LA MIRADA ---The Biola University men's soccer team is gearing up for the upcoming 2022 season with the addition of 13 athletes to their roster.

In 2021, the Eagles lost nine seniors who were an integral part of the program that achieved great success. The 2021 men's soccer team secured their highest conference placement since 2015 (third place) and advanced to their first NCAA postseason in program history. The 2022 recruiting class has big shoes to fill, but head coach Joey O'Keefe is confident that they are ready to step up to the challenge.

"Any time we bring in student-athletes to join the men's soccer program, we are looking to find the perfect blend of an elite athlete and culture builder," shared O'Keefe. "Every single one of these 13 incoming young men have been prayed about and chosen for the betterment of the program, both on and off the pitch. Bringing in a large recruiting class will breed competition, and competition is a crucial component for us as we want to chase higher standards and goals this season."

This group of 13 is composed of seven transfers and six freshmen, including two defenders, three forwards, six midfielders, and two goalkeepers. 

Jakob Schnitzler / Defender / Kaarst, Germany / Westcliff University
Jakob Schnitzler is a center defender that played for a professional soccer club in Germany, Borussia Münchengladbach, in his youth career. Schnitzler comes to the Eagles after spending a season at Westcliff University. At Westcliff, he earned California Pacific Conference's Defender of the Year as a freshman.

O'Keefe's Thoughts on Schnitzler 
"Jakob is an athletic specimen who has been brought up in one of the top professional youth clubs in the world, Borussia Münchengladbach. At his former university he was an excellent student and served as his team's captain as a freshman. I expect Jakob to make an immediate impact this fall and be a program leader for years to come. Young signings like Jakob will keep Biola University as a top contender in the PacWest as we look to stay in contention for the National Tournament."

Kristian Colaci /  Forward / Milan, Italy / Texas A&M International University
Kristian Colaci joins the Eagles from Texas A&M International University where he spent two seasons with the Dustdevils. In 2021, Colaci was a key offensive player who competed in all 17 matches. Colaci scored 12 goals for the Dustdevils, two of which were game-winners. Colaci was named First Team All-Region for his performances in 2021. He is looking forward to spending his final NCAA eligible season with the Eagles and has spent this summer training with a high level NPSL club. 

O'Keefe's Thoughts on Colaci
"Kris is ready to make a massive splash in California this season. He is a proven NCAA goal-scorer who has posted double-digit scoring seasons. His work rate is exceptionally high and his motivation is undoubted. I expect Kris to leave a huge statement here at Biola University."

Eoghan Morgan / Midfielder / Ireland / New York Institute of Technology
Eoghan (pronounced "Owen") Morgan's route to join Biola has not come without difficulty. The Irish native earned his soccer pedigree on a professional Irish team, the Bohemian Football Club. Morgan has made multiple youth national team appearances for his native country prior to making the switch to American college soccer. He spent his first two college seasons at Division I Essex County College in New Jersey before transferring to the New York Institute of Technology. Shortly after committing to NYIT, the university canceled their athletic program. 

O'Keefe's Thoughts on Morgan
"Eoghan has pedigree among the best college players in the nation. He has played at the highest levels and saw success on the Ireland Youth National team. Eoghan will push our midfield play to the next level with his tenacity, grit, elegance, and precision. We look forward to seeing him dominate the midfield in the PacWest Conference this season."

Nathan Kovalcik / Defender / Redlands, Calif. / Norco Community College 
Nathan Kovalcik transfers to Biola from Norco Community College where he was a standout defender and achieved a 4.0 grade point average. Prior to his time at Norco CC, Kovalcik spent one season at West Virginia Wesleyan College. 

O'Keefe's Thoughts on Kovalcik
"Nate will add athleticism and height to our backline. He's a local talented transfer that has played two successful years at the college level. I am most excited to see his raw power translate to immediate impact on the field this fall. Nate has the potential to be a staple in this program over the next three years."

Travis Coombs / Midfielder / Fullerton, Calif. / Fullerton Junior College
Travis Coombs joins Biola from Fullerton Junior College. Coombs played in 17 games for the Hornets at the central defensive midfield position. Prior to attending Fullerton Junior College, he played a season for Vanguard University in 2019. The Fullerton native graduated from La Habra High School in 2019 where he garnered sevels accomplishments in his high school career such as Second Team All-League, First Team All-League, First Team All-State, First Team All-Region, and Highlander MVP.

O'Keefe's Thoughts on Travis Coombs
"Travis adds multiple years of college experience to our midfield. He is a local transfer from Fullerton JC, a program where I have personally found great success in the players that undergo mentorship of a top-ranked coaching staff. Travis is ruthless in challenges and calm in possession, an ideal combination for any defensive central midfielder. I look forward to seeing him break into a star-studded midfield."

Tanner Coombs / Forward / Fullerton, Calif. / Fullerton Junior College
Tanner Coombs, the younger brother of Travis Coombs, is also joining Biola from Fullerton Junior College. In his lone season with the Hornets, Tanner played in 21 games and was recognized on the OEC All-Conference Team. Prior to playing at Fullerton Junior College, Tanner graduated from La Habra High School where he scored 30 goals and tallied six assists in just 20 games. 

