellent qualities to play on the flanks. He is quick, technical and sees the game in front of him quite well."
Riley Tait, Defender, Staten Island, NY, Cedar Stars
Tait helped guide Monsignor Farrell to their first CHSAA Intersectional AA Championship crown in over 21 years. Tait broke a scoreless tie with a goal late in the first half of the title match against Archbishop Stepinac.
He played for Cedar Stars and qualified for the U17 MLS Next Playoffs.
Tait intends to major in computer science.
Barboto Quote: "Riley is a very strong and athletic player. He is a hard nosed defender with a good left foot and will add depth to our team."
Nathaniel Anevski, Forward, Wayne, NJ, FC Copa
Attended Wayne Valley where he was selected as an All-State, All-County and All-League honoree. A team captain as a senior and was the team's leading goal scorer.
He played for FC Copa and intends to major in Concrete Industry Management.
Barboto Quote: "Nate is a strong winger who has plenty of speed and power. He has the ability to take players out wide and score goals as a flank player."
Giancarlos Garay, Midfielder, Perth Amboy, NJ, FC Copa
Attended Saint Joseph High School Metuchen, earning All-Greater Middlesex Red Division Team, GMC All-Division and All-State second team.
Garay was an NJ State team member, guiding FC Delco to an NJ State Cup title and played for FC Copa.
He intends to major in cybersecurity.
Barboto Quote: "A strong midfielder that is tenacious and hard working. He is technical and will add depth to our midfield."
Aseong Choi, Forward, Yangsan, South Korea, Herkimer College
Choi joins the Highlanders after one season at Herkimer College, who finished with a 14-1-1 overall record and advanced to the NJCAA National Semifinal game. He appeared in 13 matches, including four starts. He combined for four goals, one assist for nine points.
Barboto Quote: "Aseong joins us from Herkimer College where he had an impressive season as their forward. We look forward to Aseong scoring many goals here at NJIT."
Matthew Heffernan, Forward, Dallas, TX, Merrimack College
Heffernan joins the Highlanders after playing at Merrimack College. For his career, he played in 19 matches with one start.
In High School, Heffernan was a four-year letterwinner at Marcus High School in Texas. His team was ranked #2 inTexas and #17 in the nation in 2019. A first-team All-District and State (2019, 2018), he was selected Newcomer of the Year during his freshman campaign.
He played for Denton Diablos FC in the National Premier Soccer League and won the Roja League and Most Valuable Player Award in 2020.
Heffernan will pursue his Master's of Business Administration - Marketing.
Barboto Quote: "Matt joins us from Merrimack College for his graduate year. He will strengthen our attack and give us more options going forward."
