The University of Pittsburgh men’s soccer team received National Letters of Intent from a total of five newcomers – four with the US Soccer Development Academy and one All-American – last week for the 2015 season.

Alec Anselmo (Charlotte, N.C./Independence), Kyle Brathwaite (Charlotte, N.C.), and Matthew Nozedar (Charlotte, N.C./Providence Senior HS) all come to the Panthers by way of Charlotte, N.C. Alongside them will be Mikal Outcalt (Strongsville, Ohio/St. Ignatius), and Thomas Suchecki (New York, N.Y./Stuyvesant HS ) of New York, N.Y.

The newest additions will bring immediate chemistry and experience on the national scene. Anselmo, Brathwaite and Nozedar all join the Panthers from Charlotte and played club soccer together, competing for Gaston United Soccer Club (Gastonia, N.C.) and the Carolina Rapids of the US Development Academy, while Suchecki also played at the US Soccer Academy level in New York. Additionally, Outcalt was an All-American in goal.

“Our coaching staff is very pleased with our incoming class, and feel each player will be a positive addition and bring his own special talents to our team,” head coach Joe Luxbacher had to say of his recruiting crop.

Below is a closer look at the incoming Panthers followed by Luxbacher’s thoughts on each individual.

Alec Anselmo | Charlotte, N.C. | Independence High School

A varsity letterwinner as only a freshman, Alec Anselmo, a center attacking midfielder, opted to spend the next three years playing for the Carolina Rapids US Development Academy’s teams in lieu of further high school competition. The result was a highly productive career that saw him ultimately named to the Top Drawer Soccer (TDS) ‘Team of the Month’ in 2011, First Team North Carolina Olympic Development/State Select Program (ODP), TDS Raleigh Combine Boys Second Team and rated a four-star recruit by Top Drawer Soccer.

Anselmo was invited to the prestigious US Market Training Centers on four separate occasions, most recently in September 2013. These events are conducted by US Soccer to evaluate elite players for possible participation with the Youth National Team.

In 2013, Anselmo led the U15/16 Carolina Rapids Academy squad in scoring, and was named a starter for the U17/18 team the following year.

Soccer appears to run in the family, as both his grandfather and great grandfather played professionally in Argentina. His twin brother, Brandon, has committed to play soccer for Winthrop University beginning this season.

“Alec is a skillful and talented midfielder who can play centrally or possibly wide, depending on our system of play. Alec also plays USSDA and has played with both Kyle and Matt at the Academy Level. We envision Alec in primarily an attacking midfield role, a player who can link up with the forwards to create a strong and diversified attack.”

Kyle Brathwaite | Charlotte, N.C. | Homeschool

Kyle Brathwaite was a member of the Trinidad & Tobago U17 Men’s National Team during the 2012-13 season and most recently has trained with the prestigious D.C. United Academy squad, where he holds one of two out of market spots, as a center back during the 2014-15 season. Prior to that, he was a member of the Carolina Rapids U-15/16 team in 2012-13 along with future teammate Anselmo.

With the Trinidad & Tobago national club, Brathwaite competed in the Tournament of the Americas in Columbia in November of 2012. The following year he was one of 21 invited players to the D.C. United Academy US Soccer Training Center. It was one of a number of trips to US Training Centers for Brathwaite.

In July, 2011, Brathwaite was named to the same TDS ‘Team of the Month’ as Anselmo as a defender. According to TDS, it was on the basis of Brathwaite’s play that helped promote Gaston United to the Region III South Regional Premier League. Prior to his ‘Team of the Month’ recognition, Brathwaite participated in the id2 National Identification Camp.

His father Jarrette Brathwaite, played collegiately for the Charlotte 49ersand professionally in both the United States and Germany.

“Kyle is a talented and experienced player who we believe can contribute immediately on our backline. Kyle was formally in the U16 National Soccer Team pool, and has played United States Soccer Developmental Academy (USSDA) level soccer as well. We feel that Kyle will compete primarily as a central defender although he is a versatile player who could play wide as well”

Matthew Nozedar | Charlotte, N.C. | Providence High School

A Hull, England native, Matthew Nozedar was a standout center-midfielder/forward as a freshman at Providence High School in Charlotte, N.C. He started varsity and scored seven goals and chipped in four assists during his first year as Providence finished 17-6-1. The following season, Nozedar had the opportunity to play for the North Meck Academy Team (now Carolina Rapids – the same team Anselmo and Brathwaite play for), under the USSDA. He opted to play for the Academy and was forced to take a year off from high school (due to USSDA rules). However, Nozedar eventually decided to return to his high school team.

