NCAA champion Georgetown men’s soccer unveils No. 2 ranked recruiting class

WASHINGTON – Coming off of the 2019 NCAA Men’s Soccer National Championship, Georgetown University Head Men’s Soccer Coach Brian Wiese announced the signing of nine student-athletes to National Letters of Intent to play on the Hilltop.

The Class of 2024 is ranked No. 2 in the nation by TopDrawSoccer.com as the Blue & Gray looks to reload.

“We are really happy with this group of nine student-athletes. It is a big and talented class that is designed to be ready to take on the expectations and challenges of competing at a national level year in and year out. Mike Casper and Connor Klekota have done an outstanding job in helping put this group together, and we feel confident that they all fit the mold of a Georgetown soccer player,” said Wiese.  “All nine of them are capable of contributing right out of the gate, which will make next Fall the most competitive team for playing time that I’ve had in my time at Georgetown. I love the character that these young men will bring to the program both on and off the field.”

Trevor Burns
Midfielder
Southborough, Mass.
Algonquin Regional / New England Revolution
Prior to Georgetown: A four-year starter and two-year captain with the New England Revolution Academy squad … Team won the 2018-19 Northeast Development Academy Regular  Season and made the playoffs in 2017-18 and 2018-19 … A four-year member of the Principal’s List.

Dominic De Almeida
Defender
Lincoln Park, N.J.
Morris County School of Technology / PDA
Prior to Georgetown: Participated in U.S. Youth National Team Camps from U-14 to U-16, was a captain for the U.S. Youth National Team when it played in Croatia … Served as team captain while on the id2 National Selection International Tour … Club team was ranked among the top three in the nation where he was a four-year starter … PDA won the Atlantic Division in 2018-19 and made the playoffs in 2017, 2018 and 2019 … Was a club teammate of Kyle Linhares … Ranked No. 89 overall by TopDrawerSoccer.com  … Has studied sports medicine at his vocation high school for the past four years … Holds a NSAM Personal Training Certificate.

John Franks
Midfielder
Atlanta, Ga.
Woodward Academy / Atlanta United Futbol Academy
Prior to Georgetown: A three-year player in the USSDA with both Concorde Fire and Atlanta United Futbol Academy … Led United in scoring as was the fifth seed in the 2019 USSDA Playoffs advancing to the quarterfinals … Club teammates with Ryan Schewe … A member of the ODP Region 3 Team in 2015 and 2016 earning national all-star honors his final season … Ranked No. 63 overall by TopDrawerSoccer.com … A four-year member of the honor roll … Inducted into the National Honor Society … Will graduate Summa Cum Laude.

Chris Hegardt
Midfielder
San Diego, Calif.
Bellarmine Prep / Seattle Sounders
Prior to Georgetown: A four-year starter with the Sounders Academy … Team won the 2019 Generation adidas Cup, the Dallas Cup and has won a pair of California National Cups … Made his professional debut with the Sounders in 2019 … Ranked No. 73 overall by TopDrawerSoccer.com  … Sister Audrey played soccer at Santa Clara and brother Jared played soccer at Santa Clara and San Diego … A member of the National Honor Society …

Pranav Jha
Forward
Short Hills, N.J.
Pingry / PDA
Prior to Georgetown: A four-year starter and senior captain at The Pingry School … Named All-Somerset County, All-Skyland Conference and all-state in 2018 … Selected as a USA All-American and to USA Today’s All-USA squad his senior year … Team won its league in 2018 and 2019, was a state finalist his senior season … Scored 23 goals with 14 assists in his high school career … A four-year starter with PDA as the squad was ranked as one of the top three in the nation … Squad won the Atlantic Division in 2018-19 … Also a member of the baseball team leading the squad in home runs for a squad that has won a pair of state titles … A four-year member of the honor roll and president of the Wounded Warriors Club while also serving in Model Congress.

Kyle Linhares
Midfielder
Teaneck, N.J.
Dwight Morrow / PDA
Prior to Georgetown: A four-year starter with PDA as team won the Atlantic Division in 2018-19 and was ranked among the top three in the nation … Scored 48 career goals with PDA … Was a club teammate of Dominic De Almeida … Ranked No. 107 overall by TopDrawerSoccer.com … A four-year member of the honor roll … Member of his church Youth Group … Plays guitar, piano and drums …

Kenny Nielsen
Defender
Irvine, Calif.
University High School / Pateadores
Prior to Georgetown: A four-year starter with Pateadores … Served as captain of his Academy squad his final season … Spent time with the U-15 and U-17 United States Youth National Team … Has played overseas in Scotland with Pro Youth Tours as well as in Spain at the MIC Cup … Ranked No. 54 overall by TopDrawerSoccer.com.

Ryan Schewe
Goalkeeper
Marietta, Ga.
Holy Innocents’ Epicscopal / Atlanta United Futbol Academy
Prior to Georgetown: Played three years with Atlanta United Development Academy before transferring to Atlanta United Futbol Academy for three seasons … Club U-17 team advanced to the quarterfinals of the USSDA Playoffs … A club teammate of John Franks … Appeared internationally Costa Rica … A member of the honor roll, Dean’s List, and National Honors Society … Brother plays soccer at Davison College … Father, Scott, played football and basketball at the University of Pennsylvania.

Marlon Tabora Ponce
Forward
Rockville, Md.
Winston Churchill / Bethesda SC
Prior to Georgetown: A four-year starter with the Bethesda Soccer Academy … Named to US Soccer Development Academy Starting XI East Region as well as a United Soccer Coaches All American … Also earned US Soccer Development Academy Top Goal Scorer East Region  for U-17s … Has scored more than 50 goals in his club career … Ranked No. 74 overall by TopDrawerSoccer.com  … Was born in Honduras and moved to the United States when he was eight years old … Father Marlon received a post graduate degree from the McCourt School of Public Policy and is the Ambassador of Honduras to the United States.

Georgetown is the reigning national champion after a winning a 3-3 tie against the University of Virginia in penalty kicks in the championship game.  GU finished the season on a 17-game unbeaten streak dating back to September 24 at Louisville.  The squad won the BIG EAST Regular Season Championship as well as its third-consecutive tournament championship.  Individually, Georgetown had two players selected in the MLS SuperDraft and three All-Americans as well as winning three BIG EAST major awards.  The coaching staff was named the United Soccer Coaches National Coaching Staff of the Year.