Completed Event: Men's Soccer versus Fordham on August 21, 2025 , Loss , 0, to, 1
MSOC
Final
James Madison
0
vs Fordham
1
James Madison University | Official Athletics Site
Men's Soccer Welcomes Eight Newcomers for 2017
5/23/2017 4:00:00 PM | Men's Soccer
HARRISONBURG, Va. – Eight new players from five different countries will join the James Madison men's soccer program for the 2017 campaign, Head Coach Tom Foley announced on Tuesday.
"We are excited about the student-athletes in the 2017 class," Foley said. "Coach Zazenski and Coach Pedrazo have done a great job identifying individual players that embody the culture of our program. The incoming class is made up of high-quality character guys who are good students that will bring a level of maturity, professionalism and competitiveness to our team. A great mix of players from Virginia, New York, New Jersey and Europe will bring a significant level of experience, athleticism and soccer IQ to the program. We're looking forward to preseason to have these guys join our family."
The incoming class features four midfielders, two goalkeepers, a midfielder and a defender, including two Virginia products.
Sean Connolly
Position: Goalkeeper
Height/Weight: 6-4/205
Hometown: Latham, N.Y.
Previous Club: Hermiker County Community College
Scouting Report: "Sean is a first team All-American goalkeeper from the historically strong Herkimer junior college. He has a very large frame which allows him to be proficient on crosses as well as in shot-stopping situations. Sean captained his Herkimer side to a semifinal run in the junior college national tournament and we hope to use his experience and leadership qualities to strengthen our goalkeeping unit next fall."
Yannick Franz
Position: Midfield
Height/Weight: 5-5/160
Hometown: Aschaffenburg, Germany
Previous Club: Alem. Haibach
Scouting Report: "Yannick has started in over 75 games in the Men's Bayernliga Nord (fifth division) in Germany as well as experience in the Men's Regionalliga at the age of 19. He will come into JMU as a graduate student with 2 years of eligibility remaining. He plays as an attacking midfielder and is a great composer on the ball. At 21 years of age, we expect Yannick to bring a great deal of maturity and soccer IQ that will add value to the team. Yannick does well to combine the midfield with the forwards by being creative on the ball and active without it.  He is an excellent distributer on set pieces and we have very high hopes for him in our midfield."
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Thomas Judge
Position: Defender
Height/Weight: 6-1/175
Hometown: Freehold, N.J.
Previous Club: Christian Brothers HS
Scouting Report: "Thomas had an excellent showing at our residential ID camp going into his senior year. He fits the mold of a model student-athlete and one who we expect to continually progress each year he is a part of our program. Thomas attacks out of the left back position and brings a physical approach to defending in wide areas. He had an excellent career while playing for a very strong Christian Brothers high school team out of New Jersey."
Peik Koskinen
Position: Midfield
Height/Weight: 6-2/175
Hometown: Helsinki, Finland
Previous Club: FC Legirus
Scouting Report: "Peik is another 2017 recruit with national team experience, having been to numerous youth national team camps for Finland. He has been training and playing with men for a great portion of his youth career, which will help aid him in the transition to Division I men's soccer. He can play outside back and anywhere in the midfield due to his ability to cover ground and play simple. Athletically, he is well ahead of the curve and we look to Peik to contribute from day one on campus."
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Maarten Nikkessen
Position: Forward
Height/Weight: 6-1/180
Hometown: Utrecht, Netherlands
Previous Club: Sparta Rotterdam
Scouting Report: "Maarten comes to us from the widely-known Sparta Rotterdam club in the Netherlands. He is a goal-scoring threat as a forward and can provide quality services from wide positions. Maarten does all the small things that oftentimes go unnoticed and has a very well-rounded game. We were instantly drawn to his professionalism and mature approach to training and games. He has the potential to do some very special things while wearing the JMU jersey."Â
Hunter Riddle
Position: Goalkeeper
Height/Weight: 6-3/180
Hometown: Manassas, Va.
Previous Club: Osbourn Park HS
Scouting Report: "Hunter has tremendous upside as a goalkeeper. We are very optimistic about Hunter both as a player and person. We feel he brings a great deal of athletic ability to a very solid goalkeeping unit for 2017. He plays big and can make some highlight reel saves with his long frame. He is only going to get better with time and guidance and we are excited about his future here at JMU."
Nick Short
Position: Midfield
Height/Weight: 5-5/150
Hometown: Clifton, Va.
Previous Club: Bethesda Academy
Scouting Report: "We have had Nick on our recruiting radar for quite some time. Having played for a high-level club in Loudoun and now Bethesda's academy, Nick has shown he can compete at the highest youth levels. Nick has the ability to play in tight spaces and keep possession with his excellent touch and technical abilities. While on the ball he can set up goals and establish tempo. He will instantly add depth and quality as an attacking midfielder."
Petur Thorsteinsson
Position: Midfield
Height/Weight: 6-3/180
Hometown: Seltjarnarnes, Iceland
Previous Club: Grotta
Scouting Report: "Petur is a versatile player who has youth national team experience for his native country of Iceland. He currently plays for Grotta in the Icelandic second division. Petur is clinical in front of goal and can score with both feet. He is versatile enough to play in wide and central positions and can affect the game from all areas on the pitch. With his size and athleticism we think Petur will add a dynamic presence wherever he plays."
