Northwestern University Athletics

Lenahan

Lenahan Welcomes 2019 Recruiting Class

5/7/2019 9:18:00 AM | Men's Soccer

EVANSTON, Ill. -Head Coach Tim Lenahan announced the 2019 recruiting class on Tuesday morning. The nine-man class is set to join the Wildcats this fall. 
 
"I'm very happy with the future Wildcat Class of 2023," said Lenahan,  "We have a very well rounded group having added athletic attacking and dynamic players in Achara, Jr. and Alex Gordon, three versatile midfield players in Eric Smits, Vicente Castro and Logan Weaver and three athletic and physical defenders in Jack Ratterman, Deng Deng Kur and Haluk Ercan-Fang.  A goalkeeper with great potential in Kevin Klausz rounds out what I think is a deep and impactful class. Ratterman, Smits and Castro are all left sided players which certainly fills a need with our current group." 
 
According to Lenahan, this year's class has the potential to elevate the program to new heights. 
 
"All have great academic backgrounds, character and combined with their soccer talents should have great careers at Northwestern.  We are very excited for them to get here as we look to take Northwestern back to national prominence."
 
 Information on the class can be found below: 


76759

NAME: Ugo Achara, Jr.
HEIGHT: 6'1''
POSITION: F
HOMETOWN: Enugu, Nigeria
WEIGHT: 180
HIGH SCHOOL: Berkshire School (MA)
 
High School: Played varsity all three years and captained the Berkshire school boys varsity team during his senior year....Made it to the NEPSAC championship all three years and won it twice....Was selected to represent the EAST by TopDrawerSports in the All-American game where he scored two goals... Ranked third on the New England Soccer Journal's top 25 players from the 2019 class...High School teammates with fellow Wildcat Deng Deng Kur.
 
Personal: Son of Achara and Ngozi....Has three older siblings... Chika, the eldest, is a graduate of Enugu State University of science and Technology....One brother, an All-Big
East player at Georgetown University and one sister who is a sophomore at Enugu State University of Science and Technology.
 
Club: Played for NEFC during the 2015/16 season where they won the IMG tournament and the NPL U16 State Championship.... Went on to play with Black Rock FC from 2016 to 2019.... Won the NPLU17 State Championship which qualified the team for the club national championships in Indianapolis in 2017 where he scored a goal and had an assist in three games....Won IMG U17 tournament twice with Black Rock.
 
Coach Lenahan Comments: Achara has pro-level athleticism with a fierce competitive drive. He has only recently moved into the striker or #10 role and has become a force at the high school and club level at either position. His performance in the High School All-American game this past year was dominant. With more concentrated focus to channel his intense desire to win, he has all the tools to become an exceptional college player.
 
 
 
76760


NAME: Vicente Castro
HEIGHT: 5'11''
POSITION: M
HOMETOWN: Santiago, Chile
WEIGHT: 150 lbs.
HIGH SCHOOL: Northwood School / San Ignacio El Bosque
 
High School: Played varsity all at San Ignacio El Bosquem, his high school in Chile four years in a 10-month season…Won 2 Copa Soprole UC and 1 Afutcop…Four time MVP… In fall 2018, moved to Lake Placid to attend Northwood School for a year.
 
Club: Played club soccer for Black Rock FC in their residential academy at Lake Placid, New York after having previously played in Chile.
 
Personal: Parents are Rafael Castro and Pilar Rojas... Has four siblings: Camila (33), Ignacio (31), Joaquin (27), and Mariana (25). ... Chose Northwestern after considering Princeton and Clemson.
 
Coach Lenahan Comments: Vicente is a very smooth left sided player with a high soccer IQ. He has a very mature and professional mindset with a cultured left-footed service and great feel for the game. He has all the tools to make an immediate impact in the Big Ten.
 

 
 76757
 
 
NAME: Haluk Ercan-Fang
HEIGHT: 5'10''
POSITION: D
HOMETOWN: Minneapolis, Minnesota
WEIGHT: 160
HIGH SCHOOL: The Blake School
 
High School:Started on varsity all four years and captained The Blake School team as a junior and senior … Won two section titles and the 1A state championship his senior year … Selected to state tournament all-tournament team… Selected twice to All-Metro second team and 1A All-State first team … Selected three times to All-Conference team and won conference championship twice … Two Time Offensive MVP and Team MVP.  

