DALLAS (SMU) - Head coach
Kevin Hudson and his coaching staff announced the addition of 10 student-athletes for the 2017 season.
The 2017 recruiting class consists of Joshua Berney, Ryan Capo, Matteo DeFina, Nicky Hernandez, Noah Hilt, Talen Maples, Luke Thompson, Austin Vincent, Patrick Wintergalen and graduate transfer Tyler Long.
"We are thrilled to welcome this talented group of student-athletes to the SMU soccer family," Head coach
Kevin Hudson said. "We expect this class to make an immediate and significant impact this fall. This group embodies what we look for in SMU soccer players, they are great soccer players who are equally dedicated in the classroom. Much of the credit for this class goes to our assistant coach and recruiting coordinator,
Dustin Norman, who worked tirelessly to find and recruit these elite student-athletes."
JOSHUA BERNEY
Defender | 6-1 | Oklahoma City, Okla. (Bishop McGuinness Catholic HS/Oklahoma FC) |
Athletics: Five-time state champion (2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015) with Oklahoma FC … Region III Semi-Finalists (2014-2015)… Disney College Showcase Champions (2016)…Bishop McGuiness Catholic High School four-year letterwinner…2015 6A Oklahoma State Runner-Up…2015 All-District and All-Conference honoree…2016 All-State honoree
Academics: Member of the National Honor Society
Hudson on Berney: "Josh is a gifted left-sided player from Oklahoma FC. He comes to SMU after playing for Jesse Faily at OFC so we know he will be prepared. He serves a great ball and can score from distance. We see Josh playing as either a left-winger or left-back for the Mustangs."
RYAN CAPO
Midfielder | 6-0 | Atlanta, GA (Woodward Academy/Concorde Fire) |
Athletics: Team captain and starting midfielder for Concorde Fire U18 Development Academy… U15 Georgia State Semi-Finalist…Region III Premier League Champion…Woodward Academy three-year letterman…Led Woodward to Georgia state semifinals
Academics: Member of the National Honor Society and Eagle Honor Roll
Hudson on Capo: "Ryan is a technically sound and tough central midfielder. He is calm in possession but also has the ability to cover ground and break up play. We see Ryan playing in the center of midfield at SMU."
MATTEO DeFINA
Goalkeeper | 6-2 | Livermore, Calif. (Granada HS/Mustang SC) |
Athletics: Plays for Mustang SC…Also played for De Anza Force Academy and San Jose Earthquakes Academy…Currently ranked the No.1 goalkeeper and the No. 11 player overall in the Northern California and Hawaii Region by Topdrawersoccer.com
Academics: Principals Honor Roll…Academic Excellence Award Honoree
Hudson on DeFina: Matteo is a quick and athletic goalkeeper who has a strong presence in goal. He possesses excellent distribution skills and is very comfortable with the ball at his feet. He is brave and never shies away from a challenge. We expect Matteo to continue to develop into an excellent goalkeeper at SMU."
NICKY HERNANDEZ
Forward/Midfielder | 5-11 | School of Science and Engineering (Dallas Texans SC) |
Athletics: Team captain for the Dallas Texans SC U18 United States Development Academy team...Advanced to the Dallas Cup quarterfinals in 2017… Invited to U.S. Soccer National Pool camps (2013, 2014, 2015)…National Premier League Champions in 2013…Trained with Real Madrid Academy coaches in Madrid, Spain in 2013…Selected by Nike to play in the prestigious Manchester Nike Premier Cup in Manchester, England in 2013… Two-time ESPN Wide World of Sports Disney Champions (2013, 2014)
Academics: Member of the National Junior Honor Society
Hudson on Hernandez: "Nicky is a versatile attacking player who we expect to make an immediate impact this fall. He has the ability to score or create chances for teammates. He has played for the Dallas Texans his entire life so we know he will be fully prepared for college soccer. He comes from a soccer family that helped shape his natural instincts on the field."
NOAH HILT
Midfielder | 5-11 | Aurora, Colorado (Regis Jesuit HS/Real Colorado) |
Athletics: Team captain for Real Colorado U18 United States Development Academy team…USSDA National Semifinals (2016)…Colorado State Cup Champion (2013)…NPL National Champion (2014)
Academics: Member of the National Junior Honor Society…Member of the Investment Club
Hudson on Hilt: "Noah is an exciting midfielder who possesses excellent passing range with both feet. He is a quiet leader who always gets the job done in midfield on both sides of the ball. His calming presence on the ball gives him the ability to dictate the pace and rhythm of the game with his decision making and passing. He will be a valuable member of the SMU Mustangs this fall."
