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Eastern Illinois men's soccer has announced the addition of 12 new players for the class of 2023.
 
"I am honored these young men would be so intrigued and willing to take this journey with me,"  said head coach Josh Oakley.  "During every single interaction with them, they learned and understood how important EIU Soccer is to me and exactly what we are looking for to help start us on the upward path we talk about daily.  Every first recruiting class is the start of something, and this one could be just a little more-the start of something special.  We've already welcomed a couple of quality players from Canada and the US Virgin Islands.  This class also has deep mid-western ties with players from Michigan, Iowa and Kentucky joining us.  But perhaps the highlight is seven Illinois based players, including five of those coming from the Chicagoland area.  Eastern should always have a presence in and around the city, and within this state, and that will only continue to grow stronger in the future."
 
Ashur Eshw
A native of Skokie, Ill., Eshw played high school soccer for Niles North High School and played his club soccer at Chicago FC United. He helped lead Chicago FC to the National Presidents Cup Finals in the Spring of 2021, where they were awarded "best of the 11" among all teams at the finals.  Eshw was also a member of the Illinois ODP state team & Midwest ODP pool team.

"Ashur has size and strength, and can score goals from range or in close," said Oakley. "He is creative on the ball and off, in finding and playing in and through tight spaces."
 
Alexander Gandhi
A 6'0" Midfielder from Okemos, Mich., Gandhi played high school soccer for Okemos High School and played his club soccer for the Michigan Jaguars FC.  He helped to lead Okemos to a Michigan High School State Championship in 2021. He was an All-State second team selection in 2022, and was an All-regional, All-district, and All-league selection in both 2021 and 2022.

"I've coached Alex before," said Oakley.  "He is versatile in any of the three central midfield roles.  Here he will likely develop as a 6.  He is a leader and winner."
 
Whelan Joseph
A goalkeeper originally from St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, Joseph comes to EIU after two years at Southeastern Community College in Iowa.  Joseph played his high school soccer at Ivanna Eudora Kean High School where he was a 2021 All American selection and played his club soccer for Victory Eagles SC.  At Southeastern CC, Joseph played in 20 games, with 17 starts, and recorded 41 saves, posted four shutouts, and had a record of 12-2 with a Goals Against Average of 0.83.  Joseph was also a member of the US Virgin Islands Senior Men's Team.

"Whelan is a very gifted goalkeeper," said Oakley.  "Confident, big, and a good shot stopper.  He comes to us with excellent experience, and knows what it is to be champion."
 
Kyle Kimberling
A 5'9" Forward/Midfielder originally from Crestwood, Ky., Kimberling played his high school soccer at South Oldham High School in Louisville, Ky. where he also played club soccer at Louisville City Youth Academy.  In high school, he was a two-time All-State selection, a four-time All-Region selection and a four-time All-District selection.

"Kyle comes from a top team in Louisville City Academy,"  said Oakley.  "He is quick, fantastic on the ball, and a very smart winger in how to play in spaces also picking up knockdowns."
 
Jake McConnery
A 6'1" Midfielder from St. Catharines, Ontario, McConnery played club soccer for Athlete Institute FC.  He also spent time in Germany with U19 Bundesliga side FC Astoria Walldorf.  He played two years in MLS NEXT, making the MLS Next Cup round of 16 in 2022.  He also spent time with a couple of different MLS Academies and had trials with Watford and Ipswich Town in England.

"Jake is a sharp center back,"  said Oakley.  "He has size and is competent and clean with both feet.  I believe he has the attitude and ability to do great things at this level."
 
Patrick Osilaja
A 5'11" Defender/Midfielder from Evanston, Ill., Osilaja was a multi-sport athlete at Evanston Township High School where he played four years of Soccer and two years of basketball.  He played club soccer at Chicago Stars FC Academy in 2022 and Chicago Fire Juniors NorthShore in 2021.  On his high school soccer team, he was a team captain in 2019, 2020, and 2022 and selected by teammates as team MVP for 2022.  In 2022, he was named an IHSSCA 2022 Boys' All-State Field Player, was a recipient of the Ted Van Zeist Excellence Award, and was a member of the National Honor Society all four years in high school.

