Northwestern Men's Soccer Adds Five in Latest Class
2/14/2018 3:24:00 PM | Men's Soccer
EVANSTON, Ill. — Northwestern head coach Tim Lenahan has announced the addition of newcomers Richie Bennett, Jayson Cyrus, Bardia Kimiavi, Connor McCabe and Julian Zighelboim to the recruiting class of 2018.
"I really like the balance of the group we are bringing in next year," Lenahan said. "We have added a pair of very tough and physical defenders in Julian Zighelboim and Jayson Cyrus, two very clever central midfield players in Richie Bennett and Connor McCabe and a very dynamic attacking player in Bardia Kimiavi. We are looking to add a striker to this group, which should be rated among the top recruiting classes in the country. I think you will see several of these players have an immediate impact at Northwestern and in the Big Ten."
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Richie Bennett | 6-0 | 160 | Carmel, Indiana | Brebeuf Jesuit
High School: Did not play High School soccer due to full-time U.S. Soccer Developmental Academy commitment.
Club: Played for Indiana Fire Developmental Academy for six years … Captained U-14, U-16, and U-18 age groups in 2014, 2016, and 2018 respectively … Member of the 2016-17 U-18 Academy Team that ranked top-10 in country … Started every game since 2013-14 season … Played on U-16 academy team when he was 12 years old in the 2012-13 season … Attended U.S. Soccer Training Centers on three occasions … Selected to play in Generations Adidas International Event in Madrid, Spain in 2016 … Scored a goal and assisted against Real Madrid 2001 A team for 2-0 win … Attended Northwestern's College Soccer Training Center (CTSC) in the summer of 2017.
Personal: Parents are Rick and Karen Bennett… Rick attended Denison University and Karen attended Purdue University … Sisters Betsy (22) and Julie (19) attend University of Colorado-Boulder … Plans to major in biology. Chose Northwestern after considering Indiana and Dartmouth.
Coach Lenahan Comments: Richie really impressed us with his ability to manage the game from his Defensive Center Midfield position. When the position is played the right way, you hardly notice the player on the field, but they are invaluable to the team's success. His coach at the Indiana Fire, Phil Presser, a former All-Big Ten player at Indiana, believes Rich can be one of the most successful players to come out of their very successful club.
•••
Jayson Cyrus | 5-10 | 170 | Edgewater, Maryland | Bishop McDonough
High School: A four-year varsity starter and two-time captain for the nationally ranked McDonogh School ... Won two MIAA B Conference titles with Severn School and an MIAA A conference title with the McDonogh School senior year … Was awarded all-conference and first team all-county honors as a freshman ... Earned all-conference and first team all-county honors as a sophomore ... Transferred to McDonogh School as a junior and was awarded second team all-state and second team all-metro….Senior year won MIAA A conference title and was named first team all-metro, first team all-conference, first team all-state, and All-American honors …. Played in All-American game and was named to the Top XI of the game.
Club: Played for Baltimore Celtic and won the 2016 USYSA state cup, the USYSA region in 2017, and the USYSA national championship in 2018 … Made two appearances in the national semifinals ... Won the national league in 2016 ... Captained Celtic from 2016 – 2018.
Personal: Parents are Angela and Charles Cyrus...Angela attended Mississippi State, and Charles attended Elon University … Both parents are retired Naval Officers. Brothers are Tyler and Jordan… Jordan played soccer at the University of Maryland and Tyler played at the University of Virginia … Chose Northwestern after considering Brown and Columbia
Coach Lenahan Comments: Jayson comes from a great soccer lineage with his brothers playing at Maryland and Virginia, respectively … He is a tough, hard-nosed defensive bulldog, who can play outside back or centrally. His competitiveness can really add to the program in the years to come.
•••
Bardia Kimiavi | 5-7 | 130 | Reston, Virginia | South Lakes
High School: Varsity starter all four years at South Lakes High School … Three-time captain … Received all-conference, all-region, all-state, and all-met honors on three occasions throughout four-year career … Twice nominated for Virginia Gatorade Player of the Year … Will play his senior this spring.
