Northwestern University Athletics
Wildcats Welcome Eight Newcomers for 2011
2/8/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Feb. 8, 2011
EVANSTON, Ill. - Northwestern head men's soccer coach Tim Lenahan has announced the addition of eight individuals to join the Wildcats for the upcoming 2011 season.
"We really addressed some of our needs with this class adding talent and depth at goalkeeper, central defense, dynamic flank players and a big body up top," Lenahan said. "Coaches Neil Jones and Rich Nassif deserve much of the credit in identifying players that can be successful with all the challenges here at Northwestern.
"Overall this is one of our deeper classes to date. Our eight players come from seven different states with one international player. This group comes to us with a very accomplished background with three players with National Team experience in Eric Weberman and Tyler Miller with the US U-18s and Nikko Boxall with the New Zealand U-20s.
"Two players, Ryan Ivancic and Peter Beasley, captained their team to a national championship at St. Ignatius High School and the Chicago Fire U-16 Developmental Academy, respectively. Grant Wilson captained his Rockhurst team to a state championship and was named first team All-American. In Peter Horner, we have that big goal-scoring forward who gets better every time we see him and in Jagger Martinez another quality left-sided guy who has captained his high school team to a top-10 national ranking.
"All the players were captains of their teams and possess the talent and intangibles to help us get back to the NCAAs and into the elite status of college soccer in the very near future."
Complete bios on each of the signees follow.
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Hometown: Naperville, Ill.
High School: Naperville Central
Height/Weight: 6-0/155
Position: D
High School: Four-year letterwinner ... Team captain his senior year ... Named captain of the Daily Herald All-Area Team ... All-Sectional in 2010 ... Two-year All-Conference. Club: Five-year member and team captain of Chicago Fire, formerly Naperville Lightning ... Five-time Illinois State Cup Champions ... Midwest Regional Champions in 2008 ... Has played in the USSF Developmental Academy with the Chicago Fire the last two years, serving as team captain ... Anchored the defense of the USSF Academy National Champions in 2010 ... Selected to participate in the 2010 Winter Academy Select match.
Personal: Born Peter Thiery Beasley ... Son of John and Cynthia Beasley ... Chose Northwestern over Notre Dame, Bradley, and Northern Illinois ... Attended Northwestern's College Soccer Training Center and One Day Prep Camp.
Coach Lenahan on Peter Beasley: "Peter has just gotten better and better each time we have seen him. He has the solid and steady demeanor that coaches just love in their central defenders. He has been captain of just about every team he has played for, leading his team to a national championship and being selected to the US Soccer Developmental Academy Select Team. He has all the intangibles to be an outstanding player and leader at Northwestern."
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Hometown: Auckland, New Zealand
High School: Mt. Albert
Height/Weight: 6-0/185
Position: D/M
High School: Four-year letterwinner ... Named vice-captain and MVP as a senior ... Led the Lions to a sixth consecutive Auckland Secondary School Championship title, and second consecutive National Championship in 2009 ... Named Lotto Man of the Match in 2009 National Championship match ... Won the Deputy Head Prefect Award for academics as a senior. Club/National: Captained Central United at the 2010 National Championships ... Was selected to the All-Championship team ... Also played youth soccer for Auckland City FC ... Member of the New Zealand U-20 National Team ... Currently preparing for the Oceania Qualifiers in April, leading up to the 2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Colombia.
Personal: Born Nikko Daniel Boxall ... Son of Murray and Aggie Boxall ... Older brother, Michael, was an NSCAA All-American at UC-Santa Barbara and was selected by the Vancouver Whitecaps in the 2011 MLS Supplemental Draft ... Chose Northwestern over New Mexico, West Virginia, and Cincinnati.
Coach Lenahan on Nikko Boxall: "Nikko is our first true international and comes us to us from great pedigree with his brother, Michael, just being named All-American and being drafted into the MLS. Assistant Coach Neil Jones had helped recruit his brother to UCSB and had a great comfort level with the family. He has great timing and athleticism in the air and from all accounts has a great tenacity on the pitch. His international experience playing with New Zealand's U-20 team should help make the transition to college soccer a smooth one."
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Hometown: Brookfield, Wis.
