Loyola University Chicago head men's soccer coach Neil Jones announced his 2015 signing class on Wednesday evening. The eight-member class features three forwards, two midfielders, two defenders and a goalkeeper.

"As the Loyola Men's Soccer program continues to grow and improve, our staff understands that we must consistently add top notch players who are not only great athletes on the field, but also outstanding people in the classroom, community and locker room," Jones commented. "Assistant Coaches Nate Boyden and Brian Plotkin deserve a huge amount of credit for helping put together this deeply talented recruiting class. We are looking forward to getting these incoming student-athletes here in August to begin training camp, and their integration to this outstanding University and Men's Soccer program."

MATTHIEU BRAEM
Defender | Le Pradet, France | Lycée Saint-Joseph | Le Havre FC | Iowa Western Community College

Matthieu Braem is set to become the third international talent on the Ramblers' roster in 2015. A defender by way of Le Pradet, France, Braem has spent the past two years applying his trade at Iowa Western Community College in Council Bluffs, Iowa. During his two years as a Reiver, Bream was part of a program that did not suffer a loss, winning a National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) National Championship as a freshman. He wrapped up his time in the Hawkeye State by earning NJCAA First Team All-America honors.

Jones on Braem: "Matt joins us as a Junior College transfer from Iowa Western Community College. Matt has had an outstanding two-year career at IWCC. His final record there was 48 wins, zero losses and two ties. In 2013 they won the NJCAA National Championship and in 2014 Matt was a NJCAA 1st Team All-American. We are hoping Matt can bring his winning mentality to Loyola, and continue to add to our strong defensive unit from the fall."

ADEM DZANANOVIC
Goalkeeper | Loves Park, Ill. | Harlem High School | Rockford Raptors

Goalkeeper Adem Dzananovic arrives at Loyola by way of Loves Park, Ill., bringing a long list of accomplishments with him at both the high school and club levels. A three-time All-Northern Illinois Conference (NIC-10) First Team selection during his time at Harlem High School, Dzananovic earned First Team All-State accolades as a senior and graduated as the school's all-time shutouts leader. On the club level, Dzananovic burst on to the scene with the Chicago Magic program, helping the team to back-to-back State Cup Championships in 2012 and 2013. Most recently, Dzananovic has featured for the Rockford Raptors.

Jones on Dzananovic: "Adem is a goalkeeper from the Rockford Raptors club which is where current Loyola goalkeeper Tim Dobrowolski plied his trade as a youth player. Adem is a very hard working and technically sound goalkeeper who will add a lot to our already strong goalkeeping group. Assistant Coach Jeremy Proud is looking forward to developing and training Adem, and as a staff we are excited about what he can bring to the program as a whole."

ISAAC FORSGREN
Forward | Saint Paul, Minn. | Saint Paul Academy | Minnesota Thunder

A forward out of Saint Paul, Minn., Isaac Forsgren was a two-time All-Independent Metro Athletic Conference (IMAC) choice at Saint Paul Academy in the Twin Cities. Forsgren wasted little time in announcing his presence with the Spartans, ranking sixth in the state in assists as a freshman on a team that notched a fourth-place finish in the state tournament. As a sophomore, he featured on a Saint Paul Academy team that advanced to the finals of the state tournament, firing home 15 goals in the process. Forsgren, who played on the club level for the Minnesota Thunder, will be the third member of his family to play soccer at the Division I level. His older brother, Sam, just wrapped up a stellar rookie season at Northwestern University that saw him named to the Big Ten's All-Freshman Team.

Jones on Forsgren: "Isaac Forsgren joins Loyola from Saint Paul Academy and the Minnesota Thunder soccer club. Isaac is an extremely savvy, pacy and hard working player who can play a number of different positions on the field. I have seen Isaac play at least 4 different positions throughout the recruiting process and he has done well in all of them. Isaac has come from a club environment where they play an attractive and possession oriented style of soccer. We feel that Isaac's natural soccer ability, mixed with his high industry level, will make him a very effective soccer player here at Loyola."

JIMMY KEEFE
Defender | Libertyville, Ill. | Libertyville High School | FC 1974

Out of Libertyville, Ill., Jimmy Keefe chose to play exclusively on the club level during his high school career and was one of the founding members of the Greater Libertyville Soccer Association's (GLSA) FC 1974 program. He captained the side for four years and helped guide the team to the 2014 Illinois State Cup. Keefe, an honor student at Libertyville High School, was also part of the side that advanced to the semifinals of the US Club National Tournament.

