FARMVILLE, Va. – With preseason training set to begin in less than two weeks, Longwood men's head soccer coach Jon Atkinson unveiled a group of 19 newcomers set to join the program prior to the 2018 season.
 
Atkinson brings in a diverse group representing six different states across the United States and eight countries across the globe, including Spain, Brazil, Norway, Switzerland, Germany, Nigeria and Denmark. The group consists of five players from the Commonwealth of Virginia, as well as players across the United States in Colorado, Florida, New York, North Carolina and Tennessee.
 
The 19-player class marks the largest class that Atkinson has brought in during Longwood's Division I era, as the squad looks to replace nine players that started five or more games a season ago.
 
Longwood opens its preseason slate at the Longwood Athletics Complex, as the Lancers host Barton College Wednesday, Aug. 15 at 6 p.m.
 
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Mikel Abando
6-2 | F
Bilbao, Spain | IES Artaza-Romo
 
What Atkinson is Saying: "Mikel is a strong technical forward who can play with his back to goal, as well as a presence in the box. He has a strong pedigree hailing from his club in Spain. He was a teammate of Ander Etxaniz at his previous institution and garnered All- American honors."
 
Mikel Abando joins the Longwood forward ranks as a transfer from Cayuga Community College in Auburn, New York where he was named a 2017 NJCAA Second-Team All-American. As a sophomore in 2017, Abando ranked among the top 10 in the NJCAA Division III ranks with his 20 goals, nine assists and a team-leading 49 points.
 
He racked up the individual accolades with Cayuga following the 2017 campaign. In addition to his All-American honors, Abando was named the MSAC Conference Player of the Year while also earning first-team All-Region recognition. He led his team to a 13-4 mark and an appearance in the Regional District A Championship, earning first-team All-Tournament honors.
 
While at Longwood, Abando plans to pursue a degree in business administration.
 
Dan Ahrens
CB
Richmond, VA | Mills E. Godwin
 
What Atkinson is Saying: "Dan is a player we feel possesses great character and is very coachable with a desire to improve. He's a local product of Richmond and plays as an uncompromising center back but with ball-playing ability. He has all the tools to be a major asset to our program."
 
A four-year letterwinner at Mills E. Godwin, Ahrens comes to Longwood after leading his high school squad to the 5A state semifinals in all four seasons of his career. Scoring 16 career goals, Ahrens will look to bring his winning ways to Farmville, where he will compete for a spot on the Longwood back line.
 
Ahrens brings with him a number of accolades, including first-team all-conference, all-region and all-state during his final two seasons of high school soccer. In addition, he was also named to the Metro Team of the Year in his junior and senior seasons while serving as a captain of his team as a senior.
 
Outside of soccer, Ahrens was a four-year member of the Mills E. Godwin honor roll and graduated with a community service badge, accumulating 60-plus hours of community service.
 
Skylar Bailey
6-0 | Forward
Knoxville TN | Hardin Valley Acadamy
 
What Atkinson is Saying: "Having a No. 9 who enjoys playing back to goal and banging with defenders is a rare quality to see these days but Skylar, standing 6-3 on a stout frame will be a handful for any defense. I'm sure that he'll be ready to cause havoc in the Big South."
 
Skylar Bailey comes to Longwood after lettering for three seasons with Hardin Valley Academy. He adds depth and balance to the Longwood attack. Bailey played with the ESPN Brazilian Academy in his senior season.
 
The son of Dell and Richard Bailey, Skylar plans to pursue a degree in athletic training while at Longwood. Outside of soccer, Bailey volunteer with Habitat for Humanity while in high school.
 
Miguel Bayma
6-4 | GK
Salvador, Brazil | FBE
 
What Atkinson is Saying: "Miguel will be challenging Jacob [Reimers] for the No. 1 jersey from the off. He's a capable keeper from a high profile environment in his club system in Brazil. Standing 6-4, he'll be a presence in goal."
 
Miguel Bayma is set to battle with rising sophomore Jacob Reimers for the starting goalkeeper job for the Lancers. Bayma is a Brazilian international that has played for top youth clubs in Brazil, including the EC Vitória Academy from 2014-17 and the Metropolitano Academy this past season.
 