High School: Brookfield East
Height/Weight: 6-1/170
Position: F
High School: Three-year letterwinner and Scholar Athlete ... Team captain and team MVP as a senior ... Led team in goals as a junior (23) and senior (25), notching 52 career goals ... ESPN RISE Pre-Season Starting 11 in 2010 ... NSCAA/Adidas High School Boys All-Region V Team in 2010 ... All-Conference and All-Area as a junior and senior ... First Team All-State as a senior and All-State Honorable Mention as a junior... Led Brookfield East to two Regional Championships, one Sectional Championship and one State Semi-Final appearance ... My Community NOW All Star Team in 2010 ... Member of Spanish Honor Society. Club: Twelve-year member of Elm Grove Soccer Club and team captain ... Three-time State Cup Semifinalist.
Personal: Born Peter Nicholas Horner ... Son of Jean and Dwight Horner ... Father played baseball at University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point ... Chose Northwestern over Wisconsin, Loyola-Chicago, Xavier, and Princeton ... Attended Northwestern's College Soccer Training Center and One Day Prep Camp.
Coach Lenahan on Peter Horner: "Peter just has a great personality that has a positive impact on whatever team he has played for. He attended a couple of our camps and really impressed us with his coachability and work rate. He has great size, a good feel for the game and is an outstanding finisher. He reminds me a little of Brad North who went on to become one of the all-time leading scorers in NU history. His best days are still ahead of him."
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Ryan Ivancic
Hometown: Lorain, Ohio
High School: St. Ignatius
Height/Weight: 5-10/160
Position: M/F
High School: Four-year letterwinner ... Team captain and Most Valuable Midfielder as a senior ... All-Ohio ESPN Rise Honorable Mention ... Also named All-District and Academic All-Ohio ... Wendy's Heisman State Finalist ... 2008 and 2010 High School State Champion, as well as 2009 High School State Runners-up ... One of three Ohio soccer players to ever play in three consecutive State Championship games ... 2010 ESPN Rise/Powerade High School Boys National Champions ... Also was a two-year letter winner in basketball ... Team captain and starting point guard his senior year ... National Honor Society member and National Merit Commended ... Student Body Vice President. Club/ODP: Two-time Ohio State Cup Champion with Ohio Premier ... Played in the USSF Developmental Academy with CASA (2009) and Internationals (2010) ... Team took 5th place in Academy Finals 2010 ... ODP Region II Champions in 2007 ... Named to ODP Regional Team in 2007.
Personal: Born Ryan John Ivancic ... Son of Mark and Sue Ivancic ... Has a younger brother, Matt ... Third Wildcat soccer player to hail from St. Ignatius, following in the footsteps of Dave Vargas and Mark Blades ... Chose Northwestern over Xavier, Holy Cross, Providence and Richmond.
Coach Lenahan on Ryan Ivancic: "Ryan came to us late since he is a multi-sport athlete and we didn't get to see him in the showcases. He comes highly recommended by fellow St. Ignatius graduate Mark Blades, the only two-time All American in NU history. He is a very dynamic player coming forward with an exceptional ability to break guys down on the flank. I really like the fact that he is captain of both his soccer and basketball team at St. Ignatius leading the soccer team to a ESPN Rise/ Powerade National Championship."
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Hometown: Safety Harbor, Fla.
High School: Countryside
Height/Weight: 5-10/155
Position: M
High School: Four-year letterwinner... Team captain as a junior and senior ... Named to ESPN Rise Florida All-State Top 25 his junior and senior seasons ... Named Offensive Player of the Year as a junior while leading the team in goals ... All-County his first three seasons. Club: Has played in the USSF Developmental Academy with Clearwater Chargers since 2008 ... Team captain for his final season.
Personal: Born Jagger Lee Martinez ... Son of David and Lisa Martinez ... Father, David, is a retired, 16-year veteran of Major League Baseball and currently a bench coach for the Tampa Bay Rays ... Attended Northwestern's College Soccer Training Center and only considered Northwestern after attending.
Coach Lenahan on Jagger Martinez: "Jagger really caught our eye at the Disney Showcase last year. He is a very smooth and pacey left-sided player who mixes up his speeds very well. He has also shown great versatility playing centrally, left-side midfield and left-back. Jagger has a knack for making big plays which will serve him well in making the adjustment to college soccer."
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Hometown: Woodbury, N.J.
