Men's Soccer Welcomes 13 Recruits as Part of 2022 Incoming Class
Seventh-year head coach Fernando Barboto announced that 13 players will be joining the NJIT men's soccer program as part of the 2022 incoming class.
The incoming class will be joining a Highlander squad that advanced to the America East Conference Men's Soccer Tournament semifinals in back-to-back seasons.
Listed below is the full 2022 men's soccer recruiting class along with a short biography on each player:
Hugo Tavares, Midfielder, Porto, Portugal, FC Pacos De Ferreira
Tavares is coming off a successful summer with the Canadian u20 team in the CONCAF qualifiers.
He played for FC Pacos de Ferreira and placed fourth in the u15 National First Division.
Tavares intends to major in mechanical engineering.
Coach Barboto on Tavares: "One of our international players who is Portuguese/Canadian that we believe will make a great impact. He starred this summer with the Canadian u20 team in the CONCAF qualifiers. He is a very strong midfielder who is very technical and excellent at controlling the tempo of the game."
Jose Del Valle, Forward, Madrid Spain, Northwestern
Del Valle, a transfer from Northwestern will pursue his Masters in Management at NJIT in the Fall 2022. A four-year member of the Northwestern men's soccer program, De Valle appeared in 49 career matches, including 34 starts.
Del Valle did not play soccer in high school due to full-time commitment to Real Madrid, C.F. Academy from 2007-2018. He was the league's top goal scorer (42) in 2013-14 and helped the club to a league championship in 2014-15, while scoring 24 goals. In 2015-2016, he guided the club to league championships (23 goals scored), Champion Nike Premier Cup Spain and Top Scorer II Trofeo Ford and scored 19 goals during the 2016-17 season. Del Valle found the back of the net six times in eight games before missing the remainder of the 2017-18 season due to injury.
Coach Barboto on Del Valle: "A traditional Spanish #9 striker that plays well between the lines and combines to get himself in front of the goal to score. He brings a wealth of knowledge as a transfer from Northwestern to NJIT's MBA graduate program. A Real Madrid youth player that was coached by the legendary Santiago Solari."
Karmel Segui, Center Back, Tenafly, NJ, FC Copa
Standing at 6-foot-3, Segui recently played in the USL 2 with FC Copa NJ, before attending Eccellenza team in Rome (Boreale Don Orione) and joined Rome City Institution in August 2021.
Segui attended preseason training camp (July to August 2021) for the U23 R.C. Stasbourg (Ligue1-France) and captured the Ebora Cup Spain (Division de Honor and Nacional Teams). In August 2020, Segui played for Levante U.D Academy and Patacona CF (Spain) and attended AS Roma U15 Primavera Team in Italy and FC Barcelona Camp in 2013.
Segui attended Tenafly High School and Columbia Online School and intends to major in business at NJIT.
Coach Barboto on Segui: "Fantastic size and speed for a center back. He is great in the air and is a very technical defender. His ability to play vertically is a big bonus for our defense."
Max Birnberg, Goalkeeper, Franklin Lakes, NJ, FC Copa NJ
The 6-foot-1 goalkeeper attended The Ogburn School in Fernandina Beach Florida and played for PDA and FC Copa NJ.
He intends to major in business administration at NJIT.
Coach Barboto on Birnberg: "He has great distribution skills and has a wealth of experience training in Spain as a goalkeeper. We expect to push all our goalkeepers and make a run for the top spot."
Sergio Martinez Cubel, Midfielder, Sedavi, Valencia, Spain, Valencia CF Academy
Martinez Cubel joins the Highlanders from Spain where he played for Valencia CF Academy. He served as a team captain of the u19 team in Spain in addition to being named as an Elite Athlete.
He graduated with honors from Colegio Nuestra Senora del Socorro high school and intends to major in industrial engineering at NJIT in the Fall 2022.
Coach Barboto on Martinez Cubel: "A very special 1v1 player in the run of play. He is elusive on the dribble and has the courage in and around the goal to shoot and score."
