Penn men’s soccer program unveils 8-player recruiting class
PHILADELPHIA (Via University of Pennsylvania) – The University of Pennsylvania men’s soccer program and James C. Gentle Head Coach Brian Gill have announced an eight-player recruiting class, set to join the team in fall of 2019.
“We are very excited to welcome this group of players to the University of Pennsylvania and into our program,” commented Coach Gill. “Coach Delano and Coach Lowry work really hard to identify student-athletes that will fit well into our environment here at Penn. Reflecting on this past season, we felt that the program took some steps in the right direction and this incoming group has the potential to contribute to that growth within the walls of our locker room as well as on the field. We are looking forward to watching them compete and continue to develop in our environment for years to come.”
Nick Christoffersen | GK
6-2 | 185 pounds
Toronto, Ontario/Royal St. George’s College/Toronto FC Academy
Before Penn: Member of Toronto FC Academy as a goalkeeper … U21 Provincial Central Champion in 2017, going undefeated at 16-0 … Named 2017 U21 Goalkeeper of the Year … Called into U15 Canadian national team camp … Named to Headmaster’s Honor Roll, awarded to the class’ top-10 students from 2015-18 … Earned Math Award.
Personal: Son of Susan Christoffersen … Enrolled in the Wharton School of Business.
Coach Gill on Christoffersen: “With the graduation of two goalkeepers in the same year, we are excited to be adding someone of Nick’s ability into our goalkeeping corps. He is a very good shot stopper and plays the position with a good level of maturity. Nick’s experiences over the last couple years at the Toronto FC Academy have helped shape his competitive ambition.”
Alex Kades | M
5-8 | 147 pounds
Bryn Mawr, Pa./Harriton/Lower Merion SC Rats
Before Penn: Four-year letterwinner and two-time captain for Harriton, playing club soccer for Lower Merion SC Rats … Won USYSA National League as U19 … Won U18 USYSA Regional League … Played for West Chester of the NPSL … Finalist for Gatorade Player of the Year in Pennsylvania … Named 2018 Central League MVP … 2018 All-State, All-SE PA and All-Region … Named Main Line Boys Athlete of the Week Oct. 8, 2018 … Led team to 2017 State Tournament appearance … 2017 Central League MVP Runner-Up … 2017 All-State and All-SE PA … 2016 first-team All-Central League … 2015 Pennsylvania state champion with Lower Merion … Member of Speak Up Program … Member of Freshman Mentor Program.
Personal: Son of Meredith and Howard Kades … Enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences.
Coach Gill on Kades: “Alex is a local product, playing for the highly successful Lower Merion SC. His attacking mindset and individual ability are things that immediately made him an attractive personality to have in the program.”
Firas Kora | D
5-11 | 165 pounds
Cotonou, Benin/The Hotchkiss School/Black Rock FC
Before Penn: Graduate of the Right to Dream Academy … First non-Ghanaian student to win a Right to Dream scholarship … First Right to Dream Academy graduate to attend an Ivy League institution … Four-year letterwinner at The Hotchkiss School, playing club soccer for Black Rock FC … 2018 NEPSSA All-Star … 2018 All-State … 2017 NEPSSA All-Star … 2017 All-State … Manchester United Nike cup winner and Marveld Tournament champion in 2015 … Competed for the track and field team … Lower-Mid French Award recipient … French tutor … Susan Klinger Hoglund ’80 Memorial Award recipient.
Personal: Son of Lucy and Chris DeStefano … Enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences.
Coach Gill on Kora: “Firas is a graduate of the well-known Right to Dream Academy and will be joining us by way of The Hotchkiss School. His personality, character, and leadership are parts of his game that drew him to us immediately in the recruiting process. He has a lot of natural ability and athleticism that have made him a standout player over the years.”
Kai Lammers | M
6-2 | 175 pounds
Greenwich, Conn./Greenwich/NYCFC Academy
Before Penn: Two-year letterwinner for Greenwich High School, while playing for both the NYSC Academy and NYCFC Developmental Academy … Invited to U18 men’s national team camp … 2018 U19 U.S. Developmental Academy champion … 2016 FCIAC champion with Greenwich … 2016 Greenwich Rookie of the Year … Earned invite to U.S. Soccer Training Center … Named one of 2018 Generation Adidas Cup Top Performers … Four-year honor roll student … Member of Alzheimer’s Awareness Club … Member of Chinese National Honor Society.
