COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Head coach Sasho Cirovski has announced the signing of nine players to compete for the Maryland men's soccer team.
“I am very excited to welcome another special class to the Maryland Soccer family," Cirovski said. "They are very talented and posses great character, hunger and humility.
"I am confident they will leave their mark on Maryland both individually and collectively. Combined with a strong returning group, I feel we will have the ability to build on last year's success and contend for both conference and national championships."
Before Maryland (at Virginia): Second Team All-ACC in 2015 with a team-high four goals…named to 2014 ACC All-Freshman Team and earned a spot on the NCAA College Cup All-Tournament Team after helping lead the Cavaliers to the national title…played in all 23 matches as a rookie and landed a spot on the College Soccer News All-Freshman Second Team…spent time in US U-23 Men's College Identification training camp…suited up for US U-20s national team.
Personal: Jake Michael Rozhansky was born July 4, 1996…son of Roman Rozhansky and Irina Mathews…attended Montgomery Blair HS…has one brother, Max… scored first career goal, the game winner, in second half of NCAA tournament win against UNC Wilmington (11/23/14)…major is government and politics.
Cirovski on Rozhansky: "Jake is a very talented and versatile midfielder with great feet and and an advanced soccer mind. His collegiate experience combined with his skill set will allow him to have an immediate impact.”
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Before Maryland (at USC Upstate): Named A-Sun Freshman of the Year…A-Sun All-Conference and All-Freshman team…four-time A-Sun Player of the Week for the first time since 1995 and only second time in league history…First Team NSCAA All-Southeast Region team…Hero Sports Division I Men's Soccer Rookie of the Year…Top Drawer Soccer All-American Freshman Team…scored 16 goals and added two assists…notched three game-winners…College Soccer News Frist Team All-Freshman American…National Player of the Week by College Soccer News and Top Drawer Soccer…three-time National Team of the Week by College Soccer News and Top Drawer Soccer…ranked No. 1 in the nation goals, goals per game, shots on goal, total shots and points per game.
Personal: Gordon Wild was born on Oct. 16, 1995 in Leonberg, Germany…son of Johnny Meyer and Irene Wild…has one brother, Rene…lists basketball as a hobby…major is business administration.
Cirovski on Wild: "Gordon is a gifted striker and a proven D1 scorer. In addition to his ability to create and score in the flow of play, he is deadly on set pieces with his left foot. He gives our attack another dimension.”
Before Maryland: Suited up for St. Elizabeth High School from 2012-15 and YSC Academy from 2015-16…St. Elizabeth was State Cup finalist in 2013 as Bajek boasted 11 shutouts…Kirkwood Roma State champs in 2012 and 2013…tabbed to adidas International Select team in 2013…Philadelphia Union Academy finished third nationally in 2015.
Personal: Justin Bajek was born March 3, 1998…son of John and Renee…father played soccer at Kean University…First Honor Roll all four years at St. Elizabeth…traveled to Spain to play against Real Madrid and Rayo Vallecano in 2013…chose Maryland because “it is the best soccer program in the country”…undecided on major.
Cirovski on Bajek: "Justin is an athletic goalkeeper with great hands. He has a tremendous upside and will add great depth to our goalkeeping team. He is very strong on crosses and has the ability to start the counter with his distribution skills.”
Before Maryland: Led Woodrow Wilson High School to league title in 2012…helped guide Bethesda-Olney to playoffs two years.
Personal: Griffin Thomas Bouchard was born March 27,1998…son of Ron and Jenifer…has three brothers, Austin, Tyler and Mason…Honor Roll student at Woodrow Wilson…chose Maryland because of the “great opportunities and best soccer atmosphere”…major is kinesiology.
Cirovski on Bouchard: "Griffin is an athletic left footed center back who can also play left back. He is very comfortable on the ball and is very good in the air.”
