West Virginia University men’s soccer coach Marlon LeBlanc announced the addition of nine student-athletes for the 2015 season.

“We haven’t lost a lot in numbers, but we have lost a lot in quality,” LeBlanc said. “Mike Lapper and Scott Bowers did a fantastic job of going out and identifying a number of areas where we want to get stronger and deeper, and now we have a number of options.

“My staff did a fantastic job of identifying and essentially sealing that directive with this group of recruits. We’ve addressed the specific needs and we probably have one or two more that we’ll be announcing that will solidify some other roles.”

Felix Angerer, F, 6-4, 191, Bayreuth, Germany/District of Columbia

Spent two seasons at University of the District of Columbia … played in all 17 games in 2014, scoring eight goals with seven assists for a team-leading 23 points … earned all-region third team and all-conference first team honors in 2014 … played in all 16 games with 15 starts in 2013 … finished second on the team with 16 points on six goals and four assists … previously attended Graf-Munster Gymnasium.

LeBlanc on Angerer: Felix is taller and he’s a threat in the air. He has all of the physical tools to not just be a cumbersome center forward, but to play back to goal. He can face you up and run at you and he will be dynamic in multiple areas. We’re really pleased that we have a different type of player that will counter Tucker (Stephenson), Rushawn (Larmond), Jamie Merriam or Ryan Cain because he adds that element of aerial ability. The ones who are going to benefit the most will be the players who can run off of him due to his ability to hold the ball up.

Stephen Banick, GK, 6-1, 180, Grove City, Ohio/Wingate

Spent two seasons at Wingate University … helped team to a 14-5-1 record in 2014, qualifying for the NCAA Division II Southeast Regionals … played in 20 games, starting 19, with a 0.94 goals-against average … made 54 saves with a .740 save percentage, posting seven shutouts … redshirted as a freshman in 2013 … previously attended Pickerington High School North, while also playing for Blast FC.

LeBlanc on Banick: Stephen is an athletic style goalkeeper. He is different from Lee Johnston or Brent Arnold, he is a speed type guy. We’re lucky enough that we have him here in January and we’re able to work with him now. The kid is brave and he is willing to put his body on the line for every 50-50 ball. He is going to challenge and fight for playing time.

Daniel Diaz, GK, 6-1, 185, Las Vegas, Nev./Yavapai College

Spent two seasons playing for coaches Mike Pantalione, Hugh Bell and Emilio Estrada at Yavapai College … helped team to a 20-1-2 record in 2014, taking third in the NJCAA Tournament … played in 16 games, starting 11, with a 0.32 goals-against average … made 31 saves with a .912 save percentage, finishing second in the NJCAA … named to the 2014 All-ACCAC First Team and All-Region 1 First Team … previously attended Legacy High, while also playing for Players FC.

LeBlanc on Diaz: He is different from our other guys. He is more of a (Keylor) Navas from Costa Rica or (Guillermo) Ochoa from Mexico. He is super athletic and super fast. His distribution is tremendous and he makes the big save when called upon. He has played in arguably the best JUCO environment in the country in Yavapai, which is one of the best-coached programs in JUCO history. We’re really excited to have him come him and challenge for that starting position.

Konrad Dziedzic, GK, 6-0, 170, Schiller Park, Ill./East Leyden HS/Chicago Magic PSG

Plays for coaches Pascal Bedrossian, Francisco Murguia, Bato Radoncic and Igor Dimov with Chicago Magic PSG … invited to the U18 U.S. Men's National Camp … named to the U.S. Soccer Central Conference Starting XI … was part of the Chicago Magic PSG U16 team that reached the USSDA Academy Playoffs Final Four, finishing third in the tournament … also played for coach Mark Valintis at East Leyden High.

LeBlanc on Dziedzic: Konrad is another kid who wanted to come to WVU and he is out of a throwback Peter Schmeichel mode who will save the ball with his face if he has to. He makes himself big and he is a good shot stopper. He’s had some great youth experience with the U18 National Team and then playing for one of the top youth academies in the system with Chicago Magic PSG. He’s a winner and we think he has the pedigree to challenge for playing time from day one.