Marco Nazor, Defender, Upper Saddle River, NJ, PDA
Nazor attended Bergen Catholic High School and was selected as team captain for PDA.
A member of the National Honors Society, Nazor intends to major in Law, Technology and Culture at NJIT.
Coach Barboto on Nazor: "A versatile player that has the ability to play as an attacker or defender. He took his gap year in Spain and has good overseas experience."
Enrique Mutsoli, Forward, Lyndhurst, NJ, Ironbound USL A
The 6-foot-2 forward from nearby Lyndhurst, NJ, scored 70 career goals, 29 assists and 169 career points in his four-year soccer high school career. His 39 goals in a single season (2021) are the most goals in program history.
Mutsoli is a three-time first-team All-NJIC, two-time All-State and All-Group selection, first-team All-Bergen County and All-State and Bergen County All-Star selection.
He played club for Ironbound USL A and intends to major in Law, Technology and Culture at NJIT in the Fall 2022.
Coach Barboto on Mutsoli: "Great pace and elusive first steps on the dribble. A local product that we are very proud to have in our program. He will impact our attack immediately."
Anthony Cruz, Center Back, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Eture Sports
Cruz, a 6-foot-1 center back, attended Montverde Academy and played for Eture Sports.
He was named to the Honor Roll and graduated Cum Laude. Cruz intends to major in chemical engineering.
Coach Barboto on Cruz: "Very strong and fast with good size and will make him very versatile. He defends well but is also a good passer."
Jackson Gould, Midfielder, Clifton Park, NY, FC Westchester
Gould attended Shenendehowa High School and The Taft School for a year before joining the Highlanders in Fall 2022.
He guided Shenendehowa to the State semifinals and was selected most improved player. He played for FC Westchester and intends to major in business.
Coach Barboto on Gould: "He is an attacking player with power, speed and good decision making with his back on the goal."
Andrea Campoli, Defender, Rome, Italy, U.S. Viterbese
Campoli joins the Highlanders from Rome, Italy where he attended Liceo Santa Rosa and played for the U.S. Viterbese, capturing the Primavera 3 Championship.
He intends to major in business at NJIT in the Fall 2022.
Coach Barboto on Campoli: "Andrea has great pedigree coming from such a great youth academy in S.S. Lazio in Italy. He is big, strong and has excellent positional play for a center back. He has soft feet and strong distribution ability."
Jack Krongold, Midfielder, Freehold, NJ, Cedar Stars Monmouth
Attended Colts Neck High School and played for Cedar Stars Monmouth.
Krongold was named MLSNext team captain and represented Cedar Stars Monmouth at the Capelli Sports Invitational in Denmark.
A member of the National Honors Society, NJROTC and Principal's Honor Roll, Krongold intends to major in cyberpsychology at NJIT in the Fall.
Coach Barboto on Krongold: "He is a very industrious midfielder who covers a lot of ground. He has a strong left foot and good soccer IQ that will help him contribute immediately."
Joseph Davis, Defender, Freehold, NJ, Cedar Stars Monmouth
Attended Scholar Athletes Leadership Academy in Bridgewater, NJ and played for the Cedar Stars Monmouth club.
Coach Barboto on Davis: "He is very athletic and has power down low as a defender. He has all the right tools to be a great player for our program."
Anthony Rovito, Midfielder, Piscataway, NJ, University of UPenn
Rovito, a transfer from UPenn, will pursue his MBA at NJIT in the Fall 2022 with a concentration in marketing. A four-year member for the Quakers men's soccer program, Rovito appeared in 42 career matches, including 16 starts.
A two-time captain, Rovito, played for the New York Red Bulls Academy, appearing in 27 games in 2016-17, helping to lead his team to the academy playoffs. The Red Bulls ranked No. 1 in 2017-18.
Rovito plays for NJ Copa FC.
Coach Barboto on Rovito: "Anthony brings a wealth of experience as an Ivy League transfer player from the University of Penn to NJIT's MBA program. Anthony is a born communicator and leader. We look forward to him passing on all experience as a student-athlete and footballer."