William & Mary men’s soccer reveals 2020 recruiting class featuring 8 members

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. – William & Mary men’s soccer head coach Chris Norris added eight student-athletes to the Tribe for the 2020 season.

The group becoming part of the Green and Gold program includes midfielder Augie Cooper (Newport News, Va. / Jamestown), forward Joe Core (Arlington, Va. / Washington-Liberty), back Jack Crocco (Midlothian, Va. / James River), back Nelson Donynath (Geneva, Switzerland / Louisburg College), back Cole Knapp (Charlotte, N.C./Charlotte Catholic), midfielder Ian Krajna (Huntsville, Ala. / Randolph School), forward Michael Meese (Williamsburg, Va. / Jamestown), midfielder Daniel Salom (Blacksburg, Va. / Blacksburg).

“We are excited to announce the addition of these eight young men. Special recognition goes to associate head coach Brendan Bourdage and assistant coach Jonathan Kamara for their tireless efforts in evaluating and building relationships with countless exceptional student-athletes,” Norris said. “In the end, we are thrilled that these eight individuals have chosen to join our Tribe family. They have all boldly pursued excellence on and off the field, and we believe their continued pursuits will enable us to confidently compete for championships.”

Here is a look at each member of the Tribe’s incoming class:

Augie Cooper
Midfield
6-2 | 160
Newport News, Va. / Jamestown

Prep
Named to the Virginia All-State First Team in 2019 after earning honorable mention honors in 2018 …  A four-year letterwinner for Bobby O’Brien at Jamestown High School … Selected first team all-conference in 2017 … Played club soccer for Virginia Legacy … A member of Rho Kappa … Was the historian class officer as a freshman, sophomore and junior at Jamestown.

Personal
Son of Scot Copper and Deanna Everett … Grandfather, Stephen, earned his masters from W&M in 1999 … Intends to major in finance.

Norris on Cooper
“Augie will not have to travel far to join the Tribe. He is a local product of the Virginia Legacy Soccer Club and Jamestown High School. Augie plays primarily as a deeper-lying central midfielder. He is truly a two-footed player, equally adept with either his right or left foot. Augie is clean technically, has a big engine and possesses a high soccer IQ. He reads the game well defensively and is good in the air. Augie also boasts a good range of passing. He will need to adjust to the speed of play and physical nature of college soccer but will provide great depth in our midfield.”

Joe Core
Forward
6-2 | 180
Arlington, Va. / Washington-Liberty

Prep
Named the Most Valuable Player for Washington-Liberty as a junior … In 2019, earned All-Liberty District First Team honors and was selected honorable mention Washington Post All-Met and All-Region … Garnered All-Liberty District Second Team honors as a sophomore … Played club soccer for Arlington Soccer Association … In 2019, helped Arlington SA to the VYSA Virginia State Championship, the CCL Premiere title, an undefeated record in the red division of the USYS National League and finalist appearances at the USYS U17 Virginia State Cup and USYS National Championship … Tallied a hat trick vs Oklahoma Energy in the national championships … Was named to the Best XI Players at the 2019 USYS National Championships … Selected to Play for CCL United in the Gothia Cup in Sweden in July 2019 … In 2018, helped Arlington SA to the USYS National Championship, the USYS Region One Championship, CCL Premiere title and the Spring EDP 1st Division South crown … The club was also the finalist in the Region 1 Eastern Regional League (Elite Red) and the USYS U17 Virginia State Cup … A member of the National Honor Society and was a Generals Brigade Spirit Group Leader.

Personal
Son of Lyndell and Margaret Core … Mother, Margaret, played women’s soccer at Baylor from 1981-82 … Expecting to major in business.

Norris on Core
“Joe has led his Arlington Soccer Association 2002 team to back-to-back USYS National Championship finals, winning once. Joe is very versatile, functioning anywhere down the spine of the team. We feel he is best as a true center forward. Joe is an exceptional target. His ability to play with his back to goal is unique. His strength and balance enable him to hold the ball under pressure and bring teammates into the game. Joe is also very good in the air, both flicking balls on and scoring goals with his head. He combines a high soccer IQ with a strong will to win. While we expect to have a deep and talented group of attacking players, Joe brings something different and should compete to play right away.”

