The Georgetown University men's soccer team signed seven student-athletes to National Letters of Intent to play on the Hilltop on Friday. The seven newcomers are from all over the country and boast some of the top talent within the U.S. Soccer Development Academy (USSDA) system.

The recruiting class was ranked fourth in the country by TopDrawerSoccer.com, and marks the fourth year in a row that GU has had a recruiting class ranked sixth or better.

"Our staff works incredibly well together to find some of the best talent in the country as well as the best fit for Georgetown," said Georgetown Head Coach Brian Wiese. "It’s no coincidence that our recent recruiting successes have coincided with Brian Gill and Zach Samol being on staff.  We expect this group to continue to keep Georgetown as national contenders."

The Hoyas finished the 2014 season 14-4-5 overall and advanced to the NCAA Tournament Elite 8 before failing to advance against eventual national champ Virginia.

Georgetown graduated five seniors, but returns a majority of its starting lineup and goal production from a season ago.  Senior Tomas Gomez was selected in the second round of the Major League Soccer SuperDraft by the Columbus Crew, while classmate Tyler Rudy was picked up by the New England Revolution as a discovery player.

Will Carlson

GK

Harrison, N.Y./Albertson SC

A team captain for Albertson Academy with 19 wins and 11 shutouts in 34 games started … Squad finished in fourth at 2013 USSDA Finals Week … Played with FC Westchester winning the 2009 New York State Cup … Won one varsity letter at Rye Country Day School in soccer … Has traveled to Argentina to train … Member of the baseball team … Participated in Model UN and writes for school newspaper.

Wiese on Carlson: We first saw Will at camp two years ago and we were impressed with his technical ability and footwork. With his workrate, we expect him to develop well in his time on the Hilltop.

Ethan Lochner

M

New York, N.Y./New York Red Bulls Academy

A four-year starter with the Red Bulls Academy and leading scorer in 2013 and 2014 with 17 and 16 goals, respectively … U-16 team was a USSDA Playoff quarterfinalist … Team won the 2012-13 Pre-Academy League Championship … A six-year starter with the Manhattan Soccer Club … Won one varsity letter and led the team in scoring as a freshman at Stuyvesant High School … Played club with fellow Hoya, Kyle Zajec.

Wiese on Lochner: Ethan is more of a New York pit bull, he’s difficult to play against and is dogged in his pursuit of scoring goals.  We expect him to give us some punch up top or in the flanks.

JT Marcinkowski

GK

Alamo, Calif./San Jose Earthquakes Academy

A member of the US National Team Pool from 2010-14 … Earned 24 caps for the U-14 through U-18 national teams with 13 shutouts … National team won the 2014 International Tournament of Vaclav Jezek in the Cach Republic and the 2013 Niigata International Tournament in Japan … 2013 Named to the USSDA Western Conference Starting 11 for three-consecutive seasons … Appeared in the Academy Select Showcase game as the starting goalkeeper in 2012 and 2013 … A 2014 All-America selection … Played in the 2012 Generation Adidas semifinal game with San Jose where he was a four-year starter and three-year captain … Won the 2011 State Cup playing for Mustang Soccer Club International where he was a six-year starter and two-year captain … A member of the high honor roll at De La Salle High School.

Wiese on Marcinkowski: JT is an extremely polished goalkeeper.  We expect that he’ll shine here on the Hilltop, and can compete to fill the void left by Tomas Gomez.

Edson Martinez

M

Salem, Ore./Portland Timbers Academy

Earned three varsity letters at North Salem High School where he was Second Team All-Conference as a senior … Earned his squad’s Top Midfielder Award … Team won its league in 2011 for the first time in school history … Played club with C.F.C. Boca Juniors from 2008-11 … Served as a two-year team captain … Club team won the state cup in 2009 and 2011 … Most recently played with the Portland Timbers Academy team appearing in the USSDA Playoffs … A member of the Honor Roll … Born in Mexico.

Wiese on Martinez: Edson fits into the same mold for us as Tyler Rudy.  He’s got tremendous technical ability, and a lot of bite to his game.  He’s a gem for us to get out of the Pacific Northwest.

Brendan McDonough

M

Matthews, N.C./Carolina Rapids Academy

Played three years of varsity soccer, serving as team captain for two, at Charlotte Catholic High School missing his junior season to play club and to move to Germany and play with Freie Turnerschaft Braunschweig and Eintracht Braunschweig … Led his squad with 31 goals and 28 assists as a senior … Named First Team All-State, All-Conference and All-Region … Also earned Player of the Year honors from his conference and region as well as at the Charlotte Soccer Gala and by the South Charlotte Weekly … High School squad won its conference as a senior … Led his high school team as a sophomore with 18 goals and 12 assists … Named First Team All-State, All-Region and All-Conference in 2012 … Member of both the National Honor Society and the German National Honor Society … Won the David O’Brien Leadership Award … Speaks fluent German … Father Terry McDonough is the vice president, player personnel for the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals.

Wiese on McDonough: We first saw Brendan at our summer camp two years ago and think he has the physical tools and technical ability to play at a number of positions up the middle of the field. He has a wonderful maturity about him.

Peter Schropp

D

Omaha, Neb./Chicago Fire Academy

A member of the National Team Pool for four years … Spent his sophomore year at Saint Stephen Episcopal School as part of the U-17 Residency Program … Chicago Fire Team appeared in the USSDA Playoffs … Named to the 2014 Nebraska High School All-State Team … A 2013 and 2014 NSCAA All-American … Creighton Prep won the 2012 Nebraska State Championship … Club team Omaha FC won five state championships … Earned Second Honors at Creighton Prep and First Honors at Saint Stephen … Played on the Creighton Prep football team for two years as a kicker … Member of the Student Council … Father Toby and brother Tyler both played soccer at Georgetown … A third generation Hoya whose grandfather, mother, sister and multiple aunts and uncles attended Georgetown.

Wiese on Schropp: Peter has a lot of Georgetown in his family and there was really no other place that he was going to go.  He’ll be an important piece in our backline as a left back or center back, and brings some charisma along with him.

Kyle Zajec

M

Westport, Conn./New York Red Bulls Academy

A five-year starter with the New York Red Bulls Academy appearing in multiple USSDA Playoffs … His U-16 squad had the best record in the nation in 2014 … Red Bulls won the Northeast Pre-Academy League Championship in 2013 … Played with Beachside Soccer Club winning the state and regional championship … Has suited up with the New York Red Bulls Reserve Team … Attended Staples High School … Enjoys golfing in his free time …  Played club with fellow Hoya, Ethan Lochner.

Wiese on Zajec: Kyle is another camp find for us, and he impressed us with his technical ability and his blue-collar mentality.  His growth in the last couple years in the Red Bull program has been really impressive, and we are looking forward to continuing his development here at Georgetown.