Men's Soccer Gains Seven Freshmen for 2010

Photo courtesy: David Silverman

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Jamie Clark, the Virginia B. and James O. Welch, Jr. ’52 Head Coach for Harvard Men’s Soccer, has announced that seven student-athletes will join the Crimson in the fall of 2010.

The program will gain three defenders and a pair of midfielders and forwards next season. The Crimson will sport a 27-man roster for the upcoming campaign. Last fall, Harvard posted a 14-4-1 overall mark and a 5-1-1 record in the Ivy League, en route to the program’s 13th Ancient Eight crown. The Crimson advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament in 2009.

"We are excited about this recruiting class," Clark said.  "In order to be a top 20 team, we need talented players entering our team each year.  This class not only has the ability to keep Harvard amongst the top teams in the nation, but these players have the character to work toward setting new records and benchmarks for the program."

"This is very well rounded recruiting class," Clark continued.  "We are bringing in student-athletes that can cover all ten positions on the field.  After losing a very talented senior class, some of these young men will get a chance to make their mark on Harvard soccer very early in their careers."

A.J. Agha, Forward/Midfielder, Sacramento, Calif./Jesuit
Captained San Juan Soccer Club for two years … All-state selection as a junior … Team finished second in the nation and second in the section in 2008 … Section champions and second in the nation in 2009 … Team holds state record for most sectional titles and national record for most shutouts in a season.

Ross Friedman, Defender, Bexley, Ohio/Bexley
Captained team as a junior and senior … Mid State League Player of the Year as a senior … First team All-MSL as a junior … First team all-district as a senior, second team as a junior … First team all-state, NSCAA all-region as a senior … Recipient of Coaches Award as a senior … Team Most Valuable Player as a junior and senior … Member of the Crew Soccer Academy U-18 team that finished third at the Development Academy Finals … Columbus Dispatch Starting 12 … WTVN Player of the Week … High school team made two state semifinal appearances.

Kevin Harrington, Midfielder, Pittsford, N.Y./McQuaid Jesuit
Captained high school team as a senior … Two-time selection to the All-Greater Rochester Team … Three-time All-City Catholic League honoree … All-state third team as a senior … Named to the Section 5 Tournament first team as a senior … Team Most Valuable Player … Named a “Player to Watch in Class of 2010” by TopDrawerSoccer.com … High school team ranked No. 6 nationally and won the sectional title … Team posted first undefeated season in school history.

Kyle Henderson, Midfielder, Mill Valley, Calif./Marin Catholic
Captained soccer team as a junior and senior … TopDrawerSoccer.com/ESPN RISE National Top 100 Players to Watch … ESPN RISE and NSCAA/Adidas High School All-American as a senior … NSCAA/Adidas State High School Player of the Year as a senior … Marin County Athletic League Player of the Year as a senior … Three time first team All-MCAL selection … Named team Most Valuable Player twice … Member of the Cal North Olympic Development Program team … 2007 Super Y National Camp all-star … Named to the ODP National Pool in 2005 and 2006 … High School won three league titles, one section championship … High school team was ranked No. 2 in California and No. 17 nationally.

Joseph Kearney, Defender/Midfielder, Pasadena, Calif./Loyola High School of Los Angeles
Member of the U-18 Galaxy Youth Academy … Played multiple seasons with F.C. Barcelona, winning a league championship, League Cup, State Cup, regional championship and reached the finals of the Dallas Cup … Played in the Mediterranean International Cup in Spain, losing in the quarterfinals to Real Madrid … Played internationally in Costa Rica.

Connor McCarthy, Forward, Ridgefield, Conn./Ridgefield
All-State and All-Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference selection as a junior … All-area selection as a sophomore … Member of the Oakwood Soccer Academy … Selected to the Olympic Development Program Region One pool in 2008 … An All-New England, all-state and All-FCIAC honoree in track as a sophomore … High school soccer team was Connecticut State Champions in sophomore season … Team’s leading scorer as a sophomore, junior and senior … Helped soccer team reach FCIAC finals in sophomore and senior seasons.

Pascal Mensah, Defender/Forward, Amisano, Ghana/Kimall Union/Veritas Christian Academy
Captained soccer and basketball teams … Named to the N.H. Prep School all-state team … Boston Globe all-scholastic honoree … National Association of Christian Athletes Division III Most Outstanding Player, Most Valuable Player and all-tournament team selection … Veritas Christian was NACA Division III soccer champions … Won a Lakes Region championship at Kimball Union.