Bayma helped EC Vitória to the U-15 Brazilian Cup title and the U-17 BH Cup title, while also winning the U-15 and U-17 Bahia Championship. Outside of soccer, Bayma plans to pursue a degree in global at Longwood.
 
Cody Bell
D
Dinwiddie, Va. | Dinwiddie
 
What Atkinson is Saying: "Cody is a solid center back who was brought into the fold to infuse his personal qualities in terms of his character and servanthood that is essential within the team."
 
After two seasons on the sideline as Longwood's undergraduate assistant coach in 2017 and team manager in 2016, Cody Bell joined the squad for the spring campaign and will add to the depth of the Lancer back line heading into the 2018 campaign. Throughout the last two seasons, Bell has traveled with the team while assisting in instituting game and practice plans into the team.
 
Bell, who lettered in soccer at Dinwiddie, was named a 2013 Central District second-team performer.
 
Attila Buri
5-10 | LW/F  
Ashburn, Va. | Broad Run
 
What Atkinson is Saying: "Attila is a natural lefty and will look to bolster that side of the field. He's a hard-working, tenacious player we feel can work his way to success here at Longwood. Attila has a drive and determination that we know will make him a valuable addition to our squad."
 
Attila Buri will add depth along the Longwood wings and forward line. An All-Region player at Broad Run, Buri recorded six goals, five assists during his junior season with his high school squad in Ashburn, Va.
 
While at Longwood, Buri plans to major in political science to pursue a career as a foreign service officer.
 
Parker Caterbone
6'1 | F
Suffolk, Va. | Smithfield
 
What Atkinson is Saying: "Parker will compete in the No. 9 position and starts his Longwood career off the back of a very successful high school one where he was named player of the year for the district. Parker impressed us at camp with his willingness to work tirelessly and we feel he has a great upside."
 
Parker Caterbone looks to add depth to a Longwood front line that will add Willy Miezan back into the starting lineup after recovering from an ACL tear for the second consecutive season. The 6-1 forward totaled 53 goals, 36 assists throughout his final three seasons of high school varsity soccer.
 
A product of Suffolk, Va., Caterbone was named the 2018 Daily Press All-Stars boys soccer Player of the Year, guiding his Smithfield squad to the Class 4 state quarterfinals with his 25 goals, 14 assists. That honor capped a successful career in which he finished first-team all-conference, first-team all-region and first-team all-state.
 
Caterbone has been active throughout his high school days, as he was active in the Beta Club. He has also spent time with Relay for Life and assisted with multiple youth soccer clinics.
 
Shane Curtis
5-10 | CB
Manassas, Va. | Battlefield
 
What Atkinson is Saying: "Hailing from a top youth club in Arlington, Shane was a captain and leader with that team and will look to translate his tough tackling, uncompromising defending to Longwood. What stood out to us initially was a good stable family grounding and unquestionable character. Shane is a 'grafter,' he has good feet and can also do a stint in midfield when called upon. However, his main focus will be locking it down on defense"
 
A three-sport athlete in high school, Shane Curtis will be called upon in the Longwood back line with the graduations of 2017 team captains Tom Devitt and Marten Pajunurm. An all-conference selection on the soccer field, Curtis is the third generation collegiate athlete in his family after his grandfather was inducted into the William & Mary Athletics Hall of Fame and his father wrestled on scholarship at George Mason.
 
Named to the honor roll throughout his tenure at Battlefield, Curtis was a four-time state placer at 170 pounds on Battlefield's 2018 6A State Championship team and was also an all-conference running back on the football team.
 
Ander Etxanix
5-11 | CM
Deba, Gipuzkoa, Spain | Arreiturre
 
What Atkinson is Saying: "Ander has integrated well to USA life having achieved all American honors at his previous school. He'll look to anchor the midfield adding stability and creativity."
 
Teammates with Mikel Abando at Cayuga Community College, Etxanix had a dynamic freshman season in helping Cayuga to the Regional District A Championship. The Spanish product was a staple in the Spartans starting lineup, starting all 17 games while registering 13 goals, 14 assists for 40 points – trailing only Abando for the most points on the team.
 
