Northeastern University Head Men's Soccer Coach Brian Ainscough has announced the signing of five athletes to National Letters of Intent to play for the Huskies in the fall of 2010. All five have been highly decorated athletes during their high school and club careers and will help keep Northeastern in contention for a CAA championship. Joining the Huskies are Conner Alexander (Blauvelt, N.Y./Bergen Catholic), Hamadi Cantave (Roslindale, Mass./Catholic Memorial School), Nikko Lara (Ridgefield Park, N.J./Shattuck-St. Mary's/Peddie School), Rex Messing (Ridgefield, Conn./Ridgefield) and AJ Stueck (Brookfield, Conn./Brookfield).

"The group that we just signed has us really excited because now that our program has been in the CAA Championship final the past couple of years, it has really helped us secure these talented five players, and it bodes well for our future," said Ainscough. It gives us something we haven't had in the past, which is real depth. We've had good success recently and I think it will help us push on, as the success of our players has made it easier for us to recruit this type of athlete.

"As a group it is a very, very strong group. Soccer-wise, these kids are all high-level players, who play at the highest level of club soccer in America, where they all have done extremely well."

Conner Alexander was a three-sport athlete at Bergen Catholic High School. He played three years of varsity soccer, one year of varsity baseball, and one year of varsity volleyball. The Blauvelt, N.Y., native was awarded with multiple individual honors, including 2009 All-Suburban first team, 2009 All-Bergen County first team, 2009 All-State New Jersey Non-Public first team, 2009 All-State All-Group New Jersey second team and 2008 Super Y National ODP Select team. Alexander was also part of the 2009 NJIL League championship winning team.

"Conner is an out-and-out central defender," Ainscough said. "We see huge potential in him; he plays big and has size, but he is also a really tough hard-nosed defender with good ball skills, which usually doesn't come together. We expect him to come in and give added depth in that area right from the get-go. What we love about him is that he is such a fierce competitor."
 
Hamadi Cantave, who hails from Roslindale, Mass., was a star center midfield in his four varsity seasons at Catholic Memorial School. Cantave was an All-Conference and All-star selection in the 2008 and 2009 campaigns and was a key part in the team's state championship in 2009-10. He also played on the FC Greater Boston Bolts from the U-11 to U-18 classes.

"Hamadi is a local boy who goes to Catholic Memorial, which just won the state championship this year in Division I," Ainscough said. He also plays club for Greater Boston Bolts, which is one of the best clubs in the country and the No. 1 club in New England. We are really fortunate to have him. He plays two different positions: he can either play in the center of the park or wide. He has terrific technique and really high-end speed that I think is going to help him contribute right from the start. It is sometimes difficult to keep local kids at home, but he loved Northeastern and we loved him, so we are really excited we were able to get him."
 
Nikko Lara comes from Ridgefield Park, N.J. and was named captain twice in his four combined varsity years at Shattuck-St. Mary's and the Peddie School.  The center midfielder captained Shattuck-St. Mary's in the 2007-08 campaign, and captained the Peddie School during the 2009-10 season. Lara was named second-team All-Prep in 2008 and 2009, Super Y League National Team in 2007, and won the Sabre Leadership Award in 2008. He was also contributed to the 2007 New York State Cup Championship and the 2008 U16 Region 1 North Championship.

"Nikko can play multiple positions," Ainscough said. "He can play wide in the midfield and he probably could come in right away and start as a right fullback, or play anywhere in the center of the park. Nikko to me is just an all-around soccer player who we also see as a great leader. He has terrific field sense and is a fierce competitor. He also plays in a club system that all the elite players play in; he has been the star for his team the last two years. Looking at his background in the game and pedigree, I can't imagine him not finding his way to starting right from the get-go."
 
Ridgefield, Conn., native Rex Messing, son of former professional soccer player Roy Messing and nephew of former Olympian Shep Messing, was a four-year midfielder for Ridgefield High from 2006-09.  Messing was named captain for the 2009 campaign, and was named All-FCIAC and All-Area for his production that season. Messing's squad made the FCIAC Finals in 2007 and 2009, and his team won the State LL Championship in 2007.

"Rex plays in the holding midfielder role and is very much like Lars Okland," Ainscough said. "He has great passing range and great vision. Rex has big shoes to fill because of Lars, but I think Rex has the opportunity to come in and help us right away in that area of the field. We expect big things from him. He and AJ Stueck are very good friends, which bodes well for chemistry on the field."
 
AJ Stueck of Brookfield, Conn., joins Northeastern with an already decorated career. The four-year varsity forward/attacking midfielder at Brookfield High captained his team twice, and was nominated for ESPN Gatorade Player of the Year both his junior and senior years.  Stueck led the state in goals and total points in 2009 and led his team to its first ever conference championship and second consecutive state championship. Steuck was also a member of the U14-U15 USA National team.

"AJ plays in the same club system as Hamadi for Oakwood, who is one of the premier teams in the Connecticut area competing well on the national level," Ainscough said. "He has been one of the top goal scorers in Connecticut, scoring a staggering amount of goals from the midfield position. AJ brings an awful lot to the table. He plays in the offensive midfield role, he has a real keen eye for the goal, and as a midfielder, he is always trying to be positive at making things happen going forward. We expect him to come in and give us real depth in that part of the field."

Ainscough will pair these five incoming freshmen with 21 returners from last season's team that finished 10-8-1 overall and 8-2-1 in the CAA. The Huskies placed third in the conference and reached the title game of the CAA Championship for the second straight season. Over his last two seasons, Ainscough has led Northeastern to an impressive 13-4-5 record during conference play. Among his returning players are 2009 CAA Rookie of the Year and first-team All-CAA forward Don Anding, first-team All-CAA defender Santiago Bedoya, third-team All-CAA defender Matt Sanford and third-team All-CAA forward Mike Kennedy.