Head coach Tim Lenahan and the Northwestern men's soccer program announced the addition of six newcomers to the class of 2021 on Wednesday.

"I really like the balance of this class," said Lenahan of the Class of 2021. "We have added a top goalkeeper, three very good attacking players and a solid defensive midfielder and a left footed central defender."
 
"We continue to find players from both the US Soccer Developmental Academy and those that play with their high school and club. We have cast our net nationwide to come up with players from California, Minnesota, and Tennessee, while adding two local players from Glenview and Norridge, Ill. All six players come from great families and I'm excited about this group helping us restore the roar to Northwestern Soccer. All six participated in one of our Northwestern Boy's Soccer Camps throughout the year, which we find is still the best way to truly get to know the player and their family after watching them play."
 
According to Lenahan, this signing class embodies the culture and family that the men's soccer program is built upon.
 
"In Miha Miskovic we have one of the best young goalkeepers in the country.  His feet and distribution skills are as good as anyone. In Tommy Katsyiannis we have a very smooth and technical player who has a great feel in the final third. Spencer Howard is a big bruising forward who has also played in the back.  At 6-1, 195, he certainly brings some physicality to the team. At 5-7, Drew Vicomi is a two-footed spark plug who is very active around the box. Alex Reneau is a workmanlike defensive center midfield who is all business and Garrett Opperman is the rare central back who is left-footed, technical and tenacious. This group really has a chance to make an impact right away.”

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Spencer Howard
6-2 | 195 | Pacific Palisades, Calif. | Palisades Charter High School

High School: Played varsity as a freshman and led the team to a Western League title, 2013-2014 ... Named to first team All-Western League and LA CIF City Section … Led team to LA City Championship as a freshman … Named a team captain as a senior … Led team in scoring and assists in 2016 and 2017 … Youngest player named to United States Maccabiah Team and play in Israel during the summer 2013 … Attended Northwestern's College Soccer Training Center (CTSC) in summer of 2016. 
 
Club: Played U.S. Soccer Development Academy for Real So Cal. 2014 – 2016 … Participated in numerous high-level tournaments including the USSDA Winter Showcase, Surf Cup and USSF Academy Playoffs … Played for Real So Cal White, 2010 – 2013 … Was a Cal South National Cup finalist 2011.
 
Personal: Parents are David and Nicole… Brother Justin is currently a sophomore at Palisades Charter High School … Chose Northwestern over UC Berkeley, Washington, Yale and Brown… Anticipated major is economics.

Coach Lenahan on Spencer Howard: Spencer is a big, physical body who really shined at our camp last winter and again this summer. He is very versatile, having played both forward and in the back for his academy team. He is having a great senior year with his high school team, leading them in scoring, and certainly looking forward to seeing his skill and athleticism transfer to the Big Ten level.

Tommy Katsiyiannis
5-10 | 145 | Eden Prairie, Minn. | Eden Prairie High School
 
High School: Did not play with high school to play full-time with Minnesota Thunder in the US Soccer Developmental Academy 
 
Club: Played club soccer for Minnesota Thunder DA U14-18 and had led the club in goals and assists last two seasons … Invited to U18 men's National Team Domestic Camp in 2016 … 2014 National Futsal Champions … 2013 NPL Regional Champions … 2012 Minnesota State Cup Champions ... Attended Northwestern's College Soccer Training Center (CTSC) in summer of 2014 and 2016. 
 
Personal: Parents are Bill and Stacy ... Chose Northwestern over Wake Forest, Virginia, Princeton and Loyola … Younger brother Matthew also plays on Minnesota Thunder DA ... Anticipated major is economics.

Coach Lenahan on Tommy Katsiyannis: Tommy has great feet and terrific acceleration. He is very good at pushing the tempo moving forward and finding space in the final third to finish the play. He has really improved his effort on the defensive side of the ball in the past year and we are looking forward to him having a great career at Northwestern.
 
Mihajlo "Miha" Miskovic
6-3 | 200 | Zemun, Serbia | Ridgewood
 
High School: Did not play High School to participate in US Soccer Academy Program.
 
Club: Played for FK Altina and FK Zemun till U15 in Serbia... Played for Chicago Magic PSG for U15-U16 and U17-U18... Helped Chicago Magic PSG finish first in the Central U17-U18 Mid-West Divison... Played for Chicago Fire U17-U18.
 
Personal: Parents are Zoran and Tamara … Chose Northwestern over UCLA ... Brothers Mateja and Marko.

