EVANSVILLE, Ind. - The second edition of a six-part series releasing the 13 newcomers to the 2019 University of Evansville men's soccer team, today we look at Alex McDonald and Brock Wandel, both coming to Evansville from the midwest. We also introduce a new member of the Aces coaching staff for 2019.
Coming from a strong club program, Alex McDonald helps to bolster an already impressive group of goalkeepers for the Aces in 2019. McDonald played his club soccer for St. Louis Scott Gallagher with Missouri 2020 Elite Copper and appeared for his prep side, Kirkwood High School. During the 2018 season for Kirkwood, McDonald recorded a pair of shutouts and eight more contests allowing just one goal.
Making the short trip west, Newburgh, Ind. native Brock Wandel continues his soccer career at Evansville after a productive four seasons at Castle High School and club soccer with Sporting Southern Indiana. The Courier & Press Metro Player of the Year, Wandel led the Knights to a state runner-up finish in 2017 and an appearance in the regional semifinals in 2018. Wandel was a prolific goal scorer for Castle, finishing with 12 goals in each of his junior and senior seasons.
Joining the Aces' coaching staff is Eoin Hurley, who comes to Evansville and will be the Aces' graduate assistant coach. The Dublin, Ireland native comes to Evansville after one year as goalkeeper coach and sport performance analyst with Drexel University in Philadelphia, Pa. Prior to coaching at Drexel, Eoin worked for two seasons as the top assistant at Bloomsburgh University in Pennsylvania.
Before entering coaching, Hurley enjoyed an impressive playing career, most recently at Montana State University - Billings, where he holds the record for most career shutouts and was named all-Great Northwest Athletic Conference twice. Before coming to the US, Hurley was a youth international for Ireland, competing for the U15 and U17 teams. Hurley also competed in youth academies for Plymouth Argyle, Exeter City in England and Bray Wanderers U21 in his home country of Ireland.
