Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern Signs Six in Stellar Recruiting Class
2/19/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Feb. 19, 2010
EVANSTON, Ill. - Northwestern head men's soccer coach Tim Lenahan has announced the signing of six individuals to a stellar recruiting class that will join the Wildcats for the 2010 season.
"Even though we have been ranked as one of the top recruiting classes in each of the last four years, I think this is our best recruiting class to date," Lenahan said. "Former assistant coach (and current head coach at Xavier University) Andy Fleming deserves much of the credit.
"We have added a goal scorer in Reed Losee, two outstanding central players in Connor Holloway and Layth Masri, two flank players in Scott Lakin and Jeff Rogers and one very, very special talent in Lepe Seetane. We have added a more athletic and talented group without sacrificing the character and team oriented standards associated with Northwestern Soccer. Overall, this is a great, great class."
Northwestern is coming off an 11-5-4 season in 2009 and the team's fourth consecutive NCAA tournament appearance. The Wildcats were the No. 9 national seed in the 2009 tourney and advanced to the third round.
Complete bios and quotes from Coach Lenahan appear below:
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Connor Holloway
Height: 6-1
Weight: 165
Hometown: Deerfield, Ill.
High School: Deerfield
Position: Defender/Midfielder
High School: Four-year letterwinner ... Team captain as a senior ... Posted 26 goals and 40 assists over career ... First-team IHSSCA all-state selection as a senior ... Chicago Tribune first-team all-state... Led team to best record in school history (19-4-1) and best record over two years (37-8-2) ... Led team to two regional championships ... Four-year all-conference selection ...Three-time recipient of Scholar Athlete Award ... Two-time MVP ... Teammate of fellow NU signee Scott Lakin. Club/ODP: Member of the Chicago Fire Academy ... Team finished fifth at 2008 Academy Finals ... 2008 US Soccer Mid-America Conference Starting XI & Mid-America Conference Champions ... Previously member of Chicago Wind team that captured two state championships and were regional finalists... Two-time member of Illinois State Team ... 2007 ODP National Champions.
Personal: Born Connor James Holloway on 10/15/91 ... Son of Peggy Holloway ... Chose Northwestern over Wisconsin, George Mason, Santa Clara and Notre Dame ... Attended Northwestern University College Soccer Training Center and One Day Prep Camp.
Coach Lenahan on Connor Holloway: "Connor's game is very, very mature. He makes great decisions on the field and has an excellent awareness both defending and attacking. These traits, combined with very good athleticism, offer him the chance to be a great player at the Division I level."
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Height: 6-1
Weight: 185
Hometown: Lake Orion, Mich.
High School: Lake Orion
Position: Forward
High School: Four-year letterwinner ... Team captain junior and senior years .... Tallied a school-record 93 career goals ... Four-time all-district, all-county, all-league, all-region, and all-state honors ... Member of Dream Team and first-team all-state senior year ... Finished third in Mr. Soccer voting for the state of Michigan ... Four times named team Offensive Player of the Year ... Team MVP junior and senior years ... Posted a combined 60 goals and 42 assists junior and senior seasons. Club/ODP: Played two years at Vardar Soccer Club ... Played the last three years with Michigan/Derby County Wolves ... Team Captain for the 2008-09 season ... Two-time leading goal scorer ... Ranked among leading academy scorers in the nation with 23 ... Team won 2009 U.S. Soccer Development Academy National Championship ... Named to the 2009 U.S. Soccer Development Academy Conference Starting 11 team ... Invited to Elite Soccer Program in 2009 ... Member of 1992 Regional ODP team for two years.
Personal: Born Reed Trevor Losee on 6/6/92 ... Son of Karen Losee ... Chose Northwestern over Michigan, Louisville and Wake Forest ... Attended Northwestern University College Soccer One Day Prep Camp.
Coach Lenahan on Reed Losee: "Reed Losee is a flat-out goal scorer. Although he has played various positions over the years, he has excelled when he has played up top. He is a powerful player with a great left foot and used those attributes to be among the leading scorers in the country at the academy level. He is also an excellent passer of the ball and should really add another dimension to our attack."
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Layth Masri
Height: 5-11
Weight: 160
Hometown: Louisville, Ky.
High School: Louisville Collegiate School
Position: Midfielder/Defender
High School: Four-year letter winner ... Team captain junior and senior year ... Team MVP junior and senior year ... Runner-up Mr. Soccer for Kentucky senior year ... Three times named all-district ... Four-time all-region selection ... First-team all-state senior year ... Voted by Alumni Association as Best All-Around Male Athlete in 2009 ... NSCAA/adidas High School Boys All-Region IV (Central) Team 2009 ... Also four-year letterwinner in basketball ... Both team captain and MVP junior and senior years ... Scored over 1,000 points as point guard on the basketball team ... National Honor Society member. Club: Ten-year member of Javanon Soccer Club ... Team captain for five years ... Five-time Kentucky State Cup Champions ... Region II Champions 2008 and 2009 ... Disney Showcase Finalist 2008 and 2009 ... Selected to U-17 All Star Team at Disney's Soccer Showcase 2008 and attended Chelsea Football Academy in London, England, 2009.
