NEW ROCHELLE, NY - Iona College men's soccer head coach Fernando Barboto announced his 2015 recruiting class. Eleven new student-athletes will don the Maroon & Gold in the fall.

 

“We have some very talented attacking players who have big shoes to fill," said Barboto. "We have some versatile players as well. I believe they will assure us lots of goals and shutouts over the next four years. All in all it is a complete class from top to bottom."

 

Enrique Barboto, a transfer from the University of Tampa, is a 5-10 midfielder from Tampa, FL. Barboto attended Steinbrenner HS and plays with Tampa Bay United. Barboto appeared in eight games for the Spartans a season ago, and appeared in 20 games as a freshman at Barry University. Barboto competed at the 2005 Infantil Futsal World Cup in Ecuador and was a member of the Florida Olympic Development Program. Barbota also played for the U15 North American National Team.

 

Barboto on Barboto: “Enrique has good size and versatility. This coupled with his passing and soccer IQ will allow him to fit into our culture immediately.”

 

Carlos Bonilla is a 5-8 midfielder from Brentwood, NY, who attended Brentwood HS and played for BW Gottschee Academy. Bonilla was a member of the Eastern NY ODP team in 2009 and attended multiple US market training center sessions. He trained with C.D Motagua, a D1 professional team in Honduras for a month in 2014, and has trained with the Liverpool, Fulham and Manchester City academies in England.

 

Barboto on Bonilla: “Carlos is one of the most skillful and technically talented players in the USSDA academy. He comes from BW Gottschee, a club that has always valued gifted players with the ball. Carlos has a great left foot and will follow in the footsteps of many great left footed players in Iona soccer tradition.”

 

Neekoli Calderon, a transfer from Central Connecticut State University, is a 6-0 defender from North Haven, CT. In 28 career games for the Blue Devils, Calderon made nine starts along the back line and recorded five shots. Calderon has played at the highest youth and national team level. He has competed for the Puerto Rico U20 team and played in the 2013 World Cup Qualifiers against Haiti, Bermuda, Barbados and Curacoa. Calderon played club soccer in the USSF Academy system for FC Westchester from 2010 to 2013 and also played for South Central Premier from 2008 to 2010. Neekoli is the brother of rising sophomore Joshua Calderon.

 

Barboto on Calderon: “Neeko brings a lot of experience and presence to our program defensively. He will make a strong impact to the depth of our defensive lineup.”

 

Killian Colombie is a 5-8 attacker from Paris, France, who attended Lycee Ntore Dame du Grandchamp High School and played for Association Sportive Montigny le Bretonneux. Killian was a two-year member of the U19 French club, AS Montigny, where he scored nine goals in his first year of play and added 17 goals and 10 assists in season two. The team finished second in the championship game, and in 2014 the squad was a finalist at the International Tournament in Belgium.

 

Barboto on Colombie: “Killian is a very strong wing player with physical strength, strong 1v1 ability and crossing technique. He comes from a soccer rich youth system in ASMB.”

 

Humbert Ferrer is a 6-2 centerback from Barcelona, Spain who competed at Escola Frederic Mistral and Union Deportiva Sant Andreu FC. Ferrer has competed in international championships all over Europe, includes tournaments in Paris, Portugal and Mallorca.

 

Barboto on Ferrer: “Humbert has great size for a centerback. His strong positional play and passing ability will allow him to anchor our defense at some point during his career at Iona.”

 

Anthony Gomez is a 5-8 attacker from Hackensack, NJ, who attended St. Benedicts Prep and competes for TSF Academy.

 

Barboto on Gomez: “Anthony is a very explosive, dynamic and unbalancing player. We expect him to come in and add to our attack immediately."

 

Daniel Huerta is a 5-7 forward from Madrid, Spain who attended Jose Luis Lopez Aranguren and played for C.D. Leganes. Huerta has competed in Division de Honor Juvenil and Liga Nacional Juvenil and played last season in Tercera Division Nacional. He has practiced with the First Team of C.D.Leganes, a member of Spain's 2B Division.

 

Barboto on Huerta: “Daniel is a high quality striker and with his pace he will increase our overall offensive productivity.”

 

Jacob Meyer is a 5-10 midfielder from Wilmington, DE who attended the Salesianum School and played for Kirkwood Soccer Club. Meyer was a three-time year varsity letterman at Salesianum School. During his senior campaign, Meyer served as team captain and led the team to its fifth consecutive state championship. He earned First Team All-State honor was named to the Delaware Top IX. As a junior, Meyer tallied a goal and two assists as the team claimed the fourth consecutive state championship, and earned a number two national ranking. With Kirkwood Academy 97, Meyer's squad was at one point ranked eighth nationally. He was selected to the EDP Talent Identification Program and internationally for the Rush Select National Team, competing in England and Sweden for the last three years.

 

Barboto on Meyer: “Jacob is a technical player and a good passer, who can be very clever in small spaces with his left foot.”

 

Chris Nash, a transfer from Monmouth University, is a 5-8 midfielder from Franklin Lakes, NJ, who attended Ramapo Regional HS and played for TSF Soccer Academy. Nash saw action in five games off the bench for Monmouth, in which the Hawks posted a 3-0-2 record. Nash earned First Team All-State Group 3 from the Star Ledger and First Team All-County and First Team All-League from the Bergen Record as team captain at Ramapo as a senior, and led the Raiders to the Bergen County Championship in 2013 and a State Championship in 2011. He was a two-time All-Suburban First Team honoree and First Team All-State selection by the SCANJ.

 

Barboto on Nash: “Chris has all the characteristics that Iona demands in a midfielder. This coupled with MAAC experience will help him have a smooth transition. I think he will adapt to our possession style immediately.”

 

Aristotle Seferlis is a 5-8 forward from North Bergen, NJ and North Bergen High School. Seferlis competed also with TSF Academy, and earned a state championship and was a National ODP select player in 2015.

 

Barboto on Serefiles: “Aristotle was a late commitment. I think with his pace and low center of gravity he will develop well over his four-year career at Iona.”

 

Kellar Justin Sirstins is a 6-5 goalkeeper from Cotton Wood Heights, UT, who attended Taylorsville HS and competes for Mid City Lions Club. Sirstins is a four-time state and two-time regional Olympic Development Program competitor. He has earned four varsity letters, and served as varsity captain for three years. Sirstins has earned three All-Region First Team selections, is a two-time All-State Second Team goalkeeper and was named Taylorsville Athlete of the Year.

 

Barboto on Sirstins: “Kellar has great size and range, we believe he will push our returning goalkeepers to the limit.”

 

Samuel Saenz Macias is a 5-5 midfielder from Denver, CO who competed at Abraham Lincoln HS, and played for Real Colorado FC. Macias competed on the Real Colorado Academy team for three years, a part of the US Soccer Development Academy, where his team won the State Cup championship. In addition, Macias attended the ID2 camp, and has invited to multiple US scout training sessions.

 

Barboto on Saenz Macias: “Samuel is very technical and a very soccer smart player on the field. He has qualities that we really liked and believe he can further develop into what an Iona midfielder always becomes."