Coach Lenahan on Miha Miskovic: We thought Miha was one of the top goalkeeper prospects in the country. He was great presence, very soft hands and probably the best feet and distribution of any goalkeeper prospect that we have seen. I am very anxious to watch him work with our goalkeeper trainers Ovidio Felcaro and Rich Nassif and watch his growth.”

Garrett Opperman
6-1 | 180 | Minneapolis, Minn. | Breck School
 
High School: Varsity starter all four years at Breck School... Helped Breck win three conference championships, one section championship, and a second place finish in the 2015 state tournament … Received NSCAA all-region player, all-state first team, all-state tournament team, and all-conference awards... Awarded all-state first team and all-conference honors as a senior, and was named a Mr. Soccer finalist … Point guard of the basketball team that won a conference championship.
 
Club: Captain for Minneapolis United U12-U19 and was a semi-finalist in USYSA Region II Midwest Championship and Midwest Cup champion, Minnesota State Cup champion , and KC Champions Cup champion in 2014 …  Club team won the National XIV Midwest Regional u16 Super Group and the PUMA Cup College Showcase in 2015 ... Helped his team win Surf Cup and Minnesota State Cup in 2016 ... Played for the Minnesota ODP state team for five years and helped Minnesota win second place in the ODP national showcase ... A 2015 selection for the ODP Boys Florida Interregional All-Star Team and contributed to Region II's win in the Florida Interregional Showcase and Costa Rica International Tour … Attended Northwestern's winter training center in early 2016, and Northwestern's College Soccer Training Center (CTSC) in the summer of 2016.
 
Personal: Parents are Nat and Beth Opperman… Nat attended Harvard University, and Beth attended St. Olaf College for their undergraduate degrees… Brothers are Sam (11) and Max (8).

Coach Lenahan on Garrett Opperman: Garrett really caught our attention when we saw him at the Inter-regionals in Florida and followed up with excellent performances at our One Day Prep Camp and College Soccer Training Center. He is left-footed, technical and tenacious. Playing center midfield on his high school team has given him very good ability on the ball. Left-footed Center Backs are rare and those with Garrett's skill set are even more unique. He has a chance to be an impact player at Northwestern and in the Big Ten.

Alex Reneau
6-0 | 170 | Glenview, Ill. | Laurel Springs School
 
High School: Did not play for his high school to participate with his club team.
 
Club: Played for Chicago Magic PSG until U12 … Moved to Madrid, Spain to play for Atletico Madrid U13-U16 ... Played for AD Alcorcon (Madrid, Spain) for U17/U18 ... Played for Chicago Magic PSG for U18
 
Personal: Parents are Taj and Adriana … Lived in Madrid, Spain for 5 years... Anticipated major is economics.

Coach Lenahan on Alex Reneau: "Alex has spent most of his youth career playing at a very high level in Spain. We have been able to see him when he came back to the States to play for the Chicago Magic and later FC United. He has a very professional approach to the game and has all the characteristics of a defensive midfielder: steady, determined and focused,
 
Drew Viscomi
5-7 | 150 | Lookout Mountain, Tenn. | McCallie School
 
High school: Four year varsity starter at McCallie … Holds school record for most goals in a single-season with 29 ... Helped team win three conference titles and a pair of third place finishes in the state tournament ... Four-time 'Best of Preps'  forward ... Best XI.. 2016 Best of Preps 'Player of the Year'… Named the2016 conference player of the year … Three-time first team All-State.. TopDrawer Soccer All-American.
 
Club: Two-time National Training Center attendee ... Played for Nashville Heroes under Desmond Armstrong U12-U14 ... Played for Southern Soccer Academy U15 ... Helped SSA to the finals of the D1 Georgia State Cup ... Played for Nashville FC (U16-U19) ... Helped team to 2016 D1 state championship … Member of first place finishing team in 2016 Region Premier League ... Played ODP with Tennessee State team and Region III in 2013 ... Attended Northwestern's College Soccer Training Center (CTSC) and one-day camp in 2016. 
 
Personal: Parents are Michelle and Vince.. Chose Northwestern over Wake Forest, Lipscomb, Air Force, Xavier, High Point, and Davidson.. Two older brothers Brian and Samuel ... Brian played football at Washington University in St. Louis ... Samuel played lacrosse at the University of the South ... Anticipated major is economics.

Coach Lenahan on Drew Viscomi:  "Drew is a very dynamic player with a personality to match. He has great balance with his low center of gravity and two footed with his finishing as well. He has a very clever feel around the box, good work rate and should be able to find the back of the net a few times during his time at Northwestern.

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