Jones on Keefe: "Jimmy is a central defender who joins us from Libertyville, IL. Jimmy has very good feet, vision, and passes well out of the back, which is an imperative characteristic we look for when recruiting central defenders. Jimmy is also a strong defensive player, which is the primary function of this position. He comes from an outstanding family, and we are excited to have him join the Loyola Men's Soccer program."

ALEC LASINSKI
Forward | Ann Arbor, Mich. | Skyline High School | Wolves Crew Soccer Academy

Named the state of Michigan's Gatorade Player of the Year in 2013, Alec Lasinski arrives at Loyola with a winning pedigree. As a junior, Lasinski captured a State Championship with Skyline High School and a National Championship with the Wolves Crew Soccer Academy. Lasinski, who captained both his high school and club teams, racked up 32 goals and eight assists en route to being named a First Team All-State selection as well as the state of Michigan's Mr. Soccer. The Ann Arbor, Mich. native put an exclamation point on his club career by tying for the team lead in goals scored this past year.

Jones on Lasinski: "I first noticed Alec at a tournament in Florida in December 2013. He caught my eye as a quick, technical and busy player with an excellent left foot and the ability to score goals. Michigan is a state with an abundance of talented soccer players, so for Alec to win the State Player of the Year as a junior speaks volumes about his talent. We see Alec as a left sided attacking player, and as someone who will consistently work hard on both sides of the ball."

CONNOR STEVENSON
Forward | Woodbury, Minn. | East Ridge High School | Sporting St. Croix Academy

A two-time All-Suburban East Conference selection, Connor Stevenson enjoyed success on both the high school and club levels. Stevenson slotted home 62 goals and dished out 25 assists during a wildly successful career at East Ridge High School that saw him named Minnesota's Mr. Soccer and earn a spot on the National Soccer Coaches Association of America's (NSCAA) High School All-American Team as a senior. He also featured on a Sporting St. Croix Team that took home the Minnesota State Cup Championship in 2013.

Jones on Stevenson: "Connor is another talented attacking player from the St. Croix club in Minnesota. Like Alec, Connor won the State Player of the Year for his home state and had an outstanding season with East Ridge High School. Now as Connor steps in to a new program, we expect his level of play and his work rate to increase, which will in turn take him to an even high level as a soccer player. Connor is an extremely smooth athlete and along with great technique and vision, can be a real handful for defenders to deal with. We are expecting big things of Connor here at Loyola."

RYAN WALKER
Midfielder | Cedar Rapids, Iowa | Kennedy High School | Sporting Iowa

A midfielder out of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Ryan Walker was a two-time All-Metro selection during his time at Kennedy High School. He found the back of the net eight times and accumulated 26 assists as a Cougar, helping lead the team to an appearance in the semifinals of the state tournament, earning a spot on the All-Tournament Team in the process. During his time on the club level, Walker was a member of a Sporting Iowa team that won back-to-back Iowa State Cup Championships in 2012 and 2013.

Jones on Walker: "We first noticed Ryan through our summer camp program here at Loyola. He quickly established himself as an extremely technical midfield player with a great feel for the game. Ryan has great vision and we feel as though he can help us in a variety of midfield positions. Ryan is an exceptional student, and high-class individual, who we expect to have an outstanding career here at Loyola."

BILLY WERNER
Midfielder | Wexford, Pa. | North Allegheny High School | Shattuck-Saint Mary's

Billy Werner, a native of Wexford, Pa., played exclusively on the club level for a tradition-laden Shattuck-Saint Mary's program in Faribault, Minn. Werner, who attended West Ham United's International Elite Academy on a pair of different occasions, is a three-time Olympic Developmental Program Region One pool player selection and was a member of the Sabres' U18 side that advanced to the quarterfinals of the US Club National Tournament. Prior to his time in The Land of 10,000 Lakes, Werner spent time with a Century United club team in Pittsburgh, Pa. that ranked in the top-10 nationally.

Jones on Werner: "Billy was first identified as a top-notch player while at Shattuck-St. Mary's in Faribault, MN. Shattuck is well known for consistently producing top quality student-athletes that go on to succeed at high levels in college soccer. Unfortunately for Billy, he was not able to complete his senior year there due to injury, but will be fully recovered in time for his freshman year here at Loyola. Billy is a central midfielder player with a great mix of passing, vision, work rate and defending. We are excited to have Billy join us here in the fall."

In addition to the eight newcomers, Jones and his staff are set to welcome back 22 letterwinners from last season's squad, highlighted by 2014 First Team All-Missouri Valley Conference selections Tim Dobrowolski and Eric Schoendorf and 2014 Missouri Valley Conference Freshman of the Year Kyle Thomson. The team posted a record of 8-6-5 in 2014, the program's first winning season since 2008.