NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – Niagara men's soccer head coach Eric Barnes announced the signing of 11 student-athletes for the 2014 season. 

The team will welcome Steve Casey, Fabrizio Chiari, Andrew Ferguson, Brandon Galanti, Joel Gerberich, Brennan Koslow, Sergio Lujan, Adel Rahman, Navid Rahman, Jordy Robins, Sevgi Neptune.

"I am thrilled with our signings for our 2014 class," Barnes said.  "We have added significant depth in all areas of the field with some nationally recognized prospects.  All 11 players will be competing for playing time immediately upon their arrival, and I wouldn't be surprised if we saw a couple of them in the starting eleven come next fall."

Steve Casey ¦ 6'6 ¦ 210 lbs. ¦ Buffalo, N.Y. ¦ Williamsville South

• Member of the U.S. Soccer Development Academy Revolution Empire Team in 2013-14.
• A two-year captain at Williamsville South, helping the squad to the 2011 State Cup Championship.
• An ECIC II First Team honoree as a junior.
• Captain of Revolution Empire Buffalo team during the 2012-13 season.

"Steve has the size, athleticism and hands to develop into a dominant collegiate goalkeeper," Barnes said.  "I'm very excited to watch his growth at Niagara."

Fabrizio Chiari ¦ 5'4 ¦ 145 lbs. ¦ Caracas, Venezuela ¦ Colegio Los Arcos/Stetson University

• Played 12 games at midfield for the Stetson University Hatters, logging 153 total minutes.
• Before joining the Hatters, played club soccer for Centro Italiano Venezolano in Venezuela and Weston FC Academy in Florida.

"Fabrizio is a hardworking, technical center mid," Barnes said.  "He will add some grit and experience to our incoming class."

Andrew Ferguson ¦ 6'0 ¦ 175 lbs. ¦ Stoney Creek, Canada ¦ Cardinal Newman/Marshall University

• Played two seasons with the Marshall University Thundering Herd where he registered five goals and three assists in 26 games. 
• Ranked as high as the No. 55 freshman in the nation by topdrawersoccer.com during the 2012 season.
• Prior to Marshall was team captain of the DPS Soccer Academy from 2006-11, leading the team in scoring in 2011.
• Named Cardinal Newman High School Soccer Player of the Year in 2009.
• Named MVP at Cardinal Newman in 2011 after helping the Express to a GHAC Championship.

"Andrew is an exceptional finisher, who can play up top or in the midfield," Barnes said.  "Having a brother on the squad, he already understands how we want to play and should have an immediate impact this fall."

Brandon Galanti ¦ 5'7 ¦ 150 lbs. ¦ Hamburg, N.Y. ¦ Frontier Senior

• A forward for the Frontier Senior soccer team where he was named Western New York Player of the Year and Erie County Interscholastic Conference Player of the Year during the 2013 season after pocketing 21 goals for the Falcons. 
• Earned a spot on the WNY First Team as a senior, and was a two-time ECIC First Team honoree.
• Played club soccer for Revolution Empire Soccer Academy.
• An honor roll student who received the Scholar Athlete Award in 2012.

"Brandon is a dynamic striker with a nose for goal.  He will be a good compliment to the size of our returning forwards," Barnes said. 

Joel Gerberich ¦ 6'3 ¦ 180 lbs. ¦ Akron, Ohio ¦ Revere

• A two-time all-Ohio selection while playing for the Revere High School Minutemen. 
• Captained the Minutemen for a pair of seasons, leading the team to a 2013 state championships while being a runner-up during the 2010 and 2011 seasons.
• Finished his career with 39 career shutouts, which is fifth best in state history.  Accumulated a .367 goals against average throughout high school, and registered 16 shutouts in a season to tie the program record.  Also earned 60 varsity starts which stands as a school record.
• Played club soccer for the Everest Soccer Club.
• Placed on the honor roll all trimesters of high school.

"Joel has a great presence on and off the field," Barnes said.  "He is a well-rounded goalkeeper with all the tools to be successful."

