FARMVILLE, Va. – With preseason training set to begin in less than two weeks, Longwood men's soccer head coach Jon Atkinson unveiled a group of six freshmen and three transfers set to join the program for the 2017 season.
 
Atkinson brings in a diverse group comprised of three players hailing from Virginia, one from Washington, D.C., one from Maryland and four hailing from various countries around the globe. The group – Luke Ahalt, Jake Barrette, Sam Behan, Holden Fisher, Joshewa Frederick, Marcel Guzman, Josh Hanratty, Jacob Reimers and Denzel Speed – comes to Longwood on the heels of the Lancers first-ever appearance in the Big South Championship game a season ago where the squad earned upset wins over UNC Asheville and second-seeded High Point to advance to the finals.
 
"All of these young men can play and will elevate the program immensely," Atkinson said. "Each player has shown tremendous commitment to be part of our program, they have consistently displayed the right qualities to be chosen to represent Longwood men's soccer and we couldn't be happier. They are all tireless workers with a humble attitude hungry to make a mark on the program. Character is an important recruiting component and I believe we have an exemplary freshmen class who seem eager and help their team mates achieve both on and off the field."
 
Luke Ahalt
Middletown, Md. | Middletown
Midfield
 
Captain of Middletown's back-to-back state championships, Luke Ahalt comes to Longwood after scoring 18 goals and 25 assists throughout his high school career. A product of Middletown, Md., Ahalt was an All-Conference performer following his junior and senior season and was First-Team All-Area following his senior year. During a senior season that saw him register 15 assists, Ahalt finished third in the school's all-time charts for assists in a single season.
 
"A tireless worker and a soccer junky, Luke will bring a great deal of energy and enthusiasm to Longwood and can be described as a strong utility player who will just get better and better," Atkinson said.
 
Outside of soccer, Ahalt was on the honor roll in each of his four years throughout his high school career. 
 
Jacob Barrette
Washington, D.C. | The School Without Walls
Forward
 
Jacob Barrette joins a Longwood attack that has been led in scoring by freshmen the last two years, including last season by 2016 Big South All-Freshman selection Max Poelker. A product of Washington, D.C., Barrette joins Longwood after leaving the School Without Walls as the all-time leading scorer. He amassed 37 goals and 26 assists over his final two seasons, while earning all-metro honors.
 
"Jacob comes in from the renowned Arlington soccer club with glowing references," Atkinson said. "I believe there is a lot to come from this fella and once acclimatized to college ball, I feel Jacob can tear up this league. He is a hungry player and wants to win, an aggressive player who can score goals – certainly offers great options out wide or as a striker."
 
Barrette becomes the third member of his family to become a student-athlete, as his father, Michael, played collegiate soccer at Franklin & Marshall College and his mother, Marilyn, was a tennis standout at SUNY Albany. Outside of soccer, Barrette plans to major in business while at Longwood.
 
Sam Behan
Springfield, Va. | WT Woodson
Center Back/Center Midfield
 
Sam Behan comes to Longwood after a four-year career at WT Woodson, where he served as captain in his junior and senior seasons. A product of Springfield, Va., Behan had three assists in his final two years while steadying his squad's back line.
 
"What I love about Sam is his humility and selflessness," Atkinson said. "A true team player with a big heart and great leadership potential, Sam has shown strong performances leading his travel and high school teams at the heart of the defense. The sky is the limit for Sam and under some phenomenal mentorship from the upperclassmen Sam could be a future captain of this team."
 
Behan comes from a family of former collegiate athletes, as his father, Will, wrestled for the Lancers and graduated from Longwood in 1997 while his aunt, Erin, played lacrosse at James Madison.
 
Denzel Speed
Williamsburg, Va. | Lafayette (Richard Bland)
Defense
 
A two-year starter at Richard Bland College, starting 40-of-40 games, Denzel Speed will add experience and depth to the Longwood back line for the 2017 season. While at Richard Bland, Speed scored one goal and one assist in 40 games, while steadying the back line to 11 shutouts the last two years.
 
"There will be few players capable of bypassing one of the league's best man-for-man defenders as Denzel sticks to his tasks and just gets about his job in the most proficient manner," Atkinson said. "Denzel has great physical tools and will look to join a back line as a marking back or wing back."  
 
Speed is a 2015 graduate of Lafayette High, earning all-state and all-region first-team honors as a senior. Speed was a two-time All-Conference 25 selection and earned four varsity letters throughout his high school career.
 