Club: Played club for TwinStars Academy and Maplebrook SC in Minneapolis, Minnesota … Captained team during 2017/18 season … Won 2017 Disney Showcase…Attended Dallas Cup three times (2016-18)…US Club State and Regional Champion in 2016…US Club National Finalist in 2016. 
 
Personal:Parents are Sean and Nacide Ercan-Fang … Father attended Harvard University and Mother attended college in Turkey … Has an older brother Deniz (21), who studies at Washington University in St. Louis. 
 
Coach Lenahan's Comments: Haluk attended our College Soccer Training Center and One Day Camps at Northwestern.  We were very impressed with his athleticism and tenacity especially since moving to defense in his last year of high school and club. He has the ability to shut down attack players in 1 vs. 1 situations and as he develops his team defensive tactics IQ, he can be a real force in college soccer.
 
 
 
 76755
 
NAME: Alex Gordon
HEIGHT: 5'11"
POSITION: M
WEIGHT: 160
HOMETOWN: Sewickley, PA
HIGH SCHOOL: Sewickley Academy
 
High School: Played varsity all four years….was captain his junior and senior year Voted All-Section and All-WPIAL his junior season…Was  voted All-Section, Section Player of the Year, All-WPIAL, and All-State his senior year… His highs school team captured a State championship his freshman year and were WPIAL champions and State runner-ups his sophomore year…Section Champs junior and senior year…. 51 goals, and 62 assists in his career….Ran 400 Meters and4 X 400 for track team senior year.
 
Club: Played for Century V 2001 under coaches Larry Fingers and Rand Hudson….Played for PA West Olympic Developmental Program throughout high school….Made the U.S. Region 1 01' roster for an international trip to Italy in 2017….In 2019, traveled to Manchester with the same U.S. Region 1 01' team.
 
Personal: Parents are Bobby and Shadley Gordon….Bobby attended Roanoke College and Shadley attended Vanderbilt University… Two younger sisters Elsa (16) and Mary Grace(14).
 
Coach Lenahan Comments: Alex was one of our MVPs last year at the College Soccer Training Center at Northwestern and followed it up with a great performance at our One Day Camp this winter. He has outstanding pace to get behind defenders and just glides with the ball. He is versatile and can play any of the wing midfield positions or as a striker. I'm really excited to watch him develop into an outstanding player at the Big Ten level.
 
 


76754

NAME: Kevin Klausz
HEIGHT: 6'0''
POSITION: GK
HOMETOWN: Poughquag, NY
WEIGHT: 180
HIGH SCHOOL: Arlington 
 
High School: Two Year captain…three year varsity player…received All-State and All-Region honors…Top-10 High school played in New York… All section, All-League, League MVP junior and senior year.
 
Club: Played for Quickstrike FC out of Newburgh, New York in the National Premier League… Four year captain….State Runner up in 2015-2016... Team is now ranked #1 in NY and Top-25 nationally.

Personal: Parents Joe Klausz and Kristine Hayden, both received masters degree in teaching…. Older sister attends Ithaca College….Step-sister attends Binghamton University…Five younger siblings ages 8-17…Chose Northwestern after considering Rutgers, St. John's and Gonzaga.
 
Coach Lenahan Comments:We first saw Kevin at the Disney Showcase and then he followed up by coming to our One Day Camp where he could be evaluated by our Goalkeeper Coach Ovidio Felcaro. He is a very powerful and explosive goalkeeper with tremendous courage in the box. I am looking forward to watching him develop under the tutelage of Coach Felcaro to become a force in the Big Ten.
 
 
 
76753

NAME: Deng Deng Kur
HEIGHT:  6'3''
WEIGHT: 200
POSITION: D/M
HOMETOWN: London, England/Northbrook, IL
HIGH SCHOOL: Glenbrook North/Berkshire School
 
High School: Played for the Glenbrook North High School team junior and senior year….Won Back-to-back regional championships and was recognized as an All-Sectional selection… In his PG year, led Berkshire School to NEPSAC Class A Championship scoring game winner in finals….Teammate with fellow first-year, Ugo Achara, Jr.
 
Club: Played the 2015-16 season for Sockers FC Chicago which came 2nd in NPL Nationals….Played for FC United in 2016-2018…won back to back state cup championships, a regional
championship, and placed in the semi-finals at US Youth Soccer Nationals…..Club teammate with fellow first-year Logan Weaver.
 
Personal: Moved from London in 2015...guardians Bob and Christa Bolt in Northbrook where he calls home.
 
