WEST POINT, N.Y. – Army men’s soccer head coach Russell Payne and his staff welcomed 10 freshmen to their 2013 squad earlier this season.

The group features players from eight different states, including three from Florida. Other states represented include California, Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, New Jersey, Utah and Virginia.

“This has been the most impressive group of freshmen in terms of adjusting to West Point right away,” said Payne. “They’ve picked up the training right away in understanding exercises, the style of play and the mentality of the group. That’s why we expect a number of them to contribute.”

Christian Clark, a native of Pleasanton, Calif., arrived at West Point after playing soccer at Foothill High School. He served as his team’s captain as a junior and senior, and was the second leading goal scorer in his league as a senior. Clark was selected to the All-East Bay California first team and was an all-league MVP his final year.

A native of Weston, Fla., Alex Jaroscak comes to the Academy after playing at Cypress Bay High School, where he served as a soccer captain during his junior season and was named to the all-county first team.

Raised in Falmouth, Maine, Cooper Lycan competed in soccer at Falmouth High School. Lycan was his team’s captain during his senior season, and was named to the all-conference first team and Telegram All-State squads during his time at Falmouth.

Tim Mines, a product of Ridgefield, Conn., was a two-year member of the soccer team at Ridgefield High School before playing an additional two years on the Choate Rosemary Hall squad. During his junior season at Choate Rosemary Hall, Mines earned all-state honors and inclusion on the WNEPSSA All-Star First Team. Prior to that, he earned Rookie of the Year honors as a freshman at Ridgefield High School.

Christian Ollen, an Oakton, Va., native, comes to West Point after attending Oakton High School. While at Oakton, Ollen was a three-time all-district first team selection, and landed on the all-region second team once.

A native of Southwest Ranches, Fla., Justin Santos was a member of the University School of Nova Southeastern University prep team before arriving at the Academy.

Ethan Spivack comes to Army from Miami, Fla., where he played soccer at Miami Palmetto Senior High School.

Raised in Hooper, Utah, Trase Stapley arrives at West Point after lettering at Roy High School. Stapley was a member of regional championship teams at Roy as a junior and senior.

Tanner Vosvick, a product of Phoenix, Md., joins Army after gaining prep school experience at the Gilman School, where he earned all-state, all-conference and all-metro honors.

A native of South Orange, N.J., Nick Williams attended Newark Academy, where he was a member of the soccer squad. Williams served as a captain his senior year and earned all-conference first team and all-prep first team accolades as a junior and senior. His background also includes an all-state first team selection and a New Jersey All-Star Game nod as a senior. Williams was ranked 15th in the state of New Jersey by TopDrawerSoccer.com as a senior, and was his team’s top goal scorer as a junior.

“My hope is that by late September, they’re no longer freshmen,” Payne added. “They’ll have played enough minutes and gained enough understanding that you won’t see the difference in them compared to an upperclassman.”

Army, which currently stands 2-0 this season, returns to action on Saturday, Sept. 7, when it travels to face Air Force at 9 p.m. ET

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