Club: U.S Youth Soccer National Champion, Golden Ball winner, and Best XI … USYS Regional Champion … Two-time Region 1 Champions League Champion … Two-time Virginia State Cup Champion … USYS National Pool (2012-) … U.S National Training Centers (2013-2016) … USYS National Combine … ODP Region 1 and VA State Teams (2012-2016) … Two-time ODP Interregional Best XI … Played in Germany, Italy, and Spain … 2016 Trial with Malaga CF … Attended Northwestern College Soccer Training Center (CSTC) in 2016.
Personal: Parents are Babak Kimiavi and Arshia Amirhakimi … Has a younger brother Aria (15) … Chose Northwestern after considering Stanford, Harvard, Georgetown, and Virginia … Dual Citizen (Iran, U.S) … Loves travelling, community service, sports, and music … Double major is undeclared … Attended College Soccer Training Center at Northwestern in 2017.
Coach Lenahan Comments:
Bardia really caught our attention at various showcases and at the College Soccer Training Center at Northwestern with his speed and tenacity going forward. He has an extra gear in his pace and a great ability to attack and be dangerous. He should give defenders fits on the flank over the next few years and will have quite an impact on the Big Ten.
•••
Connor McCabe | 5-10 | 160 | Scottsdale, Arizona | Brophy Prep
High School: Played varsity all four years and captained the Brophy Prep team as a junior … Won three region championships and earned state runner-ups in the 2018 Arizona 6A state tournament … Selected to Arizona Showcase and North Texas Elite Showcase Best XI as a senior in 2017, where Brophy won both tournaments.
Club: Played club soccer for SC Del Sol in Phoenix, Arizona … Won the Arizona state title 2012-2015 and achieved runners-up in 2016 … Attended NPL nationals in Indianapolis in 2015 … SC Del Sol is a Far West Regional League, Arizona Premier League, and National Premier League participant … Played on the Arizona Olympic Development Program in 2014 and 2015.
Personal: Parents are Joe and Michele McCabe … Both of them attended the University of Southern California … Has an older brother Aidan (21), who attends Fordham University and a sister who is 13 … Chose Northwestern after considering Stanford and Notre Dame.
Coach Lenahan's Comments: Connor was a last minute pickup for us and what a great find! He has an incredible engine to go with very good technical ability. He has the skill set to play centrally in the 8 or the 10 and the fitness and ability to move wide if necessary. I'm excited to see how his game transfers to the Big Ten as he has great potential to be a very good player.
•••
Julian Zighelboim | 6-1 | 175 | Coral Gables, Florida | Ransom Everglades School
High School: Did not play High School because of full-time commitment to US Soccer Developmental Academy Program.
Club: Back-to-back Florida State Cup champion (U-13 and U-14) and semifinalist in USYSA Region III Championship ... Four year USSDA player for Kendall Soccer Coalition in South Florida (three-time captain) ... US National Training Centers (2013-2016) ... Played in Spain in the Danone Nations Cup and Mediterranean International Cup ... Attended Northwestern's College Soccer Training Center (CTSC) in the summer of 2017.
Personal: Parents are Ronald and Jennifer Zighelboim … Older brother, Owen (20), studies at Duke University … Loves to travel, eat amazing food, watch most sports, and listen to all genres of music … Chose Northwestern after considering Yale, Cornell and Villanova. Major is undecided.
Coach Lenahan's Comments: Julian is our third Kendall Soccer player (Mattias and Cisco Tomasino) from the Miami area in recent years. He is a very tough and physical central defender, who really impressed us both at the US Soccer Academy Showcases and at the College Soccer Training Center here at Northwestern. He needs to grow in the area of where and when to use his physicality but he should have an immediate impact in the Big Ten.
Northwestern returns 10 starters from last year's team, including 21 of 22 goals scored. First year Tommy Katsyiannis ranks second among the Big Ten's returning goal scorers. He posted a team-high seven goals in his rookie campaign, all of which came in the team's final nine games. Classmate Garrett Opperman was a unanimous selection to the Big Ten's All-Freshmen Team having played every minute of the season on Northwestern's defensive line. Sophomore Mac Mazzola busted onto the scene late in the season, scoring three of his four goals in the last six game. He finished second on the team with four goals and two assists.