TALEN MAPLES
Defender | 6-0 | Leander, Texas (Leander HS/Lonestar SC Academy) |
Athletics: Team captain for Lonestar SC U18 United States Development Academy Team… Won two state championships with Georgetown Force (2014, 2016)…Regional quarterfinalist (2016)…Regional semifinalist (2014)… First Team All-District and Newcomer of the Year as a freshman… First Team All-District as a sophomore … Advanced to the round of 16 at the Gothia Cup in Sweden in 2013
Academics: Member of the National Honor Society…Two-time Academic All-District
Hudson on Maples: "Talen is a winner and leader in every sense of the word. He is a vocal organizer of a team and physical presence in the back. He is composed with the ball at his feet and will give the team the ability to build out under pressure. We anticipate Talen being a key player for SMU for this fall."
LUKE THOMPSON
Midfielder | 5-10 | Dripping Springs, Texas (Lake Travis HS/Lonestar SC Academy) |
Athletics: Member of Lonestar SC U18 United States Development Academy team…Junior captain of Lake Travis High School Varsity team…Named to the 2016 6A All-State Tournament Team…2016 District Midfielder of the Year…Named to the TASCO Region 2 All-State Team in 2016…First Team All-District (2015)…Second Team All-District (2014)…Named Team Underclassman of the Year as a freshman and sophomore
Academics: Member of the National Honor Society…AP Scholar…Member of the Gifted & Talented Program…Academic All-District Team
Hudson on Thompson: "Luke is an athletic and aggressive wide player. He glides up and down the flank with the ability to create opportunities by beating defenders 1v1. Luke's deceptive athleticism and quickness will make him a great asset for the Mustangs this fall."
AUSTIN VINCENT
Defender | 5-9 | Longview, Texas (Longview HS/Solar SC Academy) |
Athletics: Team captain for Solar SC USSDA team… Generation Adidas International Select Group and trained in Spain at Real Madrid (2016)…U.S. Soccer Training Centers (2013-15)… Nike iD2 invitee (2013)…Dallas Cup Quarterfinalist
Academics: Member of the National Honor Society
Hudson on Vincent: "Austin is a technically sound and quick outside back. Austin has played for Adrian Solca at Solar SC for most of his youth career so he will be prepared for SMU. Austin is ultracompetitive and possesses a great engine to enhance his effectiveness in wide areas."
PATRICK WINTERGALEN
Defender | 6-3 | Phoenix, AZ (Brophy Prep/Blackhawks SC) |
Athletics: Team captain of Blackhawks SC…National Premier League Regionals Champions (2016)…National Premier League (Mountain Division) Champions (2016)…USYS Region IV Championship semifinalist (2015)…AYSA State Champion (2014, 2015)…Player's Showcase Tournament Semifinalist (2014)…Sereno College Showcase Champion (2014)…Blackhawk's Max Shacknai Invitational Champion (2014)…President's Day Tournament Semifinalist (2014)…North Huntington Beach Cup Semifinalist (2013)…AYSA State Championship Semifinalist (2013)
Academics: Member of the National Honor Society…National Merit Commended Scholar…AP Scholar…Member of the Summer Honors Enrichment Program (SHEP)
Hudson on Wintergalen: "Patrick is a tall and smooth central defender. He has fought back from some rough injuries in his youth career so we know his physical and mental toughness are excellent. He also possesses a great ability to win balls in the air."
TYLER LONG
Forward/Midfielder | 5-10 | Clarksville, TN (Rossview HS/Brown University) |
Athletics (As a senior at Brown University in 2016): Played in 16 games, making 13 starts…Recorded seven points on the year, with three goals and an assist ...Tallied the fourth-most points for the Bears...Scored the game-winner against SMU (9/11)...Also scored a career-best two goals against Clemson (10/16) ...Recorded 17 shots with seven on target
Academics: Graduated from Brown University in May 2017
Hudson on Long: "Tyler is a relentless worker who can be very effective in several positions. He possesses an infectious enthusiasm for the game that will rub off on his teammates. I actually recruited Tyler to SMU out of high school so I was thrilled when he expressed interest in playing his final year of eligibility at SMU. Tyler has the ability to make an immediate impact this fall as either a winger, attacking midfielder or striker."
