NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – Niagara Purple Eagles men's soccer head coach Bill Boyle announced the addition of 14 players to the team's roster for the upcoming 2017 campaign: Jordan Acevedo, Brian Barry, Ben Christidis, Nicky Dhanjal, Sebastian Diaz, Mick Keilen, Matthew Krucko-Moeller, Rhys Lanskail, Matt Lopoyda, Andrew McDonagh, Andres Munoz, Luca Pacheco, Danilo Pekovic, and Kyle Walters (all pictured clockwise from top left).
 
The Purple Eagles add seven newcomers to provide increased depth and versatility along the back line. Niagara also adds five midfielders in its incoming class, and two goalkeepers will bring youth at the position behind redshirt-junior Steve Casey and senior Joel Gerberich. Six of the eight Americans in the class come from New York along with one each from Colorado and Maryland. The team also welcomes five Canadian players from Ontario along with one from England.
 
Jordan Acevedo | Back | 6-foot | 172 lbs | Barrie, ON | Bear Creek Secondary
 
Acevedo played for four seasons at Bear Creek Secondary School, where he was named the team MVP all four years, was named a team captain in grade 11, and earned district and regional accolades in Ontario. On the club level, Acevedo is a former Toronto FC academy player who most recently played for the Vaughn Azzurri soccer club. In the classroom, Acevedo was also a three-year honor roll member at Bear Creek.
 
Boyle on Acevedo: "Jordan gained experience playing against our club as a member of Vaughn Azzurri this spring. He fit right in during that game and showed that he will be a factor for us this fall.  The Vaughan club continues to produce top players."

Brian Barry | Back | 5-foot-8 | 160 lbs | Holbrook, NY | Sachem North
 
Named one of the top 50 men's soccer players in Long Island by Newsday, Barry comes to Monteagle Ridge after successful stints with the Sachem North High School men's soccer team and the Smithtown Kickers club. As a junior, Barry was named Sachem North's Defensive Player of the Year and earned Suffolk County League I All-League, All-Conference, and All-County accolades. Barry repeated his Suffolk County honors this past season, earning Co-MVP honors for Sachem North. Barry was also a two-time New York State finalist with the Smithtown Kickers soccer club. He intends to study in Niagara's College of Education.
 
Boyle on Barry: "Brian comes to Niagara from one of the best clubs on Long Island and will provide the team with depth and options on defense."

Ben Christidis | Midfield | 5-foot-11 | 175 lbs | Rochester, NY | Worcester Academy
 
Christidis returns to Western New York after playing the 2016 season at Worcester Academy Prep School, where he helped the team to a New England Preparatory School Athletic Council (NEPSAC) Class A league championship. He played at Fairport High School for four seasons (2012-15), helping the Red Raiders win the 2013 and 2014 Section V and NYSPHSAA regional titles before earning a berth in the NYSPHSAA state championship each year. Fairport also advanced to the Section V title game in 2015. On the club level, Christidis was on three US Youth Soccer State Champion teams playing for the Rochester Futbol Club. Christidis plans to study biology at Niagara University.
 
Boyle on Christidis: "Ben has been a winner everywhere he goes.  He finds a way to win and lead teams.  He's another Western New York player we are proud to welcome to our club."
 
Nicky Dhanjal | Goalkeeper | 6-foot | 154 lbs | Wallington, Surrey, England | Carshalton Boys Sports College
 
Dhanjal joins the Purple Eagles' roster along with rising fourth-year goalkeepers Steve Casey and Joel Gerberich. A member of the Crystal Palace FC Foundation academy, Dhanjal gained experience playing for the Carshalton Athletic U18 and U21 squads. At Niagara, Dhanjal intends to pursue a degree in sport management.
 
Boyle on Dhanjal: "Nicky is coming over from England and has been in a great Crystal Palace program. He should get right in and compete with a great GK core."
 
Sebastian Diaz | Back | 6-foot-2 | 170 lbs | Lakewood, NY | Southwestern
 
A Western New York product, Diaz was named to the All-WNY Small School team as a defender following the 2016 campaign at Southwestern High School. He also capped his senior season as the most valuable player of the 2016 Chautauqua County Senior All-Star Game, and he was also named the Chautauqua County Athletic Association West Offensive MVP. Diaz was a four-year honor roll student at Southwestern, and he also played club soccer with Global Premier Soccer and the Empire United Development Academy. Diaz is enrolling at Niagara as an economics major.
 
Boyle on Diaz: "Sebastian is another local player from GPS that will compete immediately for a center back position.  Sebastian was committed to UB, and we were glad he chose Niagara following the unfortunate loss of a great program."

Mick Keilen | Goalkeeper | 5-foot-7 | 160 lbs | Berlin, NY | Shaker / Morrisville State College
 
Keilen joins the Purple Eagles after playing the 2016 campaign with Morrisville State College. Keilen helped the Mustangs to a berth in the 2016 NCAA Division III Tournament, starting 10 games and led the NEAC in goals-against average (0.87) and save percentage (.830), compiling an 8-2-0 record with three shutouts. Prior to Morrisville State, Keilen was a four-year member of the Shaker High School men's soccer team and played for the Black Watch Premier soccer club. Mick's father, Edward Keilen, played collegiate soccer at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI). Keilen will be majoring in business at Niagara.
 
Boyle on Keilen: "I had the pleasure to coach Mick while in Albany.  Mick continues to improve and surprise everyone in the net.  He won a starting spot at a very good Morrisville State program, and he is technically sound in the net."