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"We are excited about the student-athletes in the 2017 class," Foley said. "Coach Zazenski and Coach Pedrazo have done a great job identifying individual players that embody the culture of our program. The incoming class is made up of high-quality character guys who are good students that will bring a level of maturity, professionalism and competitiveness to our team. A great mix of players from Virginia, New York, New Jersey and Europe will bring a significant level of experience, athleticism and soccer IQ to the program. We're looking forward to preseason to have these guys join our family."
The incoming class features four midfielders, two goalkeepers, a midfielder and a defender, including two Virginia products.
Sean Connolly
Position: Goalkeeper
Height/Weight: 6-4/205
Hometown: Latham, N.Y.
Previous Club: Hermiker County Community College
Scouting Report: "Sean is a first team All-American goalkeeper from the historically strong Herkimer junior college. He has a very large frame which allows him to be proficient on crosses as well as in shot-stopping situations. Sean captained his Herkimer side to a semifinal run in the junior college national tournament and we hope to use his experience and leadership qualities to strengthen our goalkeeping unit next fall."
Yannick Franz
Position: Midfield
Height/Weight: 5-5/160
Hometown: Aschaffenburg, Germany
Previous Club: Alem. Haibach
Scouting Report: "Yannick has started in over 75 games in the Men's Bayernliga Nord (fifth division) in Germany as well as experience in the Men's Regionalliga at the age of 19. He will come into JMU as a graduate student with 2 years of eligibility remaining. He plays as an attacking midfielder and is a great composer on the ball. At 21 years of age, we expect Yannick to bring a great deal of maturity and soccer IQ that will add value to the team. Yannick does well to combine the midfield with the forwards by being creative on the ball and active without it.  He is an excellent distributer on set pieces and we have very high hopes for him in our midfield."
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Thomas Judge
Position: Defender
Height/Weight: 6-1/175
Hometown: Freehold, N.J.
Previous Club: Christian Brothers HS
Scouting Report: "Thomas had an excellent showing at our residential ID camp going into his senior year. He fits the mold of a model student-athlete and one who we expect to continually progress each year he is a part of our program. Thomas attacks out of the left back position and brings a physical approach to defending in wide areas. He had an excellent career while playing for a very strong Christian Brothers high school team out of New Jersey."
Peik Koskinen
Position: Midfield
Height/Weight: 6-2/175
Hometown: Helsinki, Finland
Previous Club: FC Legirus
Scouting Report: "Peik is another 2017 recruit with national team experience, having been to numerous youth national team camps for Finland. He has been training and playing with men for a great portion of his youth career, which will help aid him in the transition to Division I men's soccer. He can play outside back and anywhere in the midfield due to his ability to cover ground and play simple. Athletically, he is well ahead of the curve and we look to Peik to contribute from day one on campus."
Â
Maarten Nikkessen
Position: Forward
Height/Weight: 6-1/180
Hometown: Utrecht, Netherlands
Previous Club: Sparta Rotterdam
Scouting Report: "Maarten comes to us from the widely-known Sparta Rotterdam club in the Netherlands. He is a goal-scoring threat as a forward and can provide quality services from wide positions. Maarten does all the small things that oftentimes go unnoticed and has a very well-rounded game. We were instantly drawn to his professionalism and mature approach to training and games. He has the potential to do some very special things while wearing the JMU jersey."Â
Hunter Riddle
Position: Goalkeeper
Height/Weight: 6-3/180
Hometown: Manassas, Va.
Previous Club: Osbourn Park HS
Scouting Report: "Hunter has tremendous upside as a goalkeeper. We are very optimistic about Hunter both as a player and person. We feel he brings a great deal of athletic ability to a very solid goalkeeping unit for 2017. He plays big and can make some highlight reel saves with his long frame. He is only going to get better with time and guidance and we are excited about his future here at JMU."
Nick Short
Position: Midfield
Height/Weight: 5-5/150
Hometown: Clifton, Va.
Previous Club: Bethesda Academy
Scouting Report: "We have had Nick on our recruiting radar for quite some time. Having played for a high-level club in Loudoun and now Bethesda's academy, Nick has shown he can compete at the highest youth levels. Nick has the ability to play in tight spaces and keep possession with his excellent touch and technical abilities. While on the ball he can set up goals and establish tempo. He will instantly add depth and quality as an attacking midfielder."
Petur Thorsteinsson
Position: Midfield
Height/Weight: 6-3/180
Hometown: Seltjarnarnes, Iceland
Previous Club: Grotta
Scouting Report: "Petur is a versatile player who has youth national team experience for his native country of Iceland. He currently plays for Grotta in the Icelandic second division. Petur is clinical in front of goal and can score with both feet. He is versatile enough to play in wide and central positions and can affect the game from all areas on the pitch. With his size and athleticism we think Petur will add a dynamic presence wherever he plays."
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