BEVERLY, Mass. — Endicott men's soccer head coach Joe Calabrese is pleased to announce his recruiting class for the 2016 season.

The class of 2020 features nine high school seniors and two transfers joining the Gulls' program: Evan Couchot (Mason, Ohio), Victor DaCosta (Rehoboth, Mass.), Rieley Hoffman (Canton, Mass.), Emmanuel Kollie (Boston, Mass.), Frederick Marinelli (Burlington, Conn.), Jesse Martinez (Walpole, Mass.), Jacob Nason (North Yarmouth, Maine), Dario Neukom Izquierdo (Madrid, Spain), Xavier Polanco (Salem, Mass.), Slade Vincent (Douglas, Mass.). 

Coach Calabrese, heading into his sixth year at the helm of the program, had this to say about the group:

"Our staff and current team are excited to announce and welcome the 2016 recruiting class to Endicott, the Endicott soccer family, and the Gull Nation. The hard work of our current players, families, and coaching staff supported our efforts in landing this talented, tough, athletic, and attack-minded group of young men. This group of young men will certainly fill the positional voids we lost in this past year's graduating class of seniors. They'll continue to support us in our mission of creating a championship soccer culture at Endicott."

The newest flock of Gulls will look to build upon the success of the program, as Endicott (16-3-4) finished as the runner-up in both the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Championship and the Eastern College Athletic Association (ECAC) Division III New England Championship to complete the best season in recent program history. The team also celebrated its first-ever NSCAA All-American in sophomore back Carter Ocko (Danvers, Mass.).  

"I really believe they'll leave their stamp on Endicott soccer individually and collectively in the next three to four years," said Calabrese. "I used to get overly fired up by recruiting classes before they ever stepped on the field at Endicott. That's not the case anymore. This group will first prove their worth in an academic setting and secondly on the soccer field. We'll give this recruiting class a letter grade after four years." 

Endicott returns to the pitch on Friday, September 2 when the Gulls open the 2016 campaign at home against Carthage in the North Shore Invitational.

*transfer student-athletes

EVAN COUCHOT | FORWARD | 6-1/170 | MASON, OHIO 

Highlights: 2015 Sectional, District, and Regional Division 1 Ohio Champions... Ohio State Semi-Finalist... Two-time GMC League Champions... 2015 First Team All-Conference... 2014 Second Team All-Conference... Southwest Ohio All-Star

Why Endicott? "I chose Endicott because of the great academic and athletic opportunities. Not only is the school in a great location, it is a community of people working hard to achieve success."

VICTOR DACOSTA | FORWARD | 5-11/160 | REHOBOTH, MASS.

Highlights: Transfer from Franklin Pierce University... Played in 16 games last season with four starts... Scored three goals as a freshman... A four-year starter at Dighton-Rehoboth Regional High School (Mass.)... Two-time Mass All-State selection.. Taunton Gazette Player of the Year as a senior and All-Star selection as a junior... Two-time Sun Chronicle All-Star... Two-time Eastern Massachusetts All-Star... Two-time All-League selection... Graduated third in school history in points... Ended up totaling 42 goals and 26 assists in high school career... Was a team captain senior year... Played at the club level for Explosion FC and Bayside FC... Two-time team captain with Explosion FC, which captured the 2013 Cape Cod Classic title... Senior year captured state and regional titles with Bayside FC

Why Endicott? "My main reason for transferring to Endicott is because of its incredible campus and its well respected Sport Management program. Endicott is in a great location and has amazing facilities. The soccer team really impressed me with their motivation to win and to be successful. They have an incredible coaching staff and a lot of talented players. I'm really looking forward to playing at Endicott."

RIELEY HOFFMAN | MIDFIELD | 5-11/155 | CANTON, CONN.

Highlights: Senior year team captain at Canton High School... 2015 NCCC All-Conference, 2015 Class S All-State, 2015 All-Courant, 2015 Region II State Senior Bowl Participant... Scored 14 goals with 16 assists as a senior... 2014 NCCC All-Conference, 2014 Class S All-State, 2014 All-Courant Team, 2014 Team MVP... Scored 13 goals with 14 assists as a junior... Oakwood Soccer Club Captain

Why Endicott? "I chose Endicott College for multiple reasons. The campus is ideal as it is right by the water, and also the perfect distance from home. In addition, the attractive internship requirements as well as the rising soccer program stood out in comparison to other schools. The unique balance between academics and athletics at the Division III level is going to help me excel and become successful in the future. "

EMMANUEL KOLLIE | FORWARD | 5-7/160 | BOSTON, MASS.

Highlights: 2011-2013 MA Olympic Development Program (ODP) Select Team... Played three years in the US Soccer Development Academy for the New England Revolution Academy (USSDA) before joining FC Blazers club team... Led the FC Blazers club team at the left midfield position in assists... Won the Massachusetts State Cup in 2014 and 2015 ... Won the Disney Soccer Tournament, Two-time Potomac Tournament, and Region 1 Championship League... During the 2013-2014 season, his club team was the number one ranked club team in the country... Highest goal scorer all three years while at Catholic Memorial... Two-time Catholic Conference League All-Star, Catholic Conference League MVP, two-time Eastern Massachusetts All-Star, Eastern Massachusetts All-Star game MVP

Why Endicott? "I chose Endicott because of its strong internship program and because of Coach Calabrese. He has a good heart with an even better personality. He'll do things for the interest of others and he's someone I would love to be mentored by for the next four years. Also when I did my visit, the boys on the team seemed like a good group of guys and I felt like I was part of a family. They share the same love of soccer as I do."

