Xavier University men’s soccer team unveils signing class

CINCINNATI – Xavier University men’s soccer coach Andy Fleming has announced his 2020 signing class. The eight-person class consists of five midfielders and three defenders.

NOTABLES
• Played for Indiana Fire USSDA club team
• Scored 84 goals and 57 assists for high school program
• Was an Indiana All-State Team and HS All-American
• Was a TopDrawerSoccer.com twp-star recruit
• Signed First Team Academy contract with Indy Eleven
• Was the seventh Indiana Fire Academy Player to enroll at Xavier under Andy Fleming

QUOTING COACH FLEMING
” I remember seeing Paul play last May and him immediately catching my eye. Like many of our players I can tell you when and where I first set eyes on him. Paul is a soccer player. He’s best suited as a two way CMF, can plug in at a defensive midfield or attacking midfield/10 role and play pinched in out wide. He’s wiry, fiery, tough and has loads of experience playing against adult players in some high level amateur leagues outside of Chicago, as well as being under an amateur contract with the USL1 side Indy 11. Both he and Cade Thomson will have a chance right way to compete for time in the back of the midfield as I think his ability to link through the middle third and daily experiences with a USL 1 training environment have him well prepared for the collegiate demands that lie ahead.”

NOTABLES
• Led Lakota East HS to a OHSAA State Semifinal Appearance
• Earned All-Conference First Team honors in 2019
• Was named to the All-Southwest Ohio First Team in 2019
• Was a nominee for the 2020 Cincinnati Boys HS Soccer Player of the Year
• Was a two-year member of the Columbus Crew USSDA Team
• Led the Crew Academy to a quarterfinal appearance in the 2018 USSDA Playoffs

QUOTING COACH FLEMING
“Our staff had Parker pegged as the top player in Cincinnati last year prior to his early commitment to the Naval Academy. A change of heart late this spring opened the door for us and we are thrilled that he ended up at X. An attacker by trade, he’s best suited running at guys and playing higher up the field. However we also saw him play spurts of outside back with the Columbus Crew and feel that he could even be utilized as an attacking flank player if need be. I have a lot of respect for Parker’s investment to commute to Columbus to play for the Crew an also appreciated his desire to spend his senior year in high school soccer with his friends and Cincinnati United Premier. I expect him to be the next in a long line of local standouts who stayed local and helped propel our program.”

NOTABLES
• Played for the Preston North End youth system
• Signed a first-team contract with Preston North End
• Also played for Blackburn Rovers U23 Team
• Joins Ian Vicars and Derrick Otim as Xavier players from Vertex USA

QUOTING COACH FLEMING
“Jerome is someone we secured during the fall, allowing him to enroll in January out of Preston North End. Despite the semesters early end, without question it allowed him to not only adapt to life at Xavier but also to prove what a dangerous and multidimensional attacker he is. A left footed player who prefers playing on the right and cutting in, Jerome is known as a 1v1 artist and crosser. However his ability to slot passes, slip balls in behind and play in combination really impressed everyone. Once he reaches full fitness and develops his habits  off the ball defensively, there’s no question he is an impact player capable of great things from day one.”

NOTABLES
• Played in 33 matches with 19 starts at Virginia Tech (2017-19)
• Scored two goals with one assist at Virginia Tech
• Helped Virginia Tech advance to the 2019 NCAA Sweet 16
• Was a member of Finland’s U15, U16, U18 and U19 National Teams

QUOTING COACH FLEMING
“National team experience at two age groups, two years of ACC play and two starts in NCAA tournament games… that’s what Justus brings to the table for us. A very quick and fit player, he excels in wide positions and likes to run in behind. His quickness will help us in our early transition to defending moments and he will not be phased by any opponent on our schedule. Being two footed makes him very versatile and already this semester he’s developed great timing with Henderlong, Felix and Jolly. I expect him to hit the ground running in August and be an All-BIG EAST candidate after really impressing our staff and his teammates this spring.”

NOTABLES
• Played for Saint Louis FC USSDA Club Team
• Ranked No. 2 recruit in Midwest Region by TopDrawerSoccer.com
• Ranked No. 38 recruit nationally by TopDrawerSoccer.com
• Signed first-team academy contract with Saint Louis FC in 2019 and 2020
• Called up to the US Youth National Team U-19 preliminary roster

QUOTING COACH FLEMING
“I see Jansen being a mainstay and a decorated player at Xavier. But like anyone there will be some learning moments and he and all of us need to have an aggressive patience. However, it’s hard to not get excited on Jansen’s future. He’s been rated as one of the nation’s top 20 “non professional signed” prospects for his age and is someone who has drawn consideration for the US youth national teams, while signing an amateur USL contract as both a junior and senior in high school. He’s really come along mentally in the past two years and his aerial and footrace abilities are on par with almost anyone his age. Add in his IQ for the game, competitive edge, vocal leadership and ability to connect passes and there’s a lot to be excited about. Above all, he’s really taken the reins as the leader of our freshmen class which bodes well for his future as a leader with us.”

NOTABLES
• Captain of Norwegian Premier League team, Aalesunds FK´s reserve team in 2019
• Helped lead Aalesunds FK´s reserve team earn promotion to the Norwegian third division
• Invited to train with Aalesunds FK’s First Team
• Was a U16 Regional Team Member
• Was a Norwegian U16 National Team camp call up member in 2017

QUOTING COACH FLEMING
“Sondre is the next is a steady line of our Norwegian players coming to us via the CSUSA program, joining Felix Boe-Tangen, Simen Hestnes and Johannes Sundgott. A central defender by trade, Sondre is also capable as a right and left back and possibly even in the back of midfield spot. His IQ for the game is sky high, he is very quick and agile, strong 1v1 on the ground and plays a lot bigger than his size in the air. With three of our four backline spots very much up in the air, I expect him to be used in several games/situations and quickly emerge as a leader, as he currently is captain of his clubs reserve team as a 19 year old.”

NOTABLES
• Was a four-year member of the Shattuck St. Mary’s USSDA Club Team
• Was a TopDrawerSoccer.com three-star recruit
• Helped lead team to a 19-1-1 record in 2019
• Helped lead team to the 2019 USSDA Playoffs
• Led team to a 2019 Central Conference Championship

QUOTING COACH FLEMING
“Cade was the engine of a Shattuck St Mary’s team that nearly ran the table over a 25 game USSDA season last year. He was a national recruit and got interest from ACC, Big 10 and PAC 12 schools. Cades soccer IQ is exceptional as is his feel for the game along with a true commitment to working on his craft. He was asked to play as many as five different positions and did so with ease, which bodes well for him as he adjusts in his freshman year. His ability to play 360 degrees, build the game and play through the middle third are very advanced for his age. I see him as a future captain and as someone who will have a chance to compete right away in the back of our midfield at the eight spot.”

NOTABLES
• Was a four-year member of FC United USSDA Club Team
• Helped lead team to the 2019 Development Academy Playoffs
• Was a TopDrawerSoccer.com two-start recruit
• Was an Illinois State Scholar

QUOTING COACH FLEMING
“Matt is a bit of a throwback. He reminds me of the guys I brought in when I first took over 10 years ago. My notes on him from first time I saw him were “old school Xavier kid.” Versatile, honest, head down, well mannered, super competitive, very tough and feisty for his size. Comfortable at the outside back and midfield spots, he was part of what I considered to be one of the nation’s best teams at Chicago’s FC United and always seemed to find his way into the lineup despite them having 13 Division I scholarship players. I can assure you that our players will not enjoy going up against him in training each day. After an initial physical adjustment I see him as a winner, contributor and likely captain down the road.”