Lehigh head coach Dean Koski announced the addition of eight new Mountain Hawks on Monday.
A goalkeeper from Chester County and a midfielder/forward from central New Jersey highlight an incoming recruiting class for Lehigh men's soccer that includes eight players from eight different states.
The goalkeeper from our area is Conestoga High School senior Will Smith, who will join former Conestoga players Danny Gonzales and David Zipkin on the squad. Smith is from Devon and plays club soccer for Lehigh Valley United in the U.S. Development Academy.
Nick Facendo is an attacking player from Freehold, N.J., who plays club soccer for Wall SC and starred at Freehold Township High School. His two goals led the Patriots to a Central Jersey Group 4 championship in November.
The two players from the greater Philadelphia region will be joined by a group of five others competing for clubs in the U.S. Development Academy, including SC Battery defender Nolan Coulter of South Carolina, Vardar Academy attacking player Tommy Dokho from Michigan, Concorde Fire goalkeeper Ian Marshall of Georgia, Weston FC defender/midfielder Matthew Peralta of Florida, and Lonestar SC midfielder Zarin Tuten of Texas. Rounding out the class that will graduate in 2020 is Danny Leszczynski, a defender from Connecticut who plays for Academica FC.
South Carolina defender Nolan Coulter, Vardar Academy attacking player Tommy Dokho of Michigan, Connecticut defender Danny Leszczynski, Georgia goalkeeper Ian Marshall, Florida defender/midfielder Matthew Peralta and Texas defender/midfielder Zarin Tuten.
"Two goalkeepers, two center backs, two outside backs and two forwards rounds out a terrific group of young player into our system," head coach Dean Koski said in a news release. "(Assistant Coaches) Ryan Hess and Matt Deming were instrumental during the recruiting process and our ability to identify players from Texas, Michigan, South Carolina, Florida and Georgia is an indication of how much work was involved in completing this class."
Lehigh posted a 13-6-3 record in 2015, earning a bid to the NCAA Tournament with a 2-1 win over American in the Patriot League Championship before losing in the first round 2-1 to Hofstra. Philadelphia Union Academy alumnus Doyle Tuvveson was fourth on the team in points with 4 goals and 6 assists on the year.