FREDERICK MARINELLI | FORWARD/MIDFIELD | 6-0/185 | BURLINGTON, CONN.

Highlights: FSA FC United Soccer Player... Lewis S. Mills Boys Soccer Coaches Award... Berkshire League Champions (2012-2015)... Two-time Class M State Semifinalist... Class M Quarter Finalist... Two-year team captain of Lewis S. Mills High School... Four-time All-League... Two-time All-State, All-New England, All-Region... Named Most Outstanding Player in the league

Why Endicott? "I chose Endicott not only because I've loved the campus since the first day I saw it, but because of all of the other amenities it has to offer. From the outstanding internship program to the new business building— I loved it all. Not to mention I wanted to play soccer in college, and the Endicott men's soccer team made it to the division championship. Endicott will better me as a player, and also prepare me for life after college."

JESSE MARTINEZ | MIDFIELD | 5-6/155 | WALPOLE, MASS.

Highlights: At Milton Academy, started in every game as a junior and a senior... Led team in assists as a junior and senior... 2013 NEPSAC Class A Quarterfinalist (14-4-1)... 2014 NEPSAC Class A Semi-Finalist (17-1-3 team record)... Vice Captain as senior... In post-graduate year at Pomfret, started every game... Led team in assists... 2015 NEPSAC Class B Quarterfinalist... NEPSSA All-Star... All-WNEPSSA Team

Why Endicott? "I chose Endicott for a couple of reasons. One of them is the school's internship program. With the help of an internship, I will be able to put the lessons I learn in the classroom and translate them to the real world. Another reason I chose this school was the rising soccer program. With the work that the players and coaches are doing, this program is quickly becoming one of the top ones in the country. I know that I will grow on and off the soccer field while at Endicott."

JACOB NASON | MIDFIELD | 6-0/170 | NORTH YARMOUTH, MAINE

Highlights: Captain of Greely Varsity Soccer team... 2014 & 2015 U20 PDL reserve team... Called up to PDL for a roster position in 2014... Class B State Champions 2013... Four-time Western Maine All-Conference First Team... Four-time Western Maine State All-Star Team... Three-time Western Maine Class B Regional All-Star Team... Class B Western Leading Scorer 2012 (16), 2013 (18), & 2015 (22)... Premier State Champions U12, U13, U14, U16 & U17, Super Y League ODP... Camp Invitee 2012 & 2013

Why Endicott? "I chose to attend Endicott because I'll be receiving a quality education and also become part of the Endicott Men's Soccer Family."

DARIO NEUKOM IZQUIERDO | MIDFIELD | 6-1/187 | MADRID, SPAIN

Highlights: In 2009, champion of Mallorca U15 with the team Rotlet-Molinar... Top scorer of Mallorca for three years in a row... Played in the second division of Madrid on the team Moratalaz where he played against Real Madrid U18... Won the league of Primera Regional on the team Barrio de la Concepción last season

Why Endicott? "The main reason why I chose Endicott is because it's a perfect combination of soccer and academics. I am transferring from an American college in Madrid to finish my last two years at Endicott. Soccer is my passion and I feel that at Endicott I will be able to show what I am able to do."

LIAM O'SHEA | FORWARD | 5-8/155 | MILLBURY, MASS.

Highlights: Scored 27 goals with 14 assists at Millbury High... Recorded second-most points in Central Massachusetts... MA All-State All-Star, League MVP, Worcester T&G All-Star... Three-time Central MA All-Star... Three-time First Team League All-Star, Two-time Central MA tournament semifinalist... Two-time league champion

Why Endicott? "Endicott is appealing from the beauty of the campus alone, but I mainly chose it because of its respected business department, internship opportunities, living style, and elite soccer program. From my many visits, I felt at home."

XAVIER POLANCO | MIDFIELD | 5-11/155 | SALEM, MASS.

Highlights: North Shore United MA state cup champions four years in a row... Four-time ODP First Team... Seacoast United Developmental Academy for five years

Why Endicott? "I chose Endicott because I felt it was the best place for me to thrive and develop academically and for soccer. Coach Cal had a big influence on me coming to Endicott. What he is trying to accomplish with this program really appealed to me and I really wanted to be a part of it."

SLADE VINCENT | FORWARD | 5-8/158 | DOUGLAS, MASS.

Highlights: Three-year varsity player at Douglas High School... Totaled 11 goals and 14 assists... Was a DVC All-Star as a junior and helped lead team to the district finals... Transferred to Pomfret as a repeat junior... Totaled six goals and five assists and helped lead the team to a playoff berth junior year... Totaled 10 goals and five assists his senior year while missing five games due to an injury... Was also a NEPSSA All-Star senior year

Why Endicott? "I chose Endicott not only for the stellar soccer program, but for the great academics and internship program. I believe Endicott is the best place for me on and off the field."