Men’s Soccer inks 11 for 2018 campaign

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University of Evansville men’s soccer head coach Marshall Ray led the Purple Aces to a second-straight 10 win season in 2017 and looks to keep the success rolling with the announcement of 11 signees to the program.

“We have a solid core returning from our 2017 team, but with the departures of our senior class there are roles to fill for the 2018 season,” said Aces head coach Marshall Ray.  “We have returning players who we will step up and assume those responsibilities, but also anticipate our 2018 class will come in and provide support and compete for time the day training camp starts.  We are excited to get these guys to Evansville and have them continue their soccer careers on the north bank of the Ohio River.”

Evansville is coming off a 2017 campaign that saw Ray lead his squad to its second-straight double-digit win season and the 29th winning season in program history. Amassing an 11-8-2 record, the Aces advanced to the semifinals of the MVC Tournament before falling in penalty kicks.  The back-to-back double-digit win seasons were the first since the 1995 and 1996 seasons. At the conclusion of the year, Evansville ended the season as the highest rated MVC program in the RPI.

The Aces’ 2018 signing class includes forwards Jakub Hall (West Lafayette, Ind.) and Riley Hogan (West Lafayette, Ind.), midfielders Ben Godden (Carmel, Ind.), Ryan Harris (Franklin, Tenn.), James Pearce (Memphis, Tenn.), Seth Strader (Calvert, Ky.), and Brian Zambrano (Des Plaines, Ill.), wingers Davis Peck (Gilbert, Ariz.) and Logan Muck (Independence, Ky.) and defenders Ryan Albrinck (Cincinnati, Ohio) and Johan Helander (Malmo, Sweden).

WELCOME YOUR 2018 ACES

 

Seth Strader

Midfielder – Calvert, Ky.

 

Ray went back to his roots for Seth Strader, a midfielder from Marshall County High School in Benton, Ky.; the Aces’ head coach himself also starred for the Marshall County Marshalls.  Strader comes to the Aces after amassing six goals and six assists in his senior year at Marshall County. As a junior for the Marshalls, Strader recorded 18 assists, placing him in the top 10 in assists in the state.

Ryan Albrinck

Defender – Cincinnati, Ohio

 

Joining Strader from the Midwest is Ryan Albrinck a defender from Cincinnati, Ohio. Albrinck was a three-year varsity starter at LaSalle High School where he played in the midfield as a sophomore and forward as a junior before moving to center back for his final prep season. At LaSalle, Albrinck recorded 29 points and eight game-winning goals in his career while helping lead the Lancers to GCL and district championships in 2017.

Ben Godden

Midfielder – Carmel, Ind.

 

Another Midwest product joins the Aces in Carmel, Ind. midfielder Ben Godden. The Carmel High School product joins Evansville after being named team captain for at each level of Greyhounds soccer and earning recognition as Indiana Soccer Coaches Association Top Team Player. While with the Greyhounds, Godden helped lead Carmel to a sectional championship in 2016 and a semi-state appearance in 2015. In club action, Godden and Hoosier F.C. Elite Wolves 99 Boys were ranked the #1 club team in the state and earned an appearance in the State Cup semifinals.

Riley Hogan

Forward – West Lafayette, Ind.

 

The second Indiana native to join the Aces is West Lafayette, Ind. forward Riley Hogan. Playing for William Henry Harrison High School, Hogan scored eight goals and four assists and led the Raiders to a 2017 IHSAA 3A State Championship. Hogan was named all-conference and all-area, as well as academic all-state for his efforts. With his club team, Indiana Fire Developmental Academy, Hogan shined with two goals against Vardar Academy, the fifth-ranked club in the nation.

Jakub Hall

Forward – West Lafayette, Ind.

 

Joining Hogan from William Henry Harrison High School is his teammate forward Jakub Hall. Born in Bratislava, Slovakia, Hall enjoyed a prolific prep career for both the Raiders and his club team, Boilers FC. In his high school career, Hall amassed 78 goals and 34 assists with 41 goals and 10 assists in his senior campaign with the Raiders, leading Harrison to an IHSAA State Championship. Hall was named first-team all-state in 2017 along with being named to the all-American game watchlist. The West Lafayette, Ind. native was the state leader in goals and points in 2017 and is the school record holder in season and career goals.

Logan Muck

Winger – Independence, Ky.

 

Continuing the string of Midwestern players coming to the Aces is winger Logan Muck. A native of Independence, Ky., Muck joins Evansville following a successful prep career with Newport Central Catholic and Kings Hammer Academy Red 2000. With Newport Central Catholic, Muck recorded 46 goals and 21 assists for 113 career points, placing himself in third in all-time goals and all-time points for his high school. For his efforts, Muck was named first-team all-state, first-team all-region, and first-team all-tournament for the Ninth Region Tournament as a senior, while also being named to the 2017 Cincinnati Enquirer Northern Kentucky All-Star first team. In his time with Kings Hammer Academy Red 2000, Muck helped lead his club to three state cup championships.

Brian Zambrano

Midfielder – Des Plaines, Illinois

 

The final player joining Evansville from the Midwest is midfielder Brian Zambrano. The Des Plaines, Illinois native played his high school soccer at Wheeling High School and club soccer for Sockers FC Chicago. With Wheeling High School, Zambrano started 13 games and tallied five goals and seven assists. In club play with Zambrano in the midfield, Sockers FC Chicago earned the 2017 Illinois Men’s Metropolitan League title for the first time in league history and also captured the High School Boys 2000 NISL D1 League championship.

Davis Peck

Winger – Gilbert, Ariz.

 

Moving out west, winger Davis Peck joins the Aces. A native of Gilbert, Arizona, Peck played his high school soccer for Seton Catholic Preparatory where Peck was named team MVC, offensive player of the year and all-section first-team after scoring 22 goals and recording 13 assists in 14 games. Peck saw further success with his club side, SC Del Sol. While with SC Del Sol, Peck was coached by former Evansville assistant Tony Colavecchia as Peck helped lead them to state championships in 2011 and 2016 and state runner-up finishes in 2010, 2014, and 2015. From 2010-11, Peck was invited to the United States Soccer Training Center and was part of the Olympic Development Program from 2010-13.

James Pearce

Midfielder – Memphis, Tenn.

 

Switching from the west coast to the south, James Pearce comes to Evansville from Memphis, Tenn. Playing for his high school, Christian Brothers, and his club team, Lobos Rush Premier­, Pearce saw success often. With Christian Brothers, Pearce was named an all-metro player in 2017 and helped lead his team to a state championship in 2016. In his club career with Lobos Rush Premier, Pearce took his team to the state championship four-straight seasons.

Ryan Harris

Midfielder – Franklin, Tenn.

 

Joining Pearce from Tennessee is midfielder Ryan Harris from Franklin, Tenn. Harris played his high school soccer for Centennial High School, recording 10 goals and five assists during the 2016-17 season. For his efforts, Harris was named District Player of the Year and Offensive Player of the Year in 2016 and TSSAA District 11-AAA District Tournament Team three times over his career. For his club side the Tennessee Soccer Club, Harris helped lead TSC to a top-half of the table finish in the ECNL.

Johan Helander

Defender – Malmo, Sweden

 

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