High School: Bishop Eustace
Height/Weight: 6-4/195
Position: GK
High School: Four-year letterwinner ... Team captain his junior and senior year ... Two-time All-State and All-Parochial ... Four-time All-Conference ... Holds school record for most appearances ... Also lettered in basketball and baseball. Club/National: Played for Pittsgrove SC ... Team captain for two years ... New Jersey State Cup Champions in 2008 ... Four-time ODP Regional team member ... One of three goalkeepers invited to U-18 National Team Camp in 2010.
Personal: Born Tyler Austin Miller ... Son of Brian and Cindy Miller ... Older brother, Kyle, was a four-year starter and Patriot League Rookie of the Year for the Holy Cross soccer team ... Older brother, Jason, played baseball at Haverford College ... Chose Northwestern over Villanova and West Virginia ... Attended Northwestern's One Day Prep Camp.
Coach Lenahan on Tyler Miller: "Tyler Miller was one of the top keepers in the nation at the Club and High School level. He has a great frame and size to really become a top keeper. His performance with the Region I team earned him an invitation in to the US Soccer U-18 National Team camp which I think was of great value to him and U-18 National Team coach Mike Matkovich felt he showed a great upside. He is our first player at Northwestern from my home area of Southern New Jersey and a fellow Philadelphia sports fan. He has all the tools, and with some hard work and experience, Tyler could be an exceptional goalkeeper in the Big Ten."
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Hometown: Farmington Hills, Mich.
High School: North Farmington
Height/Weight: 5-7/160
Position: M/F
High School: Four-year letterwinner ...Team captain as a junior and senior ... Team MVP his sophomore, junior and senior years ... First-team All-State and Michigan Dream Team member in 2010 ... Three-time All-Region selection ... Four-time All-Conference and All-District selection ... National Honor Society member ... Class President his freshman year. Club/National: Six-year member of Michigan Wolves ... Four-year team captain ... Michigan State Cup Champions in 2006 ... Has played in the USSF Developmental Academy with Michigan Wolves since 2008 ... Teammate of current Wildcat Reed Losee ... USSF Academy National Champions in 2009 ... ODP Region II Champions in 2006 ... Attended ODP Region II trip to Spain in 2007... Selected to U-18 National Team Camp in 2009.
Personal: Born Eric Anthony Weberman ...Son of Aron and Cheryl Weberman ... Older brother, Brian, played soccer at Northwood University ... Chose Northwestern over Michigan ... Attended Northwestern's College Soccer Training Center and One Day Prep Camp.
Coach Lenahan on Eric Weberman: "Eric is a very dynamic, versatile and powerful left-footed player. He is a bulldog on the field. We have seen him play left-back, left-midfield and forward for his club team and play very well at all three earning a trip with the U-18 National Team camp last year. His tenacity and explosiveness should help him succeed at the college level."
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Hometown: Kansas City, Mo.
High School: Rockhurst
Height/Weight: 6-1/180
Position: D/M
High School: Three-year letterwinner ...Team captain as a junior and senior and Team MVP as a senior ... 2010 ESPN Rise First-Team All-American and All-Region ... 2010 Missouri Player of the Year ... 2010 NSCAA /Adidas All-Region V Team ... Two-time Missouri First Team All-State and three-time Missouri All-District ... First Team ESPN Rise Missouri All-State Team ... 2010 First Team Kansas City Star All Metro ... Led Rockhurst to Missouri State Championships in 2008 and 2010 ... Teammate of current Wildcat Peter O'Neill ... National Honor Society member. Club/ODP: Six-year member and five-time captain of KCFC ... Five-time Kansas State Cup Champions ... 2008 Regional Finalist ... Member of ODP Regional Team in 2009 and 2010.
Personal: Born Grant Michael Wilson ... Son of Tad and Linda Wilson ... Older sister, Elizabeth, is currently a member of the Notre Dame women's soccer team that captured the 2010 NCAA National Championship ... Third Wildcat soccer player to hail from Rockhurst, following in the footsteps of Drew Pavlovich and Peter O'Neill ... Chose Northwestern over Notre Dame, Brown, Georgetown, and Tulsa ... Attended Northwestern's College Soccer Training Center and One Day Prep Camp.
Coach Lenahan on Grant Wilson: "Grant really has come on and had a fantastic senior high school season leading his team to a Missouri State championship and being named ESPN All-American. A big body who is also a very steady and solid central player, he has continued to grow as a player each time we have seen him. He follows Rockhurst high school teammates Peter O'Neill and Drew Pavlovich who had very good careers at NU and I expect the same from Grant."
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