Brennan Koslow ¦ 5'10 ¦ 165 lbs. ¦Greenville, S.C. ¦ Saint Joseph's Catholic

• A three-time all-state selection from St. Joseph's (Greenville, S.C), and a SC 1A Player of the Year honoree in 2012.
• Helped his high school squad to a 1A State Championship in 2012 and 2013. 
• Six-year captain of Carolina Elite Soccer Academy (CESA) 95 Premier.
• Led CESA to six consecutive SC State Championships, as well as a Region III Championship in 2012 and a Region III Premier League Championship in 2013.
• A 2012 USYSA National Finalist.
• Included in the topdrawersoccer.com Top 150 Pool for 2014 recruits in September 2013 and slated as high as the No. 24 recruit in the South Atlantic region by the site.

"Brennan is a tremendous midfield player with great vision and distribution," Barnes said.  "He has the ability to play center mid as well as anywhere across the back line."

Sergio Lujan ¦ 5'10 ¦ 150 lbs. ¦ Miami, Fla. ¦ Miami Coral Park Senior

• Member of the U.S. Soccer Development Academy Kendall Soccer Coalition since 2010.
• Ranked as high as the No. 109 recruit in the nation and No. 3 recruit in Florida by topdrawersoccer.com. 

"Sergio is a versatile attacking player with the ability to play anywhere across our midfield or up top," Barnes said.  "He has a knack for getting into dangerous positions and building the attack."

Sevgi Neptune ¦ 5-7 ¦ 140 lbs. ¦ Milton Keynes, England ¦ Vandyke Upper/Manor School & Sports College

• Suited up for Corby Town FC, an English football club playing in the Southern Football League Premier Division, 2012.
• In 2008 was chosen from a pool of over 200 players to play for the MK Dons FC, a League One member based in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire.
• Named captain for MK Wanderers FC in 2007.

"Sevgi is a dynamic outside back with exceptional 1v1 defending ability," Barnes said.  "He is also very sound on the ball, which makes him an asset in our system."

Adel Rahman ¦ 5'10 ¦ 150 lbs. ¦ Brampton, Ont. ¦ Mississauga Secondary/Brock University

• Played club soccer for Bryst Football Academy
• A 2012 Soccer Academy Alliance Canada (SAAC) League Cup Champion, contributing two assists in the title game.

• Netted a trio of goals during the Baltimore Showcase in 2013 en route to a first-place finish.

• Honored as an Ontario Scholar 2013.

"Adel is a crafty and composed central midfielder," Barnes said.  "He joins us as a transfer from Brock University in Ontario and will add some experience to the incoming class."

Navid Rahman ¦ 5'11 ¦ 165 lbs. ¦ Brampton, Ont. ¦ Mississauga Secondary

• Played club soccer for Bryst Football Academy.
• Captained the varsity soccer team at Mississauga Secondary. 
• Helped the Lions to a Turner Fenton Invitational Championships, and a Region of Peel Secondary Schools Athletic Association (ROPSSAA) semi-final appearance.
• Scored a pair of goal in the finals of the SAAC League Cup Championship game in 2012 en route to the title.
• Took part in the Baltimore Showcase in 2013, leading the team to a first-place finish with five assists in a trio of games.
• Placed on the honor roll all four years of high school.

"Navid is a skilled and intelligent winger, who is a true student of the game," Barnes said.  "He has a great understanding of higher level tactics and will quickly adapt to the college game."

Jordy Robins ¦ 5'8 ¦ 140 lbs. ¦ Sittingbourne, England ¦ Thee Maplesden Noakes School

• Played club soccer for Maidstone United, earning a spot in the 2014 English National Cup to be played in May.
• Helped Maidstone United to the 2012 Kent League South title.
• A member of the 2014 U18s National Cup winning team with Kent School, and aided Soccer Elite FA to the 2014 Kent Schools Academy League title.
• A 2012 South East Counties Champion with Kent FA.

"Jordy is a well-rounded midfielder with great vision and movement off the ball," Barnes said.  "He has the understanding and skill set to pull the strings in the midfield."