"I really like the balance of the group we are bringing in next year," Lenahan said. "We have added a pair of very tough and physical defenders in Julian Zighelboim and Jayson Cyrus, two very clever central midfield players in Richie Bennett and Connor McCabe and a very dynamic attacking player in Bardia Kimiavi. We are looking to add a striker to this group, which should be rated among the top recruiting classes in the country. I think you will see several of these players have an immediate impact at Northwestern and in the Big Ten."
•••
Richie Bennett | 6-0 | 160 | Carmel, Indiana | Brebeuf Jesuit
High School: Did not play High School soccer due to full-time U.S. Soccer Developmental Academy commitment.
Club: Played for Indiana Fire Developmental Academy for six years … Captained U-14, U-16, and U-18 age groups in 2014, 2016, and 2018 respectively … Member of the 2016-17 U-18 Academy Team that ranked top-10 in country … Started every game since 2013-14 season … Played on U-16 academy team when he was 12 years old in the 2012-13 season … Attended U.S. Soccer Training Centers on three occasions … Selected to play in Generations Adidas International Event in Madrid, Spain in 2016 … Scored a goal and assisted against Real Madrid 2001 A team for 2-0 win … Attended Northwestern's College Soccer Training Center (CTSC) in the summer of 2017.
Personal: Parents are Rick and Karen Bennett… Rick attended Denison University and Karen attended Purdue University … Sisters Betsy (22) and Julie (19) attend University of Colorado-Boulder … Plans to major in biology. Chose Northwestern after considering Indiana and Dartmouth.
Coach Lenahan Comments: Richie really impressed us with his ability to manage the game from his Defensive Center Midfield position. When the position is played the right way, you hardly notice the player on the field, but they are invaluable to the team's success. His coach at the Indiana Fire, Phil Presser, a former All-Big Ten player at Indiana, believes Rich can be one of the most successful players to come out of their very successful club.
•••
Jayson Cyrus | 5-10 | 170 | Edgewater, Maryland | Bishop McDonough
High School: A four-year varsity starter and two-time captain for the nationally ranked McDonogh School ... Won two MIAA B Conference titles with Severn School and an MIAA A conference title with the McDonogh School senior year … Was awarded all-conference and first team all-county honors as a freshman ... Earned all-conference and first team all-county honors as a sophomore ... Transferred to McDonogh School as a junior and was awarded second team all-state and second team all-metro….Senior year won MIAA A conference title and was named first team all-metro, first team all-conference, first team all-state, and All-American honors …. Played in All-American game and was named to the Top XI of the game.
Club: Played for Baltimore Celtic and won the 2016 USYSA state cup, the USYSA region in 2017, and the USYSA national championship in 2018 … Made two appearances in the national semifinals ... Won the national league in 2016 ... Captained Celtic from 2016 – 2018.
Personal: Parents are Angela and Charles Cyrus...Angela attended Mississippi State, and Charles attended Elon University … Both parents are retired Naval Officers. Brothers are Tyler and Jordan… Jordan played soccer at the University of Maryland and Tyler played at the University of Virginia … Chose Northwestern after considering Brown and Columbia
Coach Lenahan Comments: Jayson comes from a great soccer lineage with his brothers playing at Maryland and Virginia, respectively … He is a tough, hard-nosed defensive bulldog, who can play outside back or centrally. His competitiveness can really add to the program in the years to come.
•••
Bardia Kimiavi | 5-7 | 130 | Reston, Virginia | South Lakes
High School: Varsity starter all four years at South Lakes High School … Three-time captain … Received all-conference, all-region, all-state, and all-met honors on three occasions throughout four-year career … Twice nominated for Virginia Gatorade Player of the Year … Will play his senior this spring.
