BEVERLY, Mass. — Endicott men's soccer head coach Joe Calabrese is pleased to announce his recruiting class for upcoming the 2018 season.
The class of 2022 features eight graduating high school seniors set to join the Gulls' program: Arian Pilja (Arlington, Mass.), Matthew Cronin (Glastonbury, Conn.), Anant Johnson (Laurel, Md.), Charles Badji (Dakar, Senegal), Trevor Murdock (Pembroke, Mass.), Peter Duda (Southbury, Conn.), Tyler Faria (West Warwick, R.I.), and Ian Laurin (Windsor, Mass.).
Coach Calabrese, heading into his eighth year at the helm of the program in 2018-19, had this to say about the group:
"We're looking forward to our 2018 preseason in August. We've put together a non-conference schedule featuring six programs who participated in the 2017 NCAA Tournament. The combination of our returning team, newly added transfers, and freshmen class has us excited for the 2018 season. We identified and recruited prospective student-athletes by positional need, their character, and their shared excitement to continue to pursue excellence as a soccer program at Endicott College. The recruits attended our recruiting camps or clinics, Endicott College Accepted Students Day, Endicott College Focus Days, Endicott College Informational Sessions, attended our games, and met with academic professors and deans."
The newest additions to the team will look to continue to build upon the success of last season as the Gulls went 13-5-3 overall and 6-1-2 in Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) play. Endicott also earned the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament where they went on to capture the program's first CCC title and advance to the NCAA DIII Tournament. The Gulls have now won 12 or more matches in each of the past four seasons with playoff appearances in each of the past eight years.
"I want to specifically thank our current players. Our players host our recruits during their official visits. Our players speak highly about our soccer program and Endicott College. It can't be understated how important their role is in us landing elite level players, likable guys, and players who understand our vision as a soccer program."
ENDICOTT MEN'S SOCCER 2018 RECRUITING CLASS
ARIAN PILJA | FULL BACK | 6-1/175 | ARLINGTON, MASS. | PHILLIPS EXETER ACADEMY | SEACOAST UNITED
Highlights: Won two Massachusetts state championships with Scorpions S.C. ...Played three years with Seacoast United Academy... Participated in u17 Bosnian National Team training camp... Voted MVP at Phillips Exeter Academy... Participated in NEPPSA All-Star game.
Why Endicott? "I chose Endicott because it is the perfect fit for me academically, and being able to participate in the internship program would be a great opportunity for me. Also, the soccer program is amazing, I really think I will be able to fit it with the team and improve my game with Coach Calabrese."
MATTHEW CRONIN | MIDFIELD | 5-10/145 | GLASTONBURY, CONN. | GLASTONBURY HS | OAKWOOD SOCCER CLUB
Highlights: 10 year Oakwood Soccer Player... 2015 Northeast Academy Champions... Ranked as #9 team in the Nation during the 2016-2017 Season... Qualified and competed in 3 consecutive Academy playoffs.
Why Endicott? "I chose Endicott because of the incredible and unmatched academic opportunities that the school offers its students. With one of the best internship programs in the country, I saw this as a way to learn from the world as I prepare for it. The soccer program under Coach Calabrese has proven year after year that it is not an average program, but one that pushes its members to work as a family to set new records and break old ones."
ANANT JOHNSON | BACK | 5-10/140 | LAUREL, MD. | MOUNT SAINT JOSEPH HS | BALTIMORE CELTIC
Highlights: 2017 USYSA National Champions... 2x USYSA National League champion... 2017 National League runner-up... 4x Maryland State Cup Champion... 2x USYSA Region 1 championships... U14 Boys National Team pool player... 2013 U.S. Club Soccer id2 camp participant... 2x team captain... 2017 MIAA Championship finalist... Received No. 1 ranking in the country for club soccer four times (2013, 2014, 2017, 2018).