"Patrick is a player who has remarkable closing speed,"  said Oakley.  "His recovery pace is second to none.  He has a huge ceiling and has just begun to reach new heights."
 
Jake Pollock
A Midfielder from Belleville, Ill., Pollock played his high school soccer at Althoff Catholic High School and played club soccer for Illinois Scott Gallagher 2005 ECNL.  He was a two-time IHSA All-State Team selection, a three-time Chicagoland Soccer All-State team selection and won Player of the Year All-Metro St. Louis as a senior to go with many other accolades.  He scored 180 total career points.

"Jake is sharp on the ball - very technical,"  said Oakley.  "He brings to Eastern some amazing recent accolades/experiences and is looking for more as he takes this next step up."
 
Jeffery Rinker II
A 5'8" Forward from Bettendorf Iowa, Rinker played his high school soccer at Pleasant Valley High School and club soccer for Sporting Iowa ECNL.  He led Pleasant Valley to the first state tournament appearance in school history and to back-to-back high school state championships, scoring 17 goals as a senior and earning an elite all-state team selection, a 1^st-team all-conference selection.
"Jeff is a beast of a winger."  said Oakley.  "Strong, physical, and aggressive in the counter-press.  He serves a great ball and is able to beat defenders - a newfound weapon for us."
 
Joey Rodino
A Midfielder from Palatine, Ill., Rodino played his high school soccer at Fremd High School.  He was a one-time all-state, all-area, and all-conference selection and helped lead Fremd to a 2021 IHSA State Runner-Up finish.

"Joey is the type of young man that just does a job, and we have plenty of jobs to do as we attempt to rise,"  said Oakley.  "He gets dirty while others shine and then does it again."
 
Zach Soltysiak
A 5'10" Midfielder from Crestwood, Ill., Soltysiak played high school soccer at Alan B. Shepard High School and played club soccer for Chicago Inter Soccer Club.  He finished his career at Alan B. Shepard with a school-record 84 goals and among many other accolades, he was named all-sectional, all-area first team, and was an All-American nominee as a senior.  He led Alan B. Shepard to a Conference and Regional championship as a senior, a state semifinal appearance as a junior, and an undefeated season as a sophomore.

"Zach scores goals.  Lots and lots of goals."  said Oakley.  "He has an ability to get into spots and find balls to finish that other forwards don't.  He has real promise to be a top striker.
 
Lance Somerfield
A 5'11" Defender from Orland Park, Ill., Somerfield played high school soccer at Carl Sandburg High School and also played club soccer for Chicago Inter Soccer Club.  Among his many accolades, he was a one-time All-Conference selection and a two-time Defensive Player of the Year at Sandburg and put up 10 clean sheets in 21 games, giving up just .61 goals against a game in the regular season. As a team captain his senior season, he led a Sandburg team that had been 3-17 before his arrival to a 17-2-3 record and a #1 seed in the sectional.

"Lance is as much about finesse and moving the ball as he is about power, strength, and pace."  said Oakley.  "To have a defender with all of that - well that is a gift."
 
Kyle Ward
A native of Chatham, Ill., Ward played Midfielder at Sacred Heart Griffin High School and played club soccer at Central Illinois United.  Ward was a three-time All-State selection, an All-American nominee, was named All-Sectional all four years of high school, was a team captain for both his high school team and his club team for the last two years, was all-area and all-conference all four years, and led Sacred Heart Griffin in both goals and assists for three of his four years.

"Kyle Ward is like lightning,"  said Oakley.  "I have seen him pick up balls and go on runs that seem to last for days but in reality are over in six seconds with a goal at the end."
 
Overall, Oakley's first haul of the 2023 class includes seven players from Illinois, three from other mid-western states, and two international players, with more to come in the following days.
 
"All of these players bring with them experiences in winning,"  said Oakley.  "They also have tremendous young minds and can reason wisely in all situations.  This is not a project for a lot of people or players.  Everyone in this class knows the work that lies ahead, and the specific reasons they were recruited to be here.  They are not here for the sole reason of just playing NCAA Division I soccer.  They want to do more than just play for Eastern- they want to change it."