Georgetown men’s soccer announces No. 3 ranked recruiting class for 2023

WASHINGTON – Georgetown University Head Men’s Soccer Coach Brian Wiese will welcome six newcomers to the Hilltop for the 2023 campaign.

The Class of 2026 is ranked third in the nation by TopDrawerSoccer.com as the Hoyas continue to bring in some of the top talent in the country.

“We are excited to welcome this group of six Hoyas to the Georgetown soccer family in August,” said Wiese. “They are all fiercely competitive and all capable of stepping on the field and contributing in year one if needed. Michael Casper and Connor Klekota have once again done an amazing job of scouring the country and finding great fits for our program and the things that we value.”

See below for a look at the incoming unit of new Hoyas:

JACK HEAPS
Midfielder
5-10 | 145
Birmingham, Ala. / Mountain Brook

• Prior to Georgetown: A four-year starter and captain at Mountain Brook … Named the 2022 Alabama Gatorade Player of the Year and earned United Soccer Coaches All-America, United Soccer Coaches Alabama Player of the Year and United Soccer Coaches All-Region in 2022 … A two-time United Soccer Coaches First Team All-State selection and three-time All-Metro honoree … Team won the 2022 6A State Championship … Holds career goals, career points and season goals record at Mountain Brook … Also a member of the basketball team … Played club with Alabama FC ECNL and the Birmingham Legion FC Academy … Served as a four-year captain and starter for Alabama FC as the team qualified for nationals in all four years and he led the team in goals … A three-time All-ECNL selection and named to the 2021 ECNL National Selection Game … Earned the Spanish Seal of Biliteracy … A member of the National Honor Society, the Spanish Honor Society and Mu Alpha Theta Honor Society … Father Jay is the president and general manager of the Birmingham Legion soccer team.

MATTHEW HELFRICH
Midfielder
5-9 | 160
McLean, Va. / McLean

• Prior to Georgetown: Played club with Bethesda Soccer Club serving as a captain and a starter for all four years … Team advanced to the MLS Next Round of 16 in 2022 … Earned a National Merit Scholarship Program Letter of Commendation … Participated in McDanceathon and the Geography Club … Father Dan Helfrich was a soccer standout for the Hoyas and earned both an undergrad and MBA from Georgetown, he also serves as GU’s play-by-play announcer.

ERIC HOWARD
Midfielder
5-10 | 150
Redmond, Wash. / Eastside Catholic

• Prior to Georgetown: A member of Crossfire Premier for the past nine years … Was a three-year captain and four-year starter for Crossfire … Team won the 2021-22 ECNL National Championship as well as the ECNL Northwest Conference … A two-time ECNL All-Conference honoree earning first team honors in 2020-21 and second team in 2021-22 … Named ECNL National Selection Game … Ranked No. 130 in the Class of 2023 by Top Drawer Soccer … A member of the high honor roll.

MATEO PONCE OCAMPO
Midfielder
5-9 | 140
Harrison, N.Y. / Harrison

• Prior to Georgetown: Played club with New York City FC starting all four years … Was teammates with Oliver Stafford … Ranked No. 52 in the Class of 2023 by Top Drawer Soccer … A four-year member of the honor roll … Participates in the Ping Pong Club … Brother Santiago played soccer at the University of Rochester.

OLIVER STAFFORD
Defender
5-9 | 155
Katonah, N.Y. / Fordham Prep

• Prior to Georgetown: Played club with New York City FC for five seasons … A four-year starter and captain for NYCFC … Trained with the NYCFC first team and played with the club’s second team … Selected to the U-15 United States youth national team camp … Ranked No. 83 in the Class of 2023 by Top Drawer Soccer … Was a club teammate of Mateo Ponce Ocampo … Earned First Honors in high School … A member of the Business Club and also performed service work.

MATTHEW VAN HORN
Midfielder
6-0 | 168
Powder Springs, Ga. / Shattuck Saint Mary’s

• Prior to Georgetown: A four-year starter and letterwinner at Shattuck Saint Mary’s … Served as captain as a senior … Scored 17 goals with 11 assists in high school … Played with Eclipse SC prior to arriving at Shattuck Saint Mary’s … Team made the MLS Next Playoffs in 2021 and 2022 … Ranked No. 144 in the Class of 2023 by Top Drawer Soccer … Named the Science Student of the Year … Brother Joeseph played soccer at Seattle Pacific University … A high school teammate of Zach Zengue and Tenzing Manske.