Two standouts for teams that competed for national championships highlight an outstanding 2009 University of Evansville men’s soccer recruiting class.  Head Coach Mike Jacobs announced the signing today of five recruits, including Gavin Chura (Fort Wayne, Ind.), Cole Page (Louisville, Ky.), Robert Randant (Collinsville, Ill.), Patrick Kalua (Bloomington, Ind.) and Tyler Kincaid (St. Joseph’s College/Avon, Ind.).

“This incoming group will rate right up there with some of our recent classes,” said Jacobs, “allowing us to add some of the best youth players in Region II and nationally.  This recruiting class gives us exactly what we wanted: a class of outstanding players, well balanced by positions, and full of proven winners with leadership qualities.  They are hard workers and will play a large role in what we expect will be an outstanding team.”

The 2009 class:

Gavin Chura
5-9 • 165 • Fort Wayne, Ind. • Canterbury School
Chura is one of the highest rated attacking players in his class nationally, and has been recognized by Top Drawer Soccer as one of the top 50 prospects in the nation.  He has led both the Chicago Magic and Ft. Wayne Fever Academy to the USL Super-Y League national finals.  He also led his Ft. Wayne Fever Academy team to the Indiana State Cup Championships in 2007, as well as a USYSA Region II Championships quarterfinal appearance.  Chura also has been a member of the USL Super-Y League ODP National Team.  He was a key contributor on the Canterbury School team that advanced to the IHSAA State Finals in 2006.  “Gavin has the potential to provide an impact at this level,” said Jacobs.  “His combination of pace and ability to strike the ball make him a very dangerous player in the final third of the field.”

Cole Page
5-9 • 155 • Louisville, Ky. • DuPont Manual HS
Page enters the University of Evansville as a proven leader and defender at the youth level after serving as team captain of the Javanon SC team that reached the USYSA National Championships last summer.  Javanon was also the Kentucky state champion in 2007 and 2008, and a finalist at the Disney Showcase in December.  Page has also been a member of the Kentucky ODP program, and was a standout at duPont Manual High School.  “Cole has the drive and commitment to make him an excellent leader among his peers, and has the ability to make everyone around him better,” said Jacobs, “We expect him to be a key contributor for us in the back.”

Robert Randant
5-11 • 165 • Collinsville, Ill. • Collinsville HS
Randant enters the University of Evansville after capping off a successful high school career at Collinsville High School, leading the Kahoks to a Regional championship in 2008 and to the Illinois state finals in 2007.  He was named All-State in Illinois, as well as earning All-Metro honors from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.  Randant also has played for the Metro United Soccer Club and St. Louis Scott Gallagher programs, and was a key contributor in their US Soccer Developmental Academy teams.  He has also participated as a member of the USL Super-Y League ODP National Team.  “Robert is a very athletic shot-stopper and does a great job reading the game,” said Jacobs. “He will be able to add depth to our goalkeeping corps.”

Patrick Kalua
5-8 • 155 • Bloomington, Ind. • Bloomington North HS
Kalua joins the University of Evansville after a very successful high school and club career.   Kalua helped lead Bloomington North High School to three consecutive semistate appearances, including the 2008 season in which he led the team in scoring with 21 goals.  He was named to the Indiana High School All-State team in 2008.  Kalua was a member of the Bloomington Cutters 91 Red club team that was a finalist for the Indiana State Cup in 2005, 2006 and 2007.  “Patrick has been very successful at the youth and high school levels,” says Jacobs, “and is versatile enough to be able to add depth in a number of different roles.”

Tyler Kincaid
5-10 • 160 • Avon, Ind. • Saint Joseph’s College
Kincaid joins the University of Evansville after two successful seasons at Saint Joseph’s (Ind.) College, where he was All-Great Lakes Valley Conference and All-Midwest Region in 2008.  Kincaid also finished the 2008 season second overall in the GLVC in scoring, and third in goals scored.   He was the 2007 Great Lakes Valley Conference Newcomer of the Year.  Kincaid was a high school teammate of current Purple Aces forward Mike Luttrull at Avon High School, where he received all-conference honors in 2006.  Kincaid is currently enrolled at the University of Evansville.  “Tyler is a proven goal scorer at the collegiate level,” says Jacobs, “and we expect that to continue here at the University of Evansville.”

The five newcomers will join a 2009 University of Evansville squad that returns 21 lettermen from last season’s 9-7-2 squad.  The Aces produced their third straight winning season under Coach Jacobs, made even more impressive by the fact that last season’s challenging schedule included three of the past four NCAA national champions.  UE’s returning players include All-Midwest Region selections Mike Luttrull and Robby Lynch, and five others who joined Luttrull and Lynch in earning all-Missouri Valley Conference honors: Reggie Edu, Richard Menjivar, Tom Irvin, Tyler Crawford and Tad Kreamalmeyer.