The Mustang men's soccer team strengthened all areas of its future positional play recently with the announcement by second-year head coach Steve Sampson and the Cal Poly Athletics Department that the program has signed six players to National Letters of Intent.

Set to join Cal Poly’s August preseason training camp are forward/midfielder Sebastian Herran (Miami, Fla./Varela HS), forward/midfielder Daniel Malki (Phoenix, Ariz./Pinnacle HS), forward/midfielder Braden Myus (Greenville, S.C./Southside Christian School), midfielders Diego Alonso (Berkeley, Calif./Berkeley HS) and Kenneth Higgins (Oceanside, Calif./San Clemente HS) and goalkeeper Luciano Trasolini (Burnaby, B.C./Vancouver Whitecaps Academy).

“I’m very pleased to welcome our new recruiting class to Cal Poly and excited to see how they will integrate into next season's team given their qualities,” said Sampson, who directed the 2015 Mustang squad to the NCAA Tournament. “We have a great mix of attacking and defending players who come from all over the United States and Canada and this will be considered one of the best recruiting classes in the country. We strive to build upon our success from last season and this recruiting class will help in that endeavor for many years to come.”

Sebastian Herran (F/MF)
Appearing the last three years for U.S. Soccer Development Academy program Kendall Soccer Academy, Herran helped his SAA Real Madrid side to the Florida State Cup and U.S. Youth Soccer Region III titles in 2012 and 2013. A three-year member of the Olympic Development Program Region III squad (2009-12) and two-year starter at Varela HS (2011-13), Herran graduated from high school cum laude and intends to major in business.

Daniel Malki (F/MF)
Currently a 31-goal scorer during his senior season at Pinnacle HS, Malki has also chipped in 14 assists and helped his squad to a 20-2 mark. A two-year letterwinner after scoring five times and adding 10 assists to close his 2014 sophomore season, Malki remains a candidate for the 2016 Arizona Gatorade Player of the Year award. An honor roll candidate at Pinnacle HS, Malki intends to major in business at Cal Poly. Malki is the younger brother of two-time All-Big West Conference selection and former Mustang midfielder George Malki (2010-13).

Braden Myus (F/MF)
Having captained U.S. Soccer’s South Carolina United Battery Development Academy squad at U-18 level, Myus totaled 57 appearances for the side and compiled 14 assists during his final season. A four-year letterwinner at Southside Christian School, Myus scored 18 times as a senior while adding four assists. He’s also a member of the Olympic Development Program Region III player pool. A Dean’s List selection at Southside Christian School, Myus intends to major in business at Cal Poly.

Diego Alonso (MF)
A member of U.S. Soccer’s San Jose Earthquakes Development Academy squad at U-15/16 and U-17/18 levels, Alonso is also a letterwinner at Berkeley HS where he made a career best 18 appearances as a sophomore in 2014. An honor roll candidate at Berkeley HS, Alonso intends to major in business.

Kenneth Higgins (MF)
A two-year letterwinner at San Clemente HS and a 2014 All-South Coast League selection after helping the Tritons to a league title and 25-4-1 record, Higgins appeared during the 2014-15 season for U.S. Soccer’s Strikers FC Development Academy squad. He was named to the Best XI team at the 2014 U.S. Youth Soccer National Championships. Higgins plans to pursue a degree in sports management.

Luciano Trasolini (GK)
Trasolini joined Major League Soccer’s Vancouver Whitecaps FC’s residency program in 2011. Previously, he competed for both the club’s U-16 squad and the non-residency Prospects setup. Trasolini has previously represented Canada with the U-17 national team and is currently a member of the U-20 men’s national team player pool. The 6-0 Trasolini intends to major in kinesiology.

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