Jack Crocco
Back
6-2 | 170
Midlothian, Va. / James River

Prep
Played two years of high school soccer at James River and two at the Richmond United Academy … Helped James River to the state semifinals as a starting center back in 2018 … Captain for FC Richmond from U10-1U16 … Completed for the club from 2012-18 … Selected to the Club Champions League United First Team in 2018 … Completed for the Richmond United Academy as a center back, midfielder and forward from 2018-20 … Was United’s second leading scorer in 2019 and third in 2018 … Volunteer for Special Olympics, Relay for Life and St. Edward’s Charities in high school.

Personal
Son of Gary and Ann Crocco … Father, Gary, played football (1984-85) and baseball (1986-88) at W&M … Sister, Emily, is a current member of the women’s soccer program … Dad, Gary, played football (1984-86) and baseball (1986-88) at W&M … Uncles Dave (1984-88) and Steve Wiley (1989-93) played football at W&M … Aunts Jennifer (Volgenau) Wiley (1986-90) and Sofia (Cedergreen) Wiley (1988-92) were members of the women’s soccer program … Enjoys outdoor activities, hiking, biking, fishing, basketball and is an avid sports fan.

Norris on Crocco
“Jack comes to us from Richmond, Va., having honed his game with Richmond United Development Academy and FC Richmond. His sister, Emily, is a standout on our women’s soccer team. Jack is a prototypical center back. He is big and athletic. He uses his physical qualities to good effect, consistently winning individual battles on the ground and in the air. Jack is also technically sound, enabling him to play out of the back effectively. We expect the competition for the center back positions to be fierce and believe Jack will be a big part of that.”

Nelson Donynath
Back
6-0 | 170
Geneva, Switzerland / Louisburg College

At Louisburg College (2018)
Earned United Soccer Coaches All-American First Team honors… Named to the United Soccer Coaches Scholar All-American … Started all 20 matches … Louisburg finished with a 16-2-2 overall record, including a 14-1-2 league record … Helped Louisburg’s defense to a goals against average of 0.58 with nine shutouts …  Helped team win the Region 10 Championship … Finished with three points on a goal and an assist.

At Central Baptist College (2017)
Named Honorable Mention All-American Midwest Conference … Started all 17 matches … Tallied two goals, both game-winners … Scored in the CBC’s 4-1 win over Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) on Oct. 17 … Tallied the overtime game-winner on Oct. 21 in a 2-1 victory over St. Louis Pharmacy (Mo.).

Personal
Favorite movies are The Shawshank Redemption, Black Panther, and Vertigo… Favorite foods are tortilla de patatas, torrijas, and rosti… Hobbies include hiking and bouldering … Has two sisters, Julia and Canela… Son of Carmen Donynath.

Norris on Donynath
“Nelson joins us after a stellar sophomore season at Louisburg College in 2018, where he earned first team All-America honors. Nelson’s experience, both internationally and in college soccer, will be invaluable to our group. He is a versatile defender who can feature centrally or in wide positions. Nelson possesses good athleticism, sound technique, a high soccer IQ and vital leadership qualities. We expect Nelson to immediately improve our overall team defending.”

Cole Knapp
Back
6-1 | 165
Charlotte, N.C./Charlotte Catholic

Prep
Captained the Charlotte Soccer Academy U19 Develop Academy team during his final prep season … Named the 2019 Greater Charlotte Defender of the Year … Team was selected as the 2019 Charlotte Soccer Team of the Year … Team was selected as the 2016 and 2019 Charlotte Soccer Team of the Year by the US Soccer Develop Academy … CSA was the U17 State Cup Championship in 2018-19 … Started all 17 games for the CSA U16/17 US Soccer Development Academy in the spring of 2018 … Helped team finish first in Region 3 Division … A member of the Charlotte Soccer Academy Leadership Program … Earned North Carolina Soccer Coaches Association All-State honors in 2018 … Scored 11 goals as a junior and helped Charlotte Catholic to eight-straight shutouts … Selected to the All-Observer Soccer First Team as a defender … Named all-conference and all-region by the North Carolina Soccer Coaches Association in both 2017 and 2018 … As a sophomore, scored eight goals, including the game-winning goal in a 1-0 second-round playoff win over Southwest Guilford … Won a Football State Championship in 2019 at Charlotte Catholic … A member of the National Honor Society and Rho Kappa National Social Studies Honor Society in high school.

Personal
Son of Michael and Jennifer Knapp … Intends to major in business at W&M.

