Concordia Soccer Finalizes 2013 Recruiting Class

6/19/2013 9:37:00 AM

Name	Hometown	Previous School
Ken Bodweski	Seattle, Wash.	Ballard H.S. (Walla Walla C.C.)
Francisco Casas	Portland, Ore.	De La Salle North H.S.
Ben Culpan	Auckland, New Zealand	Pakuranga College
Kevin Fischer	Stuttgart, Germany	Akademie für Kommunikation Stuttgart
Nick Herzberg	Fairbanks, Alaska	West Valley H.S. (Clark College)
Sam Johnson	Klamath Falls, Ore.	Henley H.S.
Evan Koris	Sacramento, Calif.	Pleasant Grove H.S. (Cosumnes River College)
Mitch McCaw	Calgary, Alberta	Central Memorial H.S.
Mason Sanchez	Coeur d'Alene, Idaho	Lake City H.S.
Joe Scott	Cheney, Colo.	Cheney H.S.
Kyle Wisker	Margate, England	Hartsdown Technology College

PORTLAND, Ore—Concordia men's soccer head coach Dan Birkey announced the signing of 11 new recruits to his 2013 recruiting class on Wednesday. The 11 new recruits join Evergreen's Timur Zhividze to give the Cavs 12 incoming players this fall.

The large batch of newcomers promise to add depth to the 2013 Concordia men's soccer team, which will be going for its fourth straight CCC title in the fall.

"This is an important group of incoming guys," Birkey said. "We expect a number of these boys to contribute right away. We needed to be stronger and deeper, and this recruiting class adds to our ball skills and attention to work rate.

"We also wanted boys with the right attitude, who are willing to learn, want to be at Concordia and commit to the Navy program. We have always been a working-class team and it's important to find enjoyable, quality guys that buy in, show respect for the tradition and get after it, our way."

The 11 new players who will train towards that end are: Ken Bodzewski, Francisco Casas, Ben Culpan, Kevin Fischer, Nick Herzberg, Sam Johnson, Evan Koris, Mitch McCaw, Mason Sanchez, Joe Scott and Kyle Wisker.

Of those, McCaw and Scott promise to add depth at goalkeeper for the Cavaliers, after senior goalkeeper Cole Dahle graduated last May. Dahle's graduation left the Cavs with only two goalkeepers, a year after injuries throughout the goalkeeping crew meant three different players started in goal for the Cavs.

McCaw comes to the Cavs straight out of Central Memorial High School in Calgary. There, McCaw led his team to a city championship as a senior, when he recorded five shutouts in goal, and added four goals and three assists.

"Mitch is very athletic within his 6-2 frame," Birkey said. "He has a fantastic work rate and has enormous potential for us. He's also a very intelligent player, and very positive as well."

Scott, meanwhile, comes to the Cavs after four years at Cheney High School in Cheney, Wash. Scott earned first-team all-league honors during his junior season at Cheney, when he led Cheney to its second WIAA state finalist finish during his career.

"Joe is a good shot-blocking goalkeeper," Birkey said. "He has a knack to be in the right place for critical saves."

Besides the goalkeepers, the Cavaliers also added three internationally born players in Culpan, Fischer and Wisker.

Culpan, who redshirted with the Cavaliers last season, comes to Cavs out of Auckland, New Zealand. There, Culpan played for a New Zealand-based side that toured England playing youth teams from Fulham, Aston Villa, Southampton and Carlton Athletic.

"Ben's got a hardy attitude," Birkey said. "He's quick, clever on the ball and has a whippy left boot."

Fischer, meanwhile, comes to the Cavs out of Ludwigsburg, Germany, and will join Gerrit Hamann and Arne Niermann to give the Cavs three German natives on the 2013 team. Fischer credits conversations with Niermann as an aide in bringing him to Concordia, and could potentially join Hamann in the midfield next season.

"Kevin's got a solid German football pedigree," Birkey said. "He's quick on his feet, has strong 1v1 skills and will be a good finisher for us next season."

Wisker, then, joins the Cavs out of Margate, England in the county of Kent. Wisker has been playing for local football clubs since before he was 10 in Kent, and most recently captained the Sandwich Technology College first team for two years, which Wisker included one appearance in the county final. Sandwich Academy is now a football academy for the Premier League's Chelsea FC.

"Kyle is a very bright and enthusiastic mid-park player," Birkey said. "His head is always up, he finds seams for passes, and works well off the ball, too."

The final six recruits are split between players transferring to the Cavs out of other schools—Bodzewski, Herzberg and Koris—and players coming straight out of high school—Casas, Johnson and Sanchez.

Of the players transferring, Bodzewski spent the last two seasons playing for Walla Walla Community College, after graduating from Ballard High School in Seattle, Wash. Bodzewski, a midfielder, was twice named to the NWAACC All-Conference All-Star team at Walla Walla, and was named to the All-KingCo first team in high school as well.

"Ken's got all the tools of an experienced midfielder," Birkey said. "He's sharp on the ball, has good passing vision and is a game-smart decision maker."

Herzberg, meanwhile, comes to the Cavs out of Clark College, after graduating from West Valley High School in Fairbanks, Alaska. Herzberg has experience all over the field, having played as a center back at Clark, and a striker in high school. Either way, Herzberg has earned accolades for his play, as he was twice named to the NWAACC All-Star game at Clark, and made the all-state team three times in high school.

"Nick was a mature and physical central defender at Clark," Birkey said. "He holds his ground, and will win battles. His attacking ability also gives us the option to call him forward on set pieces."

Koris, then, comes to the Cavs out of Cosumnes River College in Elk Grove, Calif., after graduating from Pleasant Grove High School. Like Herzberg, Koris has seen time all over the field in his career, as he was named the defensive MVP of his Cosumnes River College team, but led his high school team in goals and assists during his senior season.

"Evan could fit nicely in to the midfield or outside back roles," Birkey said. "He's quick and explosive, and has an optimistic attitude."

Meanwhile, of the players coming out of high school, Casas enters Concordia out of De La Salle North Catholic High School in Portland. Casas made the 2012 Special District I all-league team as a senior at De La Salle.

"Francisco's got a good engine," Birkey said. "He's got a persevering character as a player, and is quick in transition."

At the same time, Johnson comes to the Cavs out of Henley High School in Klamath Falls, Ore. Johnson was named the all-state second team as a senior at Henley High School, when he recorded 15 goals and six assists. Johnson also earned first-team all-conference honors during this junior season, when he recorded 12 goals and eight assists.

"Sam's very athletic within his 6-3 frame," Birkey said. "He's very hungry to learn and grow in the game. He'll always put in his full effort."

Finally, Sanchez comes to the Cavs out of Lake City High School in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. Sanchez was a four-year starter at center back for Lake City, where he was also a three-time all-league selection.

"Mason's a rugged player with a strong will to win," Birkey said. "He has the ability to play at various positions, and will be a solid addition to the team."

Together, the 11 new recruits will hope to put the Cavs in the NAIA National Championship for the fourth straight season.