Before Maryland: Led River Hill HS to the 2015 Maryland State Championship in 2015 and captured regional titles in both 2014 and 2015…tabbed to the 2015 High School All-American Game…NSCAA All-Mid-Atlantic Region in 2014 and 2015…All-State selection in 2014 and 2015..2014 Howard County Player of the Year…two-time Baltimore Sun All-Metro Team and Washington Post All-Metro Team…Severna Park Fever was U17 and U18 Maryland State Champions and ranked top 20 in the nation…also lettered three seasons in basketball…enrolled during the spring semester of 2016.
Personal: Michael Heitzmann was born July 3, 1997…son of Larry and Teresa Heitzmann…brother, Joe and sister, Kaitlyn…named to Dean's List all four years in high school…lists biggest sports thrill as winning the state championship…major is finance.
Cirovski on Heitzmann: "Mike is a technical player who can create and score out of the midfield. He got a head start as he enrolled this spring and is improving daily. He has shown to be a quick understudy."
Before Maryland: Ranked #9 by College Soccer News and #28 by Top Drawer Soccer… member of US Soccer U17 Residency Program …All-American in 2014 and 2015 and an All-Metro and All-county seleciotn in 2012, 2013 and 2015...went undefeated and captured the MIAA championship in 2013 at McDonogh…US Soccer national champions as member of Celtic Soccer Club in Baltimore in 2014 and a semifinalist in 2015.
Personal: Keegan Scott Kelly was born on Dec. 8, 1998…son of Daniel Kelly and Terry Kelly…father played soccer at Penn State…has two brothers, Jesse Huff and Cavan Kelly…Academic Excellence and Honor Roll all four years at McDonogh…chose Maryland because it was “of the great campus and soccer program”…would play basketball if he could play another sport at Maryland…major is communications.
Cirovski on Kelly: "Keegan is a highly skillful and energetic attacking player. He can unbalance defenses with and without the ball. His versatility allows him to play in all advanced midfield positions. Has a very cultured left foot.”
Before Maryland: Was the only 17 year old on the Jamaican National U20 squad for the CONCACAF Word Cup Qualifying tournament…Massachusetts Gatorade Player of the Year nominee…led Milton Academy to ISL and New England championship with 11 goals and nine assists in 2015.
Personal: John Luca Levee was born on Feb. 21, 1997…son of Deighton and Lisa Levee…one sister, Viva…chose Maryland because he “loved the campus vibe and have extremely high respect for the coaches and the program, felt it was the best place to continue my career”…international business major.
Cirovski on Levee: "Luca is very skillful box to box midfielder. He is a great distributor of the ball. His technical ability and tactical awareness is allows him to play in any of the midfield positions.”
Before Maryland: U.S. Soccer Training Center invite and Select Game invite in the winter of 2014…selected to train with Italian Club Internazionale in 2015…played for D.C. United Academy where he was the team captain from 2014-16…River Hill Varsity Athlete Award in 2012.
Personal: Donovan C. Pines was born March 7, 1998…son of Darryll and Sylvia Pines…mother played lacrosse at West Chester University…has one sister, Kalala, who attends the University of Maryland…chose Maryland for the “soccer atmosphere and excellent academics”…would title his autobiography “The Secretary of Defense”…major is biology.
Cirovski on Pines: "Donovan is a tall, decidedly competitive central defender. He plays with great concentration and humility. He loves to defend and is exceptional in the air. He is very composed on the ball.”
Before Maryland: Ranked #47 by College Soccer News and #71 by Top Drawer Soccer… member of US Soccer U17 Residency Program…Generation adidas ESP in 2015…USSDA Select Academy Player in 2013.
Personal: Miles Carter Stray was born May 16, 1998…son of Theodore and Lynn Stray…one sister, Avery…lists his non-sports hero as his teammates at RSL Academy…undecided on major.
Cirovski on Stray: "Miles is a big, strong and extremely competitive central defender. He plays with great concentration and humility. He is very strong in the air and has great range in his passing.”
