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Andrew Malinich, Midfielder, Chicago Fire Juniors Louisiana
Class: 2014
Commitment: NC State(m)

It had always been a goal of Andrew Malinich’s to one day play in the ACC. And thanks to NC State(m), the midfielder from Louisiana will see that dream realized in the fall.

“When I visited the NC State campus, I really connected with the coaching staff and thought I could continue to grow from their leadership during the next four years,” Malinich told TopDrawerSoccer.com. “I also liked the school itself. The facilities are top quality, and the amount of resources at hand is abundant.” 

A rapidly improving NC State side is also expecting a bumper crop of recruits in the fall of 2014. Malinich joins a class that includes USYNTers like Conor Donovan, Matias Fracchia, Lawrence Taiwo and Marius Heislitz.

The relatively new coaching staff headed up by Kelly Findley no doubt helped players of that caliber, just like they convinced Malinich that this was the right place for him.

“The coaching staff has only been there a few years and has already implemented many positive culture changes,” he said. “The soccer program definitely has some great character traits. The standard of the team is always high and the coaches strive for the highest level of play. The coaches really take an interest in each player and have already made me feel like a part of the team." 

Academically, the school ticked the right boxes as well, as he could set out on his ideal career path.

“Outside of soccer, I want to become an engineer,” Malinich said. “NC State is one of the best engineering schools in the country. They have a separate area of the campus devoted to their engineering program. The engineering and soccer combination really attracted me to consider NC State." 

Peter Brown, Defender, Grand Rapids Crew Jrs.
Class: 2015
Commitment: Michigan

A defensive stalwart for a Crew affiliate, Peter Brown didn’t have to search outside his home state for a university that offered the right mix of school and soccer.

“I decided to commit to Michigan because a degree from Michigan is one of the top degrees in the nation that you can receive and I love the drive that the coaching staff brings to the team,” he told TopDrawerSoccer.com. “I can see that everyone there wants to succeed and I want to be apart of that. Also, I believe I can learn a tremendous amount from Coach Daley and that he will make me the best student and athlete I can be.”

Head coach Chaka Daley seems to have the program heading in the right direction, and Brown is optimistic that will only continue by the time he gets there in the fall of 2015.

“I like the soccer program because everyone is there to win and no one wants anything less than to be the best they can be,” he said. “I love the energy that the amazing complex and fans bring to the games. When I attended one of their training sessions I could see the team chemistry was great and that everyone was willing to put in the work for the team. That’s the type of environment I want to be in.” 

Other commitments:

Midfielder Chase Townsend (FC Bolts Celtic) has committed to Providence for the class of 2014.

Forward Ahinga Selemani (Crew Soccer Academy Wolves) has changed his commitment to Michigan for the class of 2014.

Forward Kyle Kenagy (Chicago Fire) committed to Yale for the class of 2015.