Princeton men’s soccer to welcome five newcomers for Fall 2021

The Princeton men’s soccer program will welcome five players to the program in the fall, bringing in a group that covers all areas of play and arrives with a wealth of experience at the club and international levels.

The group includes four players from the United States as well as one international student-athlete from Sweden. Three newcomers slot in on defense, while one plays up top at forward and the fifth plays goalkeeper.

“It is always exciting when we get to officially welcome a new group of student athletes to our program,” head coach Jim Barlow said. “Like all of us over the last year, these young men have had to adapt and adjust in unprecedented ways. They have never lost sight of their goals on the field and in the classroom and we are thrilled to add them to our team. Each brings a dynamic skillset to our roster, and associate head coach Steve Totten has once again done a tremendous job identifying these talented student-athletes who are ready to call Princeton home for the next four years.”

See below for more on each member of Princeton’s signing class.

Stephen Duncan | Defense
6-2 | 170 pounds
Bernardsville, N.J./Bernards (Players Development Academy)

Before Princeton: Captained U19 PDA team in MLSNext … Captained U17 PDA team … Logged over 100 starts with PDA program … Played on 2018 ENPL national championship team … Selected to US Soccer Market Training Centers in 2016, 2017, 2018.

Axel Johansson | Defense
6-1 | 175 pounds
Stockholm, Sweden/ Lycee Francais Saint Louis (IF Brommapojkarna Academy)

Before Princeton: Won 2019 U17 Swedish Cup with IF Brommapojkarna … Finished second in U19 First Division in 2019 … Travelled Europe, winning tournaments in Poland, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Italy and England … Recorded victories over Chelsea, Juventus, PSV, Burnley, Leicester City, Torino. Copenhagen, Manchester United, Hellas Verona youth teams … Played on Stockholm regional team from 2016-19 … Selected to Swedish National Team camp in 2019.

Nico Nee | Forward
5-9 | 165 pounds
Carrollton, Texas/Summit High School (New York Red Bulls Academy)

Before Princeton: Had a goal and an assist in six matches with Red Bulls Academy U19 team … Also played club with Solars Soccer Club … Won back-to-back state titles in Texas with Solars … Led team in scoring with 17 goals … Won U17 Development Academy national championship … Invited to US National Team Training Pools.

Issa Mudashiru | Defense
5-11 | 175 pounds
Bethesda, Md./Landon School (DC United Academy/Bethesda Blue)

Before Princeton: Helped Bethesda Blue qualify for National League in 2021 … Finished 2018 USSDA season ranked No. 1 in the Atlantic Region with DC United Academy … Won Cayman Islands Tournament in 2018 … Earned trial with Loudon United in USL, eventually starting in 2020 USL Championship Game … Trained with DC United first team in 2019 … Invited to US Soccer Training Center … Captained Landon’s varsity team.

William Watson | Goalkeeper
6-5 | 215 pounds
Asheville, N.C./Carolina Day School (FC Dallas Academy)

Before Princeton: Spent two seasons with FC Dallas Academy’s U17 team (2019-20) … Averaged 7.2 saves-per-game with a .556 save percentage … Two-time All-State selection at Carolina Day School … Three-time All-Conference … Averaged 6.6 saves-per-game … Two-time starter with ODP Region 3 team … Played with Highland Football Club.

These five players will join the seven newcomers previously announced ahead of the 2020-21 academic year. Four of those seven – Francis Akomeah-Sirleaf, Whit Gamblin, Logan Oyama, and Malik Pinto – enrolled as members of the Class of 2024. Three newcomers – Khamari Hadaway, Harry Roberts, and James Wangsness – elected to take a gap year and will join the Class of 2025.