Personal: Son of Louise and Hendrik Lammers … Enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences.
Coach Gill on Lammers: “Kai impressed us at our camp a few summers back. He has the physical tools and technical ability to become a high level defender to complement our backline. Kai came up through NYSC and has taken the next step in his own game through his move to the NYCFC Academy.”
Jacob Muchnick | M
5-8 | 155 pounds
Menlo Park, Calif./Menlo Park/De Anza Force Academy
Before Penn: Played seven years for LA Galaxy Academy … Played for both the Pateadores and most recently with the De Anza Force Academy … Made finals of the USSDA U18 Playoffs in 2017 with LA Galaxy … Made finals of the USSDA U16 Playoffs in 2016 with LA Galaxy … Made finals of the Liga Bancomer International Tournament in 2016 with LA Galaxy … Earned multiple invites to U14 and U15 U.S. National Team training camps … Selected as one of 18 players for 2014 Nike id2 national selection tour in Italy … High honor roll student … Award in AP Calculus for Outstanding Individual Achievement … Member of National Honor Society.
Personal: Son of Cindy and Adam Muchnick … Father, Adam, played soccer at Stanford … Enrolled in the Wharton School of Business.
Coach Gill on Muchnick: “Jacob’s workrate and intensity fit well with what we are looking for in our midfielders. He has proven to be an important piece and winner along his stops at the LA Galaxy, Pataedores, and De Anza Academies. After his time at camp, we knew Jacob had a lot to offer Penn and our program.”
Thomas Robinson | F
6-2 | 180 pounds
Hong Kong/Blair Academy/STA/Black Rock FC
Before Penn: Four-year letterwinner and one-year captain at Blair Academy, while playing club at Block Rock FC and STA … 2017 Mid-Atlantic Prep League champion … 2018 Blair Soccer Award for best player … 2017 and 2018 honorable mention for NJ Prep State Cup … Member of Model United Nations … Blair Academy student tour guide … Freshman dorm prefect.
Personal: Son of Deborah and Brent Robinson … Brother, William, rowed at MIT … Enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences.
Coach Gill on Robinson: “Thomas is another player that will be coming to Penn by way of the prep school route, spending his days at Blair Academy. His game is based on a healthy mix of size and strength combined with clever movement in the attacking half of the field and a desire to create chances.”
Jack Rosener | D
5-8 | 145 pounds
McLean, Va./The Potomac School/Bethesda Soccer Academy/McLean SC
Before Penn: Three-year letterwinner at The Potomac School while playing club for McLean SC and most recently the Bethesda Soccer Academy … 2017 MAC champion … 2017 All-Conference … 2017 Virginia first-team All-State … 2017 second-team All-MET … 2017 USYSA National League champion with McLean … 2016 USYSA National Champion … 2013, 2015 and 2017 USYSA Virginia state champion … 2015 USYSA Region I champion … Named USYSA Best XI in 2016 and 2017 at the national championships.
Personal: Son of Gwenn and David Rosener … Enrolled in the School of Engineering and Applied Science.
Coach Gill on Rosener: “Jack’s quickness and speed combined with his soccer ability made him a very intriguing prospect to us. He’s proven to be a versatile and impactful player in his time with McLean SC and now with the Bethesda Academy.”
Nick Schimbeno | M
5-11 | 165 pounds
Manalapan, N.J./Freehold Township/New York Red Bulls Academy
Before Penn: Played six years for the New York Red Bulls Academy, serving as a captain … Placed third in the championship division at the Generation Adidas Cup in 2017, the highest of any American team … USSDA Divisional Champion from 2013-17 … Part of numerous top-three nationally ranked teams … Called into and seen time with Red Bull II of the USL … Attended several U.S. Soccer Training Centers … Competed at the Next Generation Trophy Tournament in Salzburg, Austria in 2015, scored a game-winning goal … Attended the Global Studies Learning Center … Member of National Honor Society.
Personal: Son of Grace and Jeff Schimbeno … Club teammates with Penn teammates David Philbinand Anthony Rovito … Enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences.
Coach Gill on Schimbeno: “Nick is someone we’ve had a chance to see play quite a bit over the last couple of years. His experiences of playing in a good environment with the Red Bulls Academy have helped him to become a good passer as well as strong ball winning presence in the middle of the field.”