Etxanix finished as a first-team NJCAA Division III All-American as a freshman in 2017 at Cayuga. During his club career in Spain, Etxanix scored at least seven goals and four assists in every season while registering 26 points and two 10-plus goal seasons.
 
Clovis Fahn
5-11 | F
Denver, Co. | Arapahoe
 
What Atkinson is Saying: "Clovis will be a big presence in the forward line. He's a clean ball striker and will be able to add competition in what was a problem position for us last year."
 
Clovis Fahn comes to Longwood after spending the last two seasons in the MLS' Colorado Rapids youth academy where he produced a total of 22 goals and 11 assists for 55 total points. From Denver, Fahn spent scored 11 goals and added six assists while playing his freshman season at Araphoe before producing five points as a sophomore at Montbello.
 
Fahn is one of nine siblings, as he plans to pursue a degree in criminal justice.
 
Josh Fordyce
5-11 | CM
Destin, Fla. | McClean
 
What Atkinson is Saying: "Josh came to us in spring having transferred from Mary Washington. He has rolled his sleeves up and applied himself in a way you had hoped and let his football do the talking. Josh has a good IQ for the game and is developing into an accomplished CM with ball playing ability."
 
Transferring from Mary Washington and playing the spring with the Lancers, Fordyce will add depth to Longwood's midfield. Fordyce helped the Eagles to a 15-5-1 overall record in 2017.
 
A product of Arlington, Va., Fordyce enjoyed a dynamic high school career where he scored 12 goals and added 22 assists in three seasons. A three-year letterwinner, Fordyce was named first-team All-District in 2016 and 2017 while being named team MVP following a senior campaign that saw him register seven goals, nine assists.
 
Markus Groenli
LW/RW
Droebak, Akershus​, Norway | Frogn Videregaaende Skole
 
What Atkinson is Saying: "Markus is a Norwegian winger who is versatile enough to play in all the final third pieces which is a major plus for us as our system lends itself to a fluidity of movement. Markus is a very capable player with high IQ who will look to fit in at left midfield position."
 
Markus Groenli comes to Longwood following a stint in his native Norway where he led Frogn Videregaaende Skole in scoring in each of the past two seasons. He played last season in the Norwegian third division, tallying seven goals in 18 matches. In 2016, Groenli played for the Droebak junior team where he registered 22 goals, 11 assists in 30 matches.
 
Jeremy Jaquier
5-6 | MF
Lausanne, Vaud, Switzerland | Gymnase Auguste Piccard
 
What Atkinson is Saying: "Jeremy is a dynamic footballer who has all the tools to be a major impact in college. He has great technical and tactical ability matched with athleticism that should cause a lot of defenders trouble during his career at Longwood."
 
Jeremy Jaquier will look to add a creative element to the Longwood midfield, as the Swiss international has represented his home country on the international stage on multiple occasions. Jaquier has made 15 international appearances on a combination of the U-15, U-16, U-18 and the U-19 Swiss National Team.
He played with Lausanne Sport, appearing in four games on the professional team. During his time at Longwood, Jaquier plans to pursue a degree in kinesiology.
 
Jonas Kalchner
6-0 | D
Eichenau, Germany | Graf-Rasso Gymnasium  
 
What Atkinson is Saying: "Jonas is a left-sided center back with a strong background having plied his trade for U-19 Bundesliga . A mobile, ball-playing center back, Jonas fills a hole at the back and should fit well in our system of play."
 
Jonas Kalchner enjoyed a successful career in the high school ranks and was team captain for his SC Fürtsenfelfbruck team in his native Germany. In his senior season, Kalchner earned a promotion to the U-19 Bundesliga where he played 22 games and aided the team to the 2016 league title.
 
While at Longwood, Kalchner plans to pursue a degree in psychology.
 
Aj Kmeic
5-8 | D
Pine Bush, N.Y. | Pine Bush
 
What Atkinson is Saying: "Aj had a stint in the UK pursuing a football career so this has added to his stock. He's a player we've tried to get for a while and proves patience is key as we think the world of Aj already and he hasn't set foot on campus. He represents all the qualities of what we want in our program --hard work, integrity, quality player and a quality person. I feel there will be few that match his blue collar work ethic and he should do well in his college career."
 