Club: U.S Youth Soccer National Champion, Golden Ball winner, and Best XI … USYS Regional Champion … Two-time Region 1 Champions League Champion … Two-time Virginia State Cup Champion … USYS National Pool (2012-) … U.S National Training Centers (2013-2016) … USYS National Combine … ODP Region 1 and VA State Teams (2012-2016) … Two-time ODP Interregional Best XI … Played in Germany, Italy, and Spain … 2016 Trial with Malaga CF … Attended Northwestern College Soccer Training Center (CSTC) in 2016.
Personal: Parents are Babak Kimiavi and Arshia Amirhakimi … Has a younger brother Aria (15) … Chose Northwestern after considering Stanford, Harvard, Georgetown, and Virginia … Dual Citizen (Iran, U.S) … Loves travelling, community service, sports, and music … Double major is undeclared … Attended College Soccer Training Center at Northwestern in 2017.
Coach Lenahan Comments:
Bardia really caught our attention at various showcases and at the College Soccer Training Center at Northwestern with his speed and tenacity going forward. He has an extra gear in his pace and a great ability to attack and be dangerous. He should give defenders fits on the flank over the next few years and will have quite an impact on the Big Ten.
•••
Connor McCabe | 5-10 | 160 | Scottsdale, Arizona | Brophy Prep
High School: Played varsity all four years and captained the Brophy Prep team as a junior … Won three region championships and earned state runner-ups in the 2018 Arizona 6A state tournament … Selected to Arizona Showcase and North Texas Elite Showcase Best XI as a senior in 2017, where Brophy won both tournaments.
Club: Played club soccer for SC Del Sol in Phoenix, Arizona … Won the Arizona state title 2012-2015 and achieved runners-up in 2016 … Attended NPL nationals in Indianapolis in 2015 … SC Del Sol is a Far West Regional League, Arizona Premier League, and National Premier League participant … Played on the Arizona Olympic Development Program in 2014 and 2015.
Personal: Parents are Joe and Michele McCabe … Both of them attended the University of Southern California … Has an older brother Aidan (21), who attends Fordham University and a sister who is 13 … Chose Northwestern after considering Stanford and Notre Dame.
Coach Lenahan's Comments: Connor was a last minute pickup for us and what a great find! He has an incredible engine to go with very good technical ability. He has the skill set to play centrally in the 8 or the 10 and the fitness and ability to move wide if necessary. I'm excited to see how his game transfers to the Big Ten as he has great potential to be a very good player.
•••
Julian Zighelboim | 6-1 | 175 | Coral Gables, Florida | Ransom Everglades School
High School: Did not play High School because of full-time commitment to US Soccer Developmental Academy Program.
Club: Back-to-back Florida State Cup champion (U-13 and U-14) and semifinalist in USYSA Region III Championship ... Four year USSDA player for Kendall Soccer Coalition in South Florida (three-time captain) ... US National Training Centers (2013-2016) ... Played in Spain in the Danone Nations Cup and Mediterranean International Cup ... Attended Northwestern's College Soccer Training Center (CTSC) in the summer of 2017.
Personal: Parents are Ronald and Jennifer Zighelboim … Older brother, Owen (20), studies at Duke University … Loves to travel, eat amazing food, watch most sports, and listen to all genres of music … Chose Northwestern after considering Yale, Cornell and Villanova. Major is undecided.
Coach Lenahan's Comments: Julian is our third Kendall Soccer player (Mattias and Cisco Tomasino) from the Miami area in recent years. He is a very tough and physical central defender, who really impressed us both at the US Soccer Academy Showcases and at the College Soccer Training Center here at Northwestern. He needs to grow in the area of where and when to use his physicality but he should have an immediate impact in the Big Ten.
Northwestern returns 10 starters from last year's team, including 21 of 22 goals scored. First year Tommy Katsyiannis ranks second among the Big Ten's returning goal scorers. He posted a team-high seven goals in his rookie campaign, all of which came in the team's final nine games. Classmate Garrett Opperman was a unanimous selection to the Big Ten's All-Freshmen Team having played every minute of the season on Northwestern's defensive line. Sophomore Mac Mazzola busted onto the scene late in the season, scoring three of his four goals in the last six game. He finished second on the team with four goals and two assists.
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