Rushawn Larmond, F, 5-10, 165, Philadelphia, Pa./Pottsgrove HS/FC Continental

Plays for coaches Dave Castellanos, Jonathan Rhodes and Sean McCafferty at FC Continental … currently has 12 goals in 13 starts this season … played one level up in 2013-14, leading the team with 11 goals in 22 starts … participated in the 2011 Dallas Cup, National League Tournament, Disney Tournament and Potomac Tournament … also played for coach Jay Witkowski at Pottsgrove High … all-state, two-time all-area and two-time All-PAC 10 Conference … MVP of PAC 10 Conference, setting the record for most goals in a season with 33 … brother Colin played football at Boston College

LeBlanc on Larmond: He’s a goal scorer. He’s a new-age player that’s coming through in soccer as being the best athlete. He’s strong, he’s big, he’s fast, he’s left footed, he’s dynamic and best yet he is a soccer player. He can break you down and score goals. He’s come through FC Delco, which is one of the top clubs in America, but he’s been the kid they’ve had to call up into the older group and he led that team in scoring. He’s doing it again this year and he has more goals this season in half the year than he did all of last season. Rushawn is the type of kid who is so athletically gifted and will add the ability to make something happen on his own and score goals.

Austin Mann, D, 5-5, 140, Midlothian, Va./Cosby HS/FC Richmond

Plays for coach Dave Amsler with FC Richmond … also plays for coach Mike Anderson at Cosby High … earned Conference Co-Player of the Year honors in 2014 … named to the 2014 all-state, all-region and all-district teams … state runner-up in 2013.

LeBlanc on Mann: Austin Mann is the epitome of a kid who wanted to go somewhere and he had his heart set on being at WVU from the start. He’s been at our academies in the summer for years and he has grown on us and on me particularly. He’s a bulldog of a defender; strong, tenacious and technically very solid. He wants to play soccer, but he’ll also run through a brick wall for his teammates and the program.

Michael Palanisamy, D, 5-8, 150, Toronto, Ontario/Jean Vanier HS/Toronto Lynx

Played for coach Duncan Wilde with the Toronto Lynx … two-time winner of the Columbus Cup … qualified for the North American Finals, finishing in second place … Athlete of the Year and Soccer MVP at Jean Vanier for two seasons.

LeBlabc on Palanisamy: We wanted to make sure that we built depth in specific areas and we thought Michael could do that. Michael is a good-sized kid out of Toronto Lynx Academy. He has good pace, a great engine. He wants to get up and down and serve the ball. He really fits our system and our style of play. The fact he is here in January gives us an opportunity to work with him and be able to implement the system and help him understand how we want him to play.

Tucker Stephenson, F/MF, 5-11, 160, Overland Park, Kan./Saint Thomas Aquinas/Sporting KC

Plays for coach Istvan Urbanyi with Sporting KC Academy … currently has two goals in 13 games with 10 starts … scored three goals in 26 games during the 2013-14 season … has won three Kansas state championships … trained with Sporting KC's first team reserves in 2014 … sister Allie plays soccer at Oklahoma State.

LeBlanc on Stephenson: Tucker is a playmaker; he is the type of kid who adds creativity and flare to the group. He is confident on the ball and he has a knack for cutting passes and playmaking passes. He comes from the same mold as Joey Piatczyc with Sporting KC so we know he is well coached. He’s been playing with this academy for quite some time and played up last year with the U18s and he is the captain of that team, so we think we’ve done a knockout job bringing him in.

Lucas Wartella, F, 6-0, 160, Great Barrington, Mass./Monument Mountain HS/Black Watch Premier

Plays for coach Tonio Paternostro with IMG U18 Academy and coach Trevor Gorman with Black Watch Premier … also played for coach Matthew Naventi at Monument Mountain Regional High … four-year varsity starter, leading the team in scoring as a senior … earned all-county honors in 2014.

LeBlanc on Wartella: Lucas is a kid who has come to our camps and was really big on WVU from the start. He is a strong and powerful athlete, similar to Jamie Merriam. He’s taken the liberty to head down to IMG for his final year to better prepare himself for WVU and he’s the type of kid that will come through in the long run. He is raw, but it makes him unpredictable on the field.