Norris on Knapp
“Cole developed his game at Charlotte Soccer Academy in Charlotte, N.C. Although he came onto on our radar later in the process, Cole’s pace, determination and leadership excited us right away. Cole is a fighter and a winner and has the ability to make those around him better. He is a tenacious 1v1 defender and has the mobility to erase team defending mistakes. While he has primarily played centrally, we believe he can also be a good right back in college. Cole’s addition significantly boosts the staff’s confidence in our defensive stability.”

Ian Krajna
Midfielder
5-10 | 160
Huntsville, Ala. / Randolph School

Prep
A two-time All-State Champion 4A-5A in both 2017 and 2018 … A four-year starter for Alex Tomlinson at the Randolph School …  In 64 career high school games, tallying 157 points on 56 goals and 45 assists … Won the golden boot with 24 goals as a freshman in 2017 … Posted a team-best 19 assists as a junior in 2019 … Was off to a fast start to his senior season with nine goals in the first four games before the season was cancelled due to COVID-19 … As a senior, was a team captain … Played club soccer for FC Alabama … Won a U18 State Alabama Championship in 2018 … A member of the Olympic Development Program (ODP) Region Pool for three years … Played for FC Alabama in the Elite Clubs National League (ECNL) for three years … Tallied 13 goals and five assists with FC Alabama during the 2019 fall season … In 2019, tallied four goals in a 6-2 win over Florida Elite in a ECNL game … A member of the Mu Alpha Theta Math Honor Society, Spanish National Honor Society and National Honor Society in high school … Was an AP Scholar and a three-year member of the Dean’s List.

Personal
Son of Thomas and Kimberly Krajna … Enjoys reading, fishing, listening to music, watching soccer and climbing.

Norris on Krajna
“Ian comes to us from Alabama FC’s ECNL program, the same program that helped produce current Tribe freshman Diba Nwegbo. Ian came onto our radar a little later in the process, but we are thrilled that he has chosen to join us. Ian is a soccer junkie. We love that he is a true fan and student of the game. Ian was a later developer physically and has really come into his own in the last eight months. He is a versatile attacking midfielder, capable of playing on either wing or through the middle. He runs very well with the ball and is a great ball-striker with both feet. Ian has been a prolific goalscorer this year. We are confident he will continue to find the back of the net in college soccer. Ian will bring added quality and versatility to our deep group of attacking players.”

Michael Meese
Forward
5-11 | 175
Williamsburg, Va. / Jamestown

Prep
A high school All-American by a number of publications … Named a First Team All-American by Top Drawer Soccer (TDS) in 2019 and was a third team All-USA selection by USA Today … A three-time All-State first team choice (2017, 2018 and 2019) … An All-Region in 2019 and a two-time State All-Star pick by TDS … Honored as a Region 4A first team player in 2017, 2018 and 2019 … In 2019, chosen as the Daily Press Boys Soccer Player of the Year and the 4A Region Player of the Year … Twice honored as the Peninsula Sports Club Most Outstanding Player (2017 and 2019) … All-time leading scorer at Jamestown High School with 103 goals in three seasons … Set the single-season (52) and single-game (8 vs. Burton) school marks in 2019 … Over his three seasons at Jamestown, tallied 240 points on 103 goals and 34 assists … Tallied 13 hat tricks during his three seasons, including eight in 2019 … Led Jamestown to 2019 Bay Rivers District undefeated regular season … Scored seven of team’s 11 goals in a 2019 Region 4A semifinal win over Churchland … Scored the game-winner in a 1-0 win over Monacan to advance to the State 4A Semifinals in 2019 … Jamestown finished 2019 at 18-1 … United Soccer Coaches Spring Boys All-South Region in 2017 … Named Conference 18 Player of the Year in 2017 and was selected to the Bay Rivers All-District in 2019 … Twice honored as a Daily Press All-Start (2017 and 2018) … Named the WVEC co-Athlete of the Week in 2017 … Selected to the CCL United 2001 Boys team which competed in the Gothia Cup in Sweden in 2017 … Played for the Virginia Legacy Soccer Club … Scored 27 goals for the Legacy in 2016-17 and followed with two seasons of 24 goals in 2017-18 and 2018-19 … Helped Legacy to Virginia State Cup Finals in 2019 after three-straight semifinal appearances in 2016, 2017 and 2018 … Legacy won championships at the Jefferson Cup Boys Showcase in 2018, IMG Cup Boys Invitational in 2018 and Club Championship League in 2016-17 … Earned runner-up finishes in CCL in 2017-18 and was a semifinalist at the IMG Cup Boys Invitational in 2017 … Ran indoor track at Jamestown as well … Won the 55-meter dash at the VHSL Region 4A Indoor Championship in 2019 (6.56 seconds) and 2020 (6.53) … Placed fourth in the 55-meter dash at the 2020 VHSL 4A State Championship (6.54) and fifth in 2019 (6.61) … Placed fourth in the 300 meters at the 2020 VHSL State Championship 4A fourth in 300 meters (35.94) after placing ninth in 2019 (36.91) … Elementary Summer School Volunteer in 2019 … Helped with the middle school volunteer soccer program in 2019 ; A three-time Scholar-Athlete in soccer and twice in indoor track at Jamestown … Named to the honor roll in 2017, 2018 and 2019.