Coach Lenahan's comments: Deng's growth as a player and person have been nothing less than remarkable. Having never played defender before in high school or club, he blossomed when put in that position when we saw him at the Disney Showcase. He came to our One Day Camp soon after that and proved it was no fluke. Big frame, two-footed and versatile player with an infectious personality who will be great asset to the team.
 
 

76756
 
NAME: Jack Ratterman
HEIGHT: 6'3''
POSITION: D
WEIGHT: 170
HOMETOWN: Scottsdale, Arizona
HIGH SCHOOL: Chaparral

High School:Four year varsity starter at Chaparral and team captain senior year… 2019 Regional Player of the Year for 6A... First team All-State.. Nominated for Arizona Gatorade Player of the Year… Led the team into the state playoffs junior and senior year.
 
Club: Played club soccer in Phoenix, Arizona for SC Del Sol and RSL-AZ… Two-time finalist in Arizona State Championship with SC Del Sol… Captained the ODP Region IV team three times at ODP Interregional Tournament and selected as a three-time all-star... Started for USA U-18 team in the Maccabiah Games in Israel….Club teammate with fellow Wildcat Connor McCabe, '22 on SC Del Sol.
 
Personal:Parents are Jeff and Lee Ratterman… Jeff attended Arizona State and Lee attended University of Arizona… Has three younger siblings, Charlie (15), Lucy (13), Molly (9)... Chose
Northwestern after considering University of Washington, UC Irvine, UPenn, and San Diego State
 
Coach Lenahan Comments: Jack has that rare combination of great size and an excellent left foot. He has a very competitive drive and physical presence which should make him an impact player at the Big Ten level. He can play left back, left center back or defensive midfielder and his versatility will certainly help him in his transition to college soccer.
 

76758


NAME: 
Eric Smits
HEIGHT: 5'8''
POSITION: M
HOMETOWN: Wassenaar, Netherlands
WEIGHT:135
HIGH SCHOOL: Breck School (Golden Valley, MN)
 
High School: Played varsity soccer since 8th grade and was a captain since junior year… Minnesota High School soccer state runner-up 2015….Minnesota High School soccer all-state junior and senior year… All-conference honors since sophomore year.
 
Club: Won the Minnesota State Cup in 2013 and 2018 with Minneapolis United… Minneapolis United captain since 2014…. Minnesota ODP team 2014-2018….ODP Region 2 Team 2014-2018….ODP Interregional All-Star 2016...Guest played with Maplebrook Soccer Club to lead them to Dallas Cup U-18 Championship.

Personal: Parents are Virginia Perez and Marcel Smits…. Has one younger brother, Ralph, who is a freshman in high school, and one older brother, Conrad, who attends the University of San Diego…. Lived in the Netherlands until he was nine, then moved to Hinsdale, Illinois, and then finally moved to Edina, Minnesota in 7th grade….Chose Northwestern after considering
Harvard and Creighton.

Coach Lenahan Comments: Eric really caught our attention when he attended three different camps (two CSTCs and a One Day Camp) over the past few years and followed up with his club team. Each time we watched, he seemed to grow as a player. He is a very crafty left-footed player who can play almost anywhere on the field. He has great engine and terrific soccer IQ that should serve him well at the college level.
 
 
76761

NAME: Logan Weaver
HEIGHT:5'11''
POSITION:M
HOMETOWN: Winnetka, IL
WEIGHT:170
HIGH SCHOOL: New Trier
 
High School:Started varsity all four years for New Trier and captained the team as a junior and senior… Won three regional championships and three conference championships, earning him All-State honors.
 
Club:Played club soccer for FC United in Chicago... Won the Illinois state title in 2017 and 2018... Won Region II in 2018... Played on the FC United Development Academy Team in 2018. Club teammate with fellow first-year, Deng Deng Kur.
 
Personal:Parents are Terri and Tom Weaver...Has an older sister who played soccer at Depaul and one who plays field hockey at Villanova... Has a younger sister who will be playing soccer at Division I as well …. Moved to Illinois after living in Hershey, PA until he was 11.
 
Coach Lenahan's Comments:  Logan first caught our attention in 2017 at the College Soccer Training Center. He was the best and most versatile player at the camp. Following up and watching him play at FC United and at New Trier, we saw he had the work ethic and intangibles to be a very good player and leader on this team and at the Big Ten level.



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