Holden Fisher
Henrico, Va. | Mills E. Godwin
Midfield
 
A four-year letterwinner playing in the midfield at Mills E. Godwin, Holden Fisher joins Longwood after becoming the first player in Virginia since Brian Ownby, a former starter in the MLS, to earn All-Metro and All-State honors in the same season. Fisher earned first-team All-Conference, all-region and all-state honors in each of his last three years of high school. Fisher tallied 37 goals throughout his three seasons, to go along with 33 assists.
 
"Having come of an incredibly successful high school career, Holden has garnered some noteworthy accolades and rightfully so," Atkinson said. "Holden is very good technically and has the ability and a vision to go with it. He'll look to compete in the midfield giving us options in many positions."
 
Fisher was part of two championship squads while at Mills E. Godwin, winning back-to-back state championships in 2014 and 2015.
 
Joshewa Frederick
Georgetown, Grand Cayman Islands |John Gray (Northwest Tech)
Center Back

Coming to Longwood as a junior college transfer, Joshewa Frederick will have two years of eligibility. A product of the Grand Cayman Islands, Frederick has spent the last two seasons with Northwest Tech, guiding the Mavericks to 10 wins throughout the last two seasons. Frederick started nine games a season ago, anchoring the back line.
 
"Extremely athletic and with boundless energy, Joshewa will be a great addition this season," Atkinson said. "Joshewa can play a variety of positions whether it be in the back or in midfield, standing at 6-3 he can be a presence all over the park."
 
One of six siblings, Frederick lettered in eight sports throughout his high school tenure at John Gray and was a member of the men's soccer program for each of his four seasons.
 
Marcel Guzman
Alexandria, Va. | Thomas Edison
Midfield/Wing
 
Guzman strengthens Longwood's ties to northern Virginia, as the Alexandria, Va., product comes to the Lancers following a standout high school career. A team captain for the last two seasons at Thomas Edison, Guzman tallied a combined 10 goals and 17 assists throughout the last three seasons. He was tabbed first-team all-conference following a 2015-16 season that saw him score three goals and register five assists en route to team MVP honors.  He followed his junior campaign with seven goals, nine assists as a senior.
 
"Having impressed us at our ID clinics, we knew we had unearthed a gem of a player that many missed," Atkinson said. "Marcel has football running through his veins, is creative, hard-working and adds something special to the game that you don't always see these days. Marcel is a naturally attacking midfielder and will be in good company this year working alongside the likes of Dan Campos, as he develops his game in the collegiate level."
 
In the classroom, Guzman was on the honor roll throughout each of his four seasons and was also a member of National Honors Society as a senior. In addition, he was a member of the Spanish Honors Society his junior and senior year, serving as president of the organization in 2016-17.
 
Josh Hanratty
London, England | Corfe Hills School (UNC Pembroke)
Central Midfield
 
Coming to Longwood as a junior following two standout years at UNC Pembroke, Josh Hanratty will look to make an immediate impact in the midfield. A teammate of Longwood senior Tom Devitt at UNC Pembroke, Hanratty started 29 games throughout his two seasons with the Braves, totaling five points. A product of London, England, Hanratty played 2,566 minutes for Pembroke throughout the last two seasons.
 
"Josh has the ability to control games in the middle of the park giving structure to our team," Atkinson said. "A natural ball winner and distributer, Josh can be a pivotal piece for Longwood as we vie for silverwear this year."
 
Prior to his collegiate career, Hanratty was a member of the Southhampton FC Academy, garnering time in 14 games and leading the squad to a 6-6-2 record. Hanratty plans to pursue a communication studies degree while at Longwood.
 
Jacob Reimers
Yorktown, Va. | York
Goalkeeper

Jacob Reimers makes his way to Longwood after a standout four-year career at York, where he was a four-time All-Conference selection, including a three-time First Team All-Conference selection. In his last two seasons, Reimers posted a combined 25 shutouts in 40 games while allowing just 0.5 goals per game during his junior campaign. With his standout junior season, Reimers hauled in numerous accolades, including being named a Daily Press All-Star, First-Team All-Region and First-Team All-State. Following a senior campaign that saw him post 10 shutouts, Reimers was tabbed Daily Press Player of the Year and was a First-Team All-Region and First-Team All-State selection.
 
"Jacob is another who has had a great high school career and will look to translate that form into college," Atkinson said. "Jacob has all the tools to become another standout goalkeeper at Longwood and we're excited to have him in our program."
 
Outside of soccer, Reimers received highest honors academically throughout his high school career. He was a member of National Honors Society and received the West Point Leadership Award during his junior year. 
 
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