As a junior, he recorded 27 goals and five assists, earning All-SoMeck 8 conference, All-Region, All-State and All-Observer honors. Nozedar helped lead Providence to an undefeated regular season, a 24-game win streak to begin the year and a SoMeck 8 title.

Following the season, Nozedar returned to England and trained with the English Premier League’s Hull City U18 Academy for two weeks. The EPL is widely-regarded as one of the top leagues, if not the top league, in the world.

With the help of Nozedar, Providence entered his senior season ranked No. 8 in the state coaches poll. The squad finished with a 16-5-1 overall record and finished second in the SoMeck 8 Conference. Providence concluded the season as a North Carolina Class 4A state quarterfinalist and was included in the national FAB 50.

The forward led the team with 28 goals, setting a new all-time scoring record of 62 goals for Providence, surpassing an 18-year old mark. Nozedar received numerous awards and honors including: First Team All-SoMeck 8 Conference, First Team All-Region 9, First Team All-State Public 4A, First Team All-Observer, Greater Charlotte Gala Player of the Year Nominee, and South Charlotte Sports Report Player of the Year. At the end of the season, Nozedar played in the PowerAde State Games of North Carolina High School Soccer Showcase.

“Matt plays primarily as a high line striker. He is a physically strong, and skilled, 6’ 3’’ central attacking player who has established scoring records for his high school program. Matt has also played USSDA with Kyle Brathwaite. I am very confident that Matt will add strength, power and goals to our attacking efforts.”

Mikal Outcalt | Strongsville, Ohio | St. Ignatius High School

The now-6’5” Mikal Outcalt served as St. Ignatius’ (Cleveland, Ohio) varsity goalkeeper during all four years of his high school career. With him anchoring the Wildcats’ defense, St. Ignatius won both the 2011 and 2014 Ohio Division I State Championship, and shut out its opponents 19 times in 2013 and 2014 combined. During his second state championship run, Outcalt led St. Ignatius to a 20-2-1 mark, while he was a reserve in 2011. In that 2014 championship game, Outcalt tallied five saves.

The result of his natural ability and years of experience was an accolade-laden senior campaign in which he was named Cleveland.com’s Boys Soccer Goalie of the Year, First Team All-Greater Cleveland, First Team All-Region, First Team All-Ohio, and was invited to participate in the High School All-American Game in Cary, N.C., being placed on the East Team in the event’s fourth year. He was the only netminder to be named both First Team All-Greater Cleveland and First Team All-Ohio

In his senior season, Outcalt posted 11 shutouts with a 0.42 goals against average in 19 starts. That capped off an illustrious career at St. Ignatius in which he recorded 25 shutouts and a goals against average of 0.74 in 47 career starts.

“Mikal played in the goal for St. Ignatius Prep in Cleveland, Ohio, who were state champions. Mikal is a 6’5” athletic and talented goalkeeper who we feel will provide immediate competition for the starting goalkeeper spot. Mikal is a great athlete, plays basketball as well as soccer, and will help to strengthen and solidify the goalkeeper position.”

Thomas Suchecki | New York, N.Y. | Stuyvesant High School

Much like his new teammate Alec Anselmo, Suchecki spent years playing for US Soccer Development Academy teams while in high school. For the 2012-13 season, he joined the Metropolitan Oval U15/16 team – starting in all 25 games he played. The following season, Suchecki played with the Everton FC Westchester U15/16 squad, where he scored four goals and added four assists in 22 games and made 13 starts. Prior to his involvement with USSDA, Suchecki was a varsity contributor on the Stuyvesant High School team as a freshman. He paced the offense by scoring a team-leading three goals, all coming in one game.

In addition to his U.S. soccer experience, Suchecki trained for a month with Brasilis FC Academy in Sao Paulo, Brazil in 2012.