Fairleigh Dickinson University men's soccer head coach Seth Roland has announced 12 newcomers for the 2010 season: Jude Bischoff (Inarajan, Hi, Guam/Notre Dame), Liam Cahill (Whiting, NJ/Manchester Township), Manny Calixto (Passaic, NJ/Paramus Catholic), Jonathan Gonzalez (Bloomfield, NJ/Bloomfield), Kean Lewis (Patlipada, Thane West, India/Foreign), Jacob Lissek (Highlands Ranch, NJ/Rock Canyon), Alfredo Malaret (Bradenton, FL/Bradenton Prep), Jeff Monsalve (West New York, NJ/Memorial), Jake Mulinge (West Orange, NJ/West Orange), Kelvin Preciado (Hackensack, NJ/Hackensack), Tyler Wynn (Toms River, NJ/Toms River East) and Marco Zanfardino (Hillsborough, NJ/St. Benedict's Prep).
"I think this is a solid group of newcomers," said Roland. "I expect many of them to compete for playing time right away."
Roland welcomes two forwards into the incoming class: Jonathan Gonzalez and Kean Lewis. "Jon is an athletic, hard-working striker with tremendous potential," said Roland. "He has the ability to be dangerous in and around the goal as demonstrated by the goals he has scored for the Red Bull U-18 and U-16 Academy teams." At Bloomfield High School, Gonzalez was named Second Team All-County, All-League, All-Conference and earned recognition as an All-State Honorable Mention. He was also in the ODP Super-Y National Pool.
Lewis is 5-7, 135 pounds from India and attended Foreign High School. "Kean is extremely quick and very dynamic in attack," said Roland. "He has the ability to be dangerous going to goal."
Liam Cahill, Manny Calixto and Jeff Monsalve will join the Knights as midfielders/defenders. Cahill was First Team All-State, First Team All-Shore, First Team All-County and played for Jersey Shore BOCA club team. Cahill, at 6-0, 175 pounds, was the MVP for Central Jersey in the All-Star Game. "Liam is a serious young man who is focused on doing whatever is necessary to be successful at the Division I level. He has the tools to compete at either midfield or in the back."
The 5-9, 160-pound Calixto competed for Paramus Catholic High School. "Manny's versatility will be an asset for him at the collegiate level. For FC Westchester U-18 Academy team, he has proven to be a solid contributor as both a midfielder and defender."
Monsalve, a 6-1, 165-pound West New York native, played for the U.S. Parma U-19 club team and was Second Team All-County in 2009 at Memorial High School. "Jeff's experience playing with Parma SC has helped his development as both an outside back as well as defensive midfielder."
There are two goalkeepers among the newcomers: 5-10, 163-pound Alfredo Malaret and 6-3, 180-pound Jacob Lissek. Malaret was a member of the U-15 Venezuelan National Team Pool in 2005 and played on the U-18 IMG Academy team. "Alfredo is a highly motivated goalkeeper who has had a successful career with the IMG U-18 Academy team," said Roland. "I expect him to be pushing hard to prove that he deserves to be in goal for us."
Lissek competed on the U-18 Colorado Rush AJ Auxerre Academy Team. He was at the ODP Region IV camp in 2008 and the ODP Colorado State Pool in May 2008. At Rock Canyon High School he was All-State 4A First Team in 2009 and Goalkeeper of the Year in the same year. He played on the 2008 State Championship team and was the state runner-up in 2009. "Jacob's goalkeeping experience with the Colorado Rush Auxere U-18 Academy team is helping to prepare him for the collegiate game," said Roland. "He has a good frame for a goalkeeper, and with confidence can prove to be a solid Division I keeper."
Marco Zanfardino is a 5-10, 185-pound midfielder who was captain of the St. Benedict's Prep 2007 State Championship team. He was First Team All-Prep and the 2007 Prep Player of the Year. "Marco is an extremely talented midfielder who has a very good feel for the game," said Roland. "He spent the spring with us after transferring from UConn and he demonstrated his ability to be a significant contributor."
Kelvin Preciado is a 5-11, 180-pound All-Bergen County midfielder from Hackensack. "Kelvin has good size, good skill and reads the game well," said Roland. "In time, I expect him to be able to compete very effectively at the collegiate level for us."
The 6-1, 160-pound Jude Bischoff rounds out the midfielder additions. Bischoff earned five caps for the Guam men's national team, in addition to playing for the U-19 youth national team. "Jude is a left-sided player who has logged a number of minutes for the Guam youth and senior national teams. That experience should provide him with the confidence necessary to be successful here at FDU."
Defenders Jake Mulinge and Tyler Wynn round out the class. Mulinge competed U-18 PDA Scholes Academy team. He was First Team All-Area in 2008 and 2009 and First Team All-Conference and First Team All-County 2009. Mulinge was also First Team All-Group 4 and Second Team All-State in 2009. "Jake is one of those guys who will get better and better as an outside back," said Roland. "He is tough and athletic, and will compete aggressively to get on the field."
Wynn is 5-7, 145-pound athlete from Toms River, NJ. "Tyler is a quick, tough outside back who competes well in his one-versus-one battles," said Roland.
Fairleigh Dickinson returned to the Northeast Conference Tournament in 2009 after winning the NEC Championship in 2008 and earning an automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament. The Knights went 9-9-1 overall, including a 6-3-1 mark in league play.
