Army welcomes 10 recruits from MLS NEXT and ECNL youth clubs to West Point

WEST POINT, N.Y. – Army West Point men’s soccer team will welcome ten new faces to the program going into the 2023 season, as announced by head coach Brian Plotkin.

In addition, the Black Knights will return 20 cadet athletes to the team from last year’s squad which saw the Black Knights win the Patriot League Regular Season title for the first time in over 25 seasons.

Jubril Bamgbala
Forward | North Providence, RI
Prior to West Point: Member of La Salle Academy Varsity Soccer…First Honors… All-State, All-Conference ECNL, All-Tournament team selection…State champion… Played club soccer with Bayside FC MLS Next.

Curtis Boozer
Defender | Los Angeles, CA
Prior to West Point: Senior captain of Crossroads School Varsity Soccer…All-CIF First Team… Gold Coast MVP… Played club soccer with LA Breakers FC in the ECNL.

Kelly Cooper
Defender | Atlanta, GA
Prior to West Point: Member of Riverwood Charter School soccer team… Two-time Georgia High School All-State First Team selection… Georgia High School Class 6A Region Player of the Year… ECNL Southeast All-Conference First Team… Riverwood High School Principals List… National Honors Society… International Baccalaureate Program… Played club soccer with NASA.

Riley Cullum
Midfielder | Brooksville, FL
Prior to West Point: Member of Nature Coast Technical High Varsity Soccer…Played club soccer with Atlanta United FC Academy.

Owen Ennis
Defender | North Kingstown, RI
Prior to West Point: Member of North Kingstown High School Varsity Soccer… First Team All-Division… All-Tournament Team… Principal Honor Roll… National Honor Society… Played club soccer with Bayside FC.

Gage Lyons
Forward | Washington, DC
Prior to West Point: Member of McLean High School Varsity Soccer… National Honor Society… ECNL All-Mid Atlantic Conference First Team… Top scorer in playoffs and regular season… MLS Next Top Scorer Mid-Atlantic Regular Season… District and Regional Player of The Year… All-Met Player of The Year… Holds McLean High School record for goals… FCPS record for most goal contributions in singular game… Played club soccer with SYC MLS Next.

Colin McCarthy
Midfielder | Crofton, MD
Prior to West Point: Member of Severn School Varsity soccer… MIAA Conference Champion… Two-Time Severn School Team MVP… All-State Team… Three-time All-Conference First Team… All-Met Team … Three-time All-County selection…Appeared in National League and ECNL… Captain of the Inaugural Futures International Champions Cup (ICC), selected as Best IX and Coaches MVP… Severn School Honor Roll… USMAPS Honor Roll… Played club soccer with Pipeline SC.

Reef McGee
Midfielder | Jacksonville, FL
Prior to West Point: Member of Fletcher High Varsity Soccer… National Honor Society … Played club soccer with Jacksonville FC…Graduated with AICE Program Diploma.

Owen Mejia
Defender | Noblesville, IN
Prior to West Point: Captain of Noblesville High School Varsity Soccer… First-Team All-District… Noblesville Varsity Soccer MVP… Indiana High School Men’s Soccer 3a State Champion… Academic All-State and Latin Academic Honors (Magna Cum Laude)…Played club soccer with Indiana Fire Academy & Indy Eleven USL Academy.

Owen Spore
Goalkeeper | St. Louis, MO
Prior to West Point: Member of St. Louis Priory High School Varsity soccer… High Honor Roll… Graduated Cum Laude… Played club soccer with STL City SC.

The Black Knights open the season with two exhibition games at Marist (Aug. 12, 7:00 p.m.) and at Rider (Aug. 19, 6:00 p.m.) before beginning the season with a big home opener at Malek Stadium against Air Force (Aug. 24, 7:00 p.m.).