Personal: Born Layth Bashar Badie Cruse Masri on 9/10/91 ... Son of Bashar and Debbie Cruse Masri ... Father played collegiate soccer at the University of Louisville ... Brother, Rashad, plays soccer at the University of Chicago ... Chose Northwestern over Louisville, Georgetown and Saint Louis.
Coach Lenahan on Layth Masri:"Layth has a great presence on the field. Every time we see him play, he is instrumental in his team's success, be it in the center of the midfield or at center back. Watching his team at regionals, he pretty much willed them to a championship, scoring the key goal in the semifinal win. He is a winner in every sense of the word."
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Height: 6-1
Weight: 160
Hometown: Deerfield, Ill.
High School: Deerfield
Position: Defender
High School: Three-year varsity letterwinner ... Team captain as a senior ... Two-time all-conference, all-sectional and all-area ... Led team to best record in school history (19-4-1) and best record over two-year span (37-8-2) ... Led team to two regional championships... Helped lead defense to 30 shutouts over his career ... Teammate of fellow NU signee Connor Holloway. Club/ODP: Member of Chicago Fire Academy ... Previously a member of Chicago Magic Academy ... Team finished third at 2009 Academy Nationals ... Five-year member of Chicago Wind Soccer Club which twice won the state championship.
Personal: Born Scott Charles Lakin on 1/17/92 ... Parents Nanci and Richard Lakin... Chose Northwestern over Dartmouth, Brown and Wisconsin... Attended Northwestern University College Soccer Training Center and One Day Prep Camp.
Coach Lenahan on Scott Lakin: "Scott is a fantastic athlete whose best soccer days are ahead of him. He has grown tremendously since we first saw him at camps two years ago. He has phenomenal speed both coming forward and in recovery. He should be a great player in the Big Ten in the not too distant future."
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Lepe Seetane
Height: 5-2
Weight: 135
Hometown: Lesotho, Africa
High School: Trinity (Louisville, Ky.)
Position: Midfielder
High School: Four-year varsity starter ... Team captain as a senior ... Four-year all-district, all-region and all-state ... Parade Magazine All-American in 2008. Club/ODP: Five-year member of United '96 FC ... Two-time Kentucky state champions ... Three-time ESP invitee and three-time, ESP all-star ... ESP MVP in 2008 ... Three-time NSCAA All-American. Three-year member of Region II team, playing with future Northwestern teammates Michael Wallbridge and Jarrett Baughman.
Personal: Born Lepekola Seetane on 6/4/91 ... Son of Malepekola Seetane ... Lived with guardians Marc and Pam McGuire in Louisville ... Chose Northwestern over Indiana, Maryland, St. John's and UCLA ... Attended Northwestern University College Soccer Training Center.
Coach Lenahan on Lepe Seetane: "In my opinion, and in the opinion of many of the college coaches I have spoken to, Lepe is the number one player in the country. The sophistication of his game is not seen by any other players his age. His primary goal as a player is to get other players involved in the game. His speed, touch and vision truly makes him a special player and a great addition to our program."
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Jeff Rogers
Height: 5-7
Weight: 140
Hometown: Birmingham, Mich.
High School: Detroit Country Day School
Position: Defender/Midfielder
High School: Four-year varsity letterwinner ... Team captain senior year ... Led team to its 14th state title in 2009 ... All-state selection junior and senior years ... All-region and all-district selection in junior and senior years ... Helped guide the Jackets to two state championships and four regional championships ... Earned Magna Cum Laude honor status. Club/ODP: Six-year member of Vardar Soccer Club ... Three-year member of Vardar U.S. Soccer Development Academy Teams ... Member of 2007 MRL Champions and State Cup Finalists ... 2006 Super Y League National Camp player ... 2005 ODP National Pool Camp player ... 2005 Region II Team player ... Five-year player on Michigan State ODP Team ... Played with and competed against fellow Northwestern signee Reed Losee.
Personal: Born Jeffrey Keith Rogers on 7/23/92 ... Parents Mark and Stacey Rogers ... Brother, John, is a sophomore member of the Northwestern team ... Chose Northwestern after considering Towson and Case Western Reserve ... Attended the Northwestern University College Soccer Training Center.
Coach Lenahan on Jeff Rogers: "Jeff really caught our attention when he attended our One Day Camp and College Soccer Training Center. He is a very technical player who has excellent tactical awareness. We are looking for Jeff to provide team depth at the flank midfield or outside back. He is definitely someone who I think has his best days as a player ahead of him."
