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Matt Morana, Defender, New England Revolution
Class: 2015
Commitment: Lehigh 

Perhaps slightly under the radar, Lehigh is starting to build a quality men’s soccer recruiting class.

The latest add is Matt Morana, the U16 captain for the New England Revolution’s Academy side.

“I decided to commit to Lehigh because of its combination of a prestigious academic school, along with its competitive Division 1 team in the Patriot League,” Morana told TopDrawerSoccer.com. “When I went to their ID camp this summer, coach [Dean] Koski, coach [Mike] Montross, and coach [Ryan] Hess were extremely personable and knowledgeable guys who clearly knew the game very well.

“Also, not only is the campus beautiful, but so are the facilities. Lehigh has a complex about three miles from the main campus that has all of the sports fields, and the Ulritch Sports Complex, where the soccer team plays, is a terrific stadium. Another reason why I chose Lehigh was because it is close enough to still see my family, as well as my extended family, who lives in New Jersey, New York, and Maryland.” 

Morana is a versatile, team-first player who is willing to slot in anywhere on the field on the back line. A summer camp experience played another big role in the decision.

“When I went to Lehigh’s ID camp this summer, I met some of the current players on the soccer team, and they answered all the questions I had and went out of their way to introduce me and really make me comfortable,” he said. “Also, the coaching staff was always approachable. Coach Koski has been the head coach at Lehigh for 23 years, and his experience proved to me that we have the ability to do big things.”

The defender is the sixth verbal commitment to Lehigh for the class of 2015.

Kyle Brown, Midfielder, St. Louis Scott Gallagher
Class: 2015
Commitment: Evansville

Looking to cement itself as the go-to program in the Missouri Valley Conference, Evansville recently landed the verbal commitment of Kyle Brown, a midfielder who found much to like about the school and soccer program.

“I decided to commit to Evansville because I felt the school and the soccer program was a great fit,” Brown told TopDrawerSoccer.com. “I like everything that the school and soccer program has to offer. One of the main things I like about the soccer program at Evansville is the professionalism of the coaching staff, they made me feel welcome right away. I also like the facilities where they train and play their games.”

MORE: 2014 college preview content | Boys commitments | 2015 Boys IMG Academy Top 150

Evansville as a university also checked all the boxes on Brown’s college search list.

“The school itself is smaller, and that was something I was looking for,” he said. “They also have a very strong business school, and I want to major in Accounting.”

Justin Wright, Midfielder, Santa Monica United
Class: 2015
Commitment: UC Davis 

A technically and tactically strong midfielder for Santa Monica United, Justin Wright’s college commitment saw him remain in state for next fall.

“I committed to UC Davis because I felt it was a great fit for me. The coaching staff was very impressive and I felt welcomed by them. Coaches Dwayne [Shaffer], Jason [Hotaling], and Chris [Leer] are all encouraging and supportive of me as a player and person.”

Wright’s first interaction with head coach Shaffer showed him right off the bat that UC Davis would be an ideal home down the road. The academic side was the right fit for him too.

“I toured the campus and community with my parents and really liked what I saw,” Wright said. “As a pre-med student it was a great soccer and academic match.”

Other commitments:

Midfielder Jordan Poff (Charlotte Soccer Academy) committed to Wofford for the class of 2015.