Reigning Ivy League men’s soccer champion Princeton signs 9 recruits

Fresh off an Ivy League championship and trip to the NCAA Tournament in 2021, Princeton University is set to welcome nine newcomers to its men’s soccer program this fall as members of the Class of 2026.

“It is always exciting when you have the opportunity to add quality student-athletes to your program,” said head coach Jim Barlow. “This group is no exception. They have competed at a high level, and had helped lead teams to championships. Off the field, they are just as successful and are primed to make an impact on Princeton’s campus as leaders in the community. I am grateful to Associate Head Coach Steve Totten for his work in helping to lead the recruiting of this class, and to Sam Maira and Tom Moffat for all their contributions to the recruiting process. We can’t wait to have these nine young men join our group in the coming weeks as we embark on a special 2022 season.”

Princeton’s class has garnered recognition nationally, coming in at No. 5 among all Division I recruiting classes in the latest TopDrawerSoccer.com rankings.

Gabriel Birnbaum Duchovny | Midfielder
6-0 | 165 pounds
Brooklyn, N.Y./Saint Ann’s School (Met Oval)

Before Princeton: Starting center midfielder for Met Oval’s U19 and U17 teams which spent time in first place of the Northeast Division of MLS Next … Played for NYCFC in MLS Next from 2017-2019 … Invited to US Soccer Youth National Team regional training … Played in both Manchester City Cup and International Champions Cup Futures tournaments.

Will Francis | Forward
6-1 | 165 pounds
San Diego, Calif./Mission Bay (ALBION SC)

Before Princeton: Ranked No. 139 overall by TopDrawerSoccer … Ranked No. 24 in Southern California … Led Albion in scoring during 2021 season with 7 goals and 5 assists in 10 matches … Helped Albion to a No. 2 national ranking … Captured MLS Next West championship with Albion … Won 2020 Surf Cup and reached 2021 Surf Cup championship match.

Jack Hunt | Midfielder
6-0 | 170 pounds
Coronado, Calif./Coronado (ALBION SC)

Before Princeton: Captained club for four years … Helped Albion to a No. 2 national ranking … Captured MLS Next West championship with Albion … Won 2020 Surf Cup and reached 2021 Surf Cup championship match … Selected to Capelli Sport USA traveling team which competed in Denmark against top European club players … Coronados Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 2022 … Captained Coronado’s high school team to undefeated regular season and to CIF Open Division final in 2022.

Danny Ittycheria | Forward
6-2 | 170 pounds
Warren, NJ./Pingry (PDA)

Before Princeton: Starter for PDA’s U19 MLS Next club … Scored 11 goals in first 10 matches in MLS Next … Scored 32 goals in 33 career matches for Pingry … Notched 20 goals and 10 assists in 2022 as Pingry reached NJ Sectional semifinals … Was an All-Region, All-State, All-County and All-Conference performer for Pingry … Named to the high school All-American Watch List.

Jack Jasinski | Midfielder
6-1 | 185 pounds
Charlotte, N.C./YSC Academy (Philadelphia Union II)

Before Princeton: Has played with Philadelphia Union II in the USL since 2020 … Led Philadelphia Union II in scoring in 2021 … Went to preseason with the union’s first team in 2022 and saw minutes in preseason friendly against FC Cincinnati … Joined Philadelphia Union Academy in 2018 … Played for TOVO Academy in Barcelona from 2017-18 … Selected for Generation Adidas International Select Team in 2017 which competed in Amsterdam … Selected for US Boys National Team Futures Camp in 2017 … Named Young Male Player of the Year at the Greater Charlotte Soccer Gala in 2015 and 2016

Ian Maciver | Back
5-11 | 165 pounds
Ellicott City, Md./Centennial (Baltimore Armour)

Before Princeton: Captained Baltimore Armour’s U17and U19 clubs … Playmaker who has led team is assists the last three years … Has 20+ goals from the back end … Helped club to 2021 U17 Dallas Cup championship.

Will Travis | Midfielder
5-9 | 155 pounds
Evanston, Ill./Evanston Township (Chicago Fire Juniors Northshore)

Before Princeton: Led CFJ Northshore in scoring in 2021 … Captained club from 2018-22 … Spent 11 seasons playing with CFJ Northshore … Helped CFJ Northshore to PDS SC Del Sol championship in 2022 … Also captained Evanston Township to No. 1 overall seed in state tournament in 2021 … Awarded Evanston Township Athletic and Academic Excellence Award.

Sam Vigilante | Midfielder
5-11 | 165 pounds
Charlottesville, Va./Western Albermarie (Skyline Elite)

Before Princeton: Captained 2020 and 2021 Skyline Elite clubs to USYS Virginia state championships … 2022 unanimous Virginia State Player of the Year … Also named Regional and District Player of the Year … Won Virginia Class 3A state title at Western Albermarie … Had 8 goals and 5 assists in 9 matches with Western Albermarie this past season … Selected to CCL United Top XI.

Giuliano Fravolini Whitchurch | Back
6-3 | 185 pounds
San Diego, Calif./Point Loma (ALBION SC)

Before Princeton: 2021 United Soccer Coaches All-American … Ranked No. 98 overall by TopDrawerSoccer … Captained Capelli Sport USA U19 team which placed second in the Capelli Sport Cup in Denmark in 2021 … Captain of Albion’s U19 club in MLS Next … Played every minute and had 4 goals in 12 matches during 2021 season where Albion claimed Southwest Division title and earned No. 2 overall seed in MLS Next Cup playoffs.