Personal
Son of Alan Meese and Kelly Metcalf-Messe … Both his father, Alan in 1986, and mother, Kelly in 1987, graduated from W&M.

Norris on Meese
“Michael is another local product. He has put together a storied club and high school career with Virginia Legacy Soccer Club and Jamestown High School. Michael is an accomplished goalscorer. Throughout his career, he has consistently found the back of the net, and, most importantly, he’s done it in the biggest moments. Michael combines electric pace, good 1v1 dribbling ability and a hunger to score. He is good with both feet and gets goals in a variety of ways. Michael can also turn provider. When he plays wide or runs into the channels, he is an outstanding crosser of the ball. We expect Michael’s abilities to immediately translate to college soccer. He has a chance to impact our attacking fortunes right away.”

Daniel Salom
Back/Midfield
5-10 | 155
Blacksburg, Va. / Blacksburg

Prep
A two-time All-State First Team selection in 2018 and 2019 … Tallied 41 points on 13 goals and 15 assists in helping Blacksburg to a 19-4 record, a district championship, a regional finals appearance and a spot in the state semifinals … Was name the team MVP as a junior … Selected as the All-District Player of the Year in 2019 … Won a state championship as a sophomore in 2018 at Blacksburg, posting 32 points on 10 goals and 12 assists  … Team finished with a 22-0 record and was ranked fourth nationally by MaxPreps and 17th by Top Drawer Soccer … As a freshman in 2017, finished with 15 points on four goals and seven assists in helping Blacksburg to a 20-2 record, conference and region championships and a state finals appearance … A three-time first team all-conference pick (2017, 2018 and 2019) … After being named honorable mention all-region in 2017, garnered first team honors in 2018 and 2019 … Twice named to the All-Timesland First Team (2018 and 2019) … A co-captain for New River United in 2016-17 … Earned Skyline Premier League 1st team rank, finishing with 13 goals and 16 assists in 2016 and 11 goals and 16 assists in 2017 … Played for VBR Star in 2018-19, helping the club to a State Cup U19 Finalist appearance in 2018 … Competed for the Roanoke Star CCL Pro 23 Champion in 2018 … A member of the US Youth Soccer ODP both state and region from 2015-18 … A CCL United Player and Co-Captain in 2019 … Selected MVP for CCL United in a 2-0 victory over Mexico Pumas Unam FC in Gothia Puma Trophy (B17) Quarterfinal Playoff in Sweden during the Summer of 2019 … Ran high school varsity indoor track in 2017 and set a freshman all-time record placing sixth in the 55-meter dash and seventh in the 300 meters … A member of the National Honor Society and National Society of High School Scholars in high school … Sophomore class co-President at Blacksburg … Was the Historian/Member Interact Club (Junior Rotary International Community Services).

Personal
Son of Scott Salom and Siti M. Sasim-Salom (Mar) … Intends to major in kinesiology with a pre-med concentration … Brother, Harris, played three years of soccer at Washington & Lee, while his uncle, Don, ran track for three years at Hamilton College.

Norris on Salom
“Daniel has been a standout for VBR Star Soccer Club and Blacksburg High School. Daniel is a complete player. He is very quick and powerful. On the attacking side, he can beat defenders with his explosiveness on the dribble. Daniel is also a good ball-striker and scores a fair number of goals from midfield. Defensively, he is conscientious and has some bite. Daniel is also extremely versatile, capable of featuring as a central midfielder, winger or left back. His versatility, combined with his physical readiness will likely see him compete for time right away in a few different areas.”