Aj Kmeic comes to Longwood on the heels of a two-year stint in the United Kingdom at the Richmond International Academic and Soccer Academy. Prior to playing in England, Kmeic starred for Pine Bush in his native New York where he was an All-Section selection and a two-year team captain. In his two seasons at Pine Bush, Kmeic tallied 11 goals, seven assists.
 
While at Longwood, Kmeic plans to pursue a degree in history.
 
AJ Okey
6-3 | F
Abuja, FCT, Nigeria | Ladela Secondary

What Atkinson is Saying: "AJ came to us in the spring and had a semester to adjust to the rigors of college soccer. He's a tall and rangy forward with pace and he has that unpredictability component that can cause a lot of problems to defenders."
 
AJ Okey will add depth to the Longwood forward ranks after transferring into the program prior to the spring 2018 semester after a successful 2017 season at Prince George Community College where he logged three goals, five assists for 11 points. He led the Owls to the NJCAA Men's Soccer Region XX Division III semifinals, as Prince George rounded out the season with a 12-4 record
 
Okey, who plans to major in biology while at Longwood, lettered in high school soccer for Ladela Secondary School from 2014-16, serving as team captain and earning team MVP honors.
 
Randy Perez
5-7 | CAM
Midlothian, Va. | James River
 
What Atkinson is Saying: "Randy is a local product who knew what he wanted and made it his goal of becoming a Lancer. Now that has been achieved, I feel Randy will fit well with our style of play and has great upside being a difference maker in games. He's a hard-working, creative player who can make things happen."
 
A product of the Richmond area, Randy Perez will look to add creativity to the Longwood midfield following a successful stint by the nation's No. 3 ranked high school team by TopDrawer Soccer and USA Today. In his final two seasons at James River, Perez amassed a total of 30 assists, including a school record 20 assists throughout his junior campaign.
 
Perez captured the Region I ODP Championship and was selected second-team All-Region along with first-team All-Conference as a junior. While at Longwood, Perez plans to pursue a degree in kinesiology.
 
Mads Pfeiffer
6'3 | CB
Copenhagen, Denmark | Brooklyn HS for Law and Technology
 
What Atkinson is Saying: "Mads is a Danish international who impressed us on his visit with his character, first and foremost. He has the ideal size and frame while possessing a great pedigree of composure as a center back. I feel Mads will have a massive upside as he integrates into college life. HE played last year on a high school team in New York City, so he's adjusted to life in the United States already."
 
Originally from Copenhagen, Denmark, Mads Pfeiffer finished his high school career at Brooklyn High School for Law and Technology where he was a 2016 spring season finals MVP and a team captain for the 2017 season.
 
Pfeiffer helped Brooklyn High School for Law and Technology to the 2016 NYISL spring season championship, tallying four goals, five assists while helping his team to five clean sheets. As a junior, Pfeiffer registered six goals, eight assists while helping his team to seven clean sheets.
 
Planning to major in communications while at Longwood, Pfeiffer was a five-time Student of the Month and a three-time Student of the Year recipient.
 
Matt Ward
5-8 | CM
Wilmington, N.C. | Coastal Christian High School
 
What Atkinson is Saying: "Matt is a rare gem of a kid who has, through hard work and thankful heart, carved out an impressive high school career which he hopes to emulate in college. Traditionally a central midfielder, Matt is a ball player with great hustle and will work tirelessly for his teammates whilst looking for a gap to contribute to the cause."
 
Matt Ward comes to Farmville from the Tar Heel State where he enjoyed a brilliant four-year career at Coastal Christian High School in Wilmington, N.C. Ward's high school career saw him register a school record 105 assists, including a school record 33 assists during his senior campaign to lead Coastal Christian to the state championship game.
 
Along with registering no fewer than 26 assists in each of his final three years, Ward was named to the all-conference team in the Coastal Rivers league following his sophomore, junior and senior seasons. The four-year starter was also named NCISAA All-State following his junior and senior seasons, while earning NCSCA All-Region in those same two years. His senior season brought him NCSAA All-State and a selection to join the North Carolina team in the Clash of the Carolinas.
 
A three-year team captain at Coastal Christian, Ward plans to major in Athletic Training while at Longwood.
 
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