O'Keefe's Thoughts on Tanner Coombs
"Tanner is an exciting player to watch from the sidelines and we have him for three more seasons of competition. His blistering pace was threatening to every college in the OEC conference, one of the top conferences in the West Region. He is a pure goal scorer and loves to unlock defenses by getting in behind. I cannot wait to see the talented attacking acumen that Tanner will bring to Al Barbour Field once he recovers from the surgery he had earlier this year."

Andrew Darke / Midfielder / Irvine Valley College
Andrew Darke is our fourth transfer from a local community college. Darke joins the Eagles from Irvine Valley College where he played in the midfield for the Lasers. Darke played in 11 matches for Irvine Valley where he scored one goal and had one assist.

O'Keefe's Thoughts on Darke
"Drew is a composed central midfielder that has excellent technical ability. He will be redshirting for us this season, but I'm looking forward to seeing his growth into our program over the next four years."

Ethan Hardin / Midfielder / West Palm Beach, Fla. / Forest Hill Community HS 
Ethan Hardin is moving to La Mirada from Miami, Florida. He is joining the Eagles from Palm Beach Atlantic University where he did not compete in college sports. Instead Hardin continued to play for David Beckham's club, Inter Miami II, where he grew through the ranks. When Hardin first began with Inter Miami he was placed on the youth academy team, but earned himself a starting spot on the Inter Miami II team that plays in the USL League 1. As a teenager, Hardin logged over 30 starts and scored two goals from the center back position at the professional level while maintaining his amateur status to compete in college. 

O'Keefe's Thoughts on Hardin
"Ethan is a nationally recognized, four-star recruit. He chose to attend Biola because of his desire to major in biblical studies and he intends to earn his Master's of Divinity from Biola's Talbot School of Theology. Harding can play both center back and central defensive midfield. He is a future leader of the program who has been competing at a professional level for multiple years. I expect Harding to accomplish enormous things as a student and athlete during his time at Biola."

Jake Saffer / Midfielder / San Diego, Calif. / Foothills Christian HS 
Jake Saffer is a 2021 Foothills Christian High School alum who is coming to Biola after taking a gap year. Saffer spent his senior season as a midfield defensive center for the Foothills Christain team that won CIF. He contributed 32 goals and 31 assists for the Knights and received honors such as Ocean League MVP, Second Team All-CIF, and was a three-time First Team All-League selection. 

O'Keefe's Thoughts on Saffer
"Jake is an excellent possession player in the center of midfield. He has a physical tenacity and plays with a maturity far beyond his year. Jake is a blue-collar worker on the field and I look forward to seeing him command the midfield in the coming years." 

Jason Irvin / Forward / Ridgecrest, Calif. / Burroughs HS
Jason Irvin is joining the Eagles from Ridgecrest, California and is a recent graduate from Burroughs High School. In his senior season, he led the league in goals scored and in assists. Jason's 15 goals and eight assists earned him Offensive Player of the Year for the Mojave River League. 

O'Keefe's Thoughts on Irvin
"Jay was out-and-out the best player in that area this past year. He is an attacking force that will be utilized in the CAM or winger role. Jay possesses great size and raw athletic ability that should bode well for the NCAA. He is a blue-collar player with an incredible work rate on and off the ball. I look forward to seeing his game mature over the next four years at Biola. Being raised in Victorville myself, it has always been important to find talent in the high desert and I've worked in close conjunction with Adam Caudle from Oak Hills for several years to provide scouting support in this area."

Aidan Burns / Goalkeeper / Tempe, Ariz. /Corona del Sol HS
Aidan Burns was raised in Arizona where he played club soccer for Real Salt Lake AZ. Burns graduated from Corona del Sol High School in 2022 where he played three years of varsity soccer. Burns was the Aztecs team captain his junior and senior seasons.

O'Keefe's Thoughts on Burns
"Aidan is an excellent shot stopper and has gifted footwork. He has great size for an incoming freshman and is very comfortable in possession. Aidan is a great distributor and has a high range of passing. I am excited to see his growth in the college game over the next four years."

Nicholas Daniel / Goalkeeper / Lake Forest, Calif. / Mission Viejo HS
Nicholas Daniel comes to Biola from Lake Forest, California. He played club soccer for Mission Viejo FC and recently graduated from Mission Viejo High School. At Mission Viejo, he accumulated multiple awards including three-time All-Conference selection, All-CIF Second Team, two-time All-CIF First Team pick, two-time Defensive Player of the Year, and a four-year scholar-athlete.

O'Keefe's Thoughts on Daniel
"Nick is an incredibly athletic goalkeeper with great spring in his step. His ability to get off the ground and make spectacular saves is second to none. I am eager to see him progress under coach Bryan Price because he has such a high ceiling."

Brennan Furlan / Midfielder / Bellingham, Wash. / Bellingham HS
Brennan Furlan comes to