Why Endicott? "I decided to come to Endicott because of the academic rigor that the school offers as well as the competitive but family-oriented soccer program. I believe that while I am attending Endicott, I will be able to thrive as a student based on the environment that the faculty and staff have created. I also believe that I have put myself in a soccer program that is guided by the right coaches and equipped with the best players. By carrying the family-like attitude, I believe I will grow as both a player and a person. I see a bright and successful future for Endicott, and I can't wait to be apart of it."
CHARLES BADJI | MIDFIELD | 6-1/186 | DAKAR, SENEGAL | BRIDGTON ACADEMY
Highlights: Starter during senior season at Harare International School... High school team came second in I.S.S.E.A (International Schools of Southern and East Africa) soccer tournament... All-Tournament team and Team MVP... Awarded Male Athlete of the Year at H.I.S in 2016
Why Endicott? "I chose Endicott College because it offers a great and small learning environment where I believe I can thrive as a student-athlete. Having to balance both school work and athletics will not always be easy, but Endicott has the support necessary for me to keep on track, better manage my time and will, in turn, better prepare me for the future."
TREVOR MURDOCK | FORWARD | 6-0/185 | PEMBROKE, MASS. | PEMBROKE HS | BRIDGTON ACADEMY | LIVERPOOL INTERNATIONAL
Highlights: Three-year varsity player... Captain senior year... Voted league All-Star during junior and senior years... Won league title two years in a row... Led team with eight goals and 11 assists during senior year.
Why Endicott? "I chose Endicott because of its tremendous campus, top-notch soccer program, and stellar internship program that is instrumental to my future in landing a job after college."
PETER DUDA | MIDFIELD | 5-3/135 | SOUTHBURY, CONN. | POMPERAUG HS | NORTH VALLEY CLUB
Highlights: Senior varsity captain... All SWC Conference First Team in 2017... CSCA Regional Senior Bowl starter... Three-year All SWC Conference Academic Team... Led team with eight goals and 11 assists during senior year... Three-time state quarterfinalist... Two-time SWC Conference runner-up... Played six years for CFC North Valley Club.
Why Endicott? "I chose Endicott because the mentality of the soccer program stood out to me more than any other school, and it provided amazing academic opportunity with its internship program. I wanted a place where I could challenge myself and have a memorable and enjoyable college experience. I will be provided with so many academic opportunities to ensure that I secure a great career after college, and playing soccer for a program that is growing with success every year is an honor. The team is such a tight-knit family which knows both how to have fun and how to compete, and I can't wait to be a part of it."
TYLER FARIA | FORWARD | 5-11/155 | WEST WARWICK, R.I. | WEST WARWICK HS | SEACOAST UNITED
Highlights: 2017 NEFC Preseason Tournament Champions... 2016 NPL National Cup XV Champions... 2016 Rhode Island Cup Champions... 2016 FC Delco Cup Champions... 2015 NEP State Cup RI Finalist... Three-year varsity player at Warwick High School... Two-time all-league selection.
Why Endicott? "I chose Endicott because of the new Engineering program the school is offering, the well-respected academic environment, and the internship program. I feel Endicott will allow me to thrive in the classroom by the class size being small and students getting to know the professors and work with them closely and also on the soccer field due to Coach Calabrese being driven to train me and the team to grow as players in the future."
IAN LAURIN | MIDFIELD | 5-6/142 | WINDSOR, MASS. | LENOX HS | WESTERN UNITED PIONEERS
Highlights: Four-year varsity player... Three-year Massachusetts Olympic Development Program player... Senior captain of high school team... 2017 Western Mass Tournament Champions... Three-year all Berkshire county player... Two-year All-Western Mass First-Team selection player... 2016 Western Mass second-place standing in goals assisted (12) for Lenox High... 2016 NPL State Cup Finalist for Western United Pioneers.
Why Endicott? "I chose to attend Endicott College because it provides me with a great opportunity with a four-year internship program, and sets its students up for a successful future. It offers the major in which I look to study, and the beautiful campus containing private beaches is a plus. Being a smaller school, Endicott provides a sense of community and family, and I felt this when I stepped foot on campus. Almost immediately did I know I wanted to be apart of the Endicott family."
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(Photo Credit - David Le '10)