Matthew Krucko-Moeller | Back | 6-foot-1 | 170 lbs | Burlington, ON | Assumption Catholic Secondary
 
Krucko-Moeller played at Assumption Catholic Secondary School in Ontario, winning the High School Senior Conference Championship in 2014 and finishing as an Ontario High School Senior finalist. Playing with the Sigma FC soccer club, Krucko-Moeller won both the 2015 fall championship and 2016 spring championship in the Soccer Academy Alliance of Canada (SAAC). Krucko-Moeller's resume also includes a 2016 CASL Tournament Championship and a 2016 League One Ontario Western Conference runner-up finish. Krucko-Moeller will be studying finance at Niagara.
 
Boyle on Krucko-Moeller: "Matthew comes from another top Canadian club in Sigma.  He will add more depth to our back line and has the chance to compete for a starting spot right away."

Rhys Lanskail | Back | 5-foot-7 | 138 lbs | Orillia, ON | Elmvale District
 
Lanskail won the Sr. Boys' soccer MVP award in 2015-16 and Jr. Boys' Sportsmanship Award in 2013-14 playing at Elmvale District High School. On the club level, Lanskail played for the ANB Academy. Lanskail will be studying education at Niagara.
 
Boyle on Lanskail: "Rhys will add depth to our back line and compete right away as a lefty.  His experience with ANB FC has prepared him well for the left back and wing positions."
 
Matt Lopoyda | Midfield | 5-foot-10 | 160 lbs | Niagara Falls, ON | St. Paul High / Belmont University
 
Lopoyda comes to Niagara after playing the 2015 and 2016 seasons at Belmont University. As a freshman, he started 14 of 19 games for the Bruins in 2015, logging an assist and 10 shots. Lopoyda played 17 games this past season, finishing with six shots and two shots on goal. Prior to Belmont, Lopoyda was a member of the Toronto FC Academy from 2010 to 2012. He also played for St. Paul High School as well as the Empire Revs and Niagara United soccer clubs. Lopoyda will continue his studies in business at Niagara.
 
Boyle on Lopoyda: "Matt has gained significant experience across Western New York and Canada in addition to his collegiate experience from Belmont.  He will contribute across the front line and help us create and score."

Andrew McDonagh | Back | 6-foot-1 | 178 lbs | Derby, NY | Lake Shore Central
 
A Western New York product, McDonagh was named to the 2016 Buffalo News Boys Soccer Honor Roll following his senior campaign at Lake Shore Central High School. On the club level, McDonagh played for the Black Watch Buffalo soccer club. McDonagh intends to major in finance at Niagara.
 
Boyle on McDonagh: "Andrew is another local product from the Black Watch club.  He is a very capable strong back that will compete for a spot."
 
Andres Munoz | Midfield | 5-foot-11 | 155 lbs | Brooklyn, NY | Christ the King Regional / St. John's University
 
Munoz comes to Monteagle Ridge and will enroll in the biology program after spending two years at St. John's University. Prior to that, Munoz graduated from Christ the King Regional High School located in Queens, New York and gained significant experience with the Albertson Academy soccer program.
 
Boyle on Munoz: "Andres' experience with Albertson will be valuable and he will add depth to our wing positions."

Luca Pacheco | Midfield | 5-foot-10 | 160 lbs | Burlington, ON | Corpus Christi Catholic
 
Pacheco comes to Niagara after scoring two goals to help Corpus Christi Catholic Secondary School to a 2016 Golden Horseshoe Athletic Conference (GHAC) Championship victory. Pacheco's team went on to win the OFSAA title as he led all goal scorers in the tournament with six. On the club level, Pacheco helped the Mount Hamilton U21 club to an undefeated season and regional championship in 2016. In the summer of 2016, Pacheco was invited to play in Portugal with the Benfica Youth Academy as a guest player in the Masters Champion Tournament. He will be studying business management at Niagara.
 
Boyle on Pacheco: "He joins us from a very talented Mount Hamilton club.  Luca gives us another threat on our front line, and he has a very high ceiling for college soccer."

Danilo Pekovic | Midfield | 5-foot-9 | 142 lbs | Denver, CO | East High School
 
A member of the Colorado Rapids Youth Academy, Pekovic helped his team to a Rocky Mountain Cup championship in 2015 and a Generation Adidas Cup in 2016, adding a Dallas Cup semifinal appearance in 2014. He also attended East High School from 2015-17 and the Denver Center for International Studies (DCIS) from 2012-14. Pekovic intends to major in business at Niagara.
 
Boyle on Pekovic: "Danilo comes from a talented Rapids Academy in Colorado and brings an attacking mindset to our squad. He constantly looks to go at opponents and will give us another dimension offensively."

Kyle Walters | Back | 5-foot-9 | 172 lbs | Bel Air, MD | C. Milton Wright / Arcadia University
 
In the 2016 campaign with Arcadia University, Walters made 15 appearances and seven starts on the backline, helping the Knights to a 9-8-4 record. Prior to that, he played for C. Milton Wright High School as well as the Pipeline soccer club. Walters plans to pursue a degree in business.
 
Boyle on Walters: "Kyle was able to gain playing experience with a very good coaching staff at Arcadia.  He will add competition on the right side of our back line immediately."

The Niagara men's soccer team kicks off the 2017 regular season on Friday, Aug. 25 taking part in the Lipscomb/Belmont Challenge in Nashville, Tennessee. The Purple Eagles' home opener comes against Little 3 rival St. Bonaventure on Wednesday, Sept. 20 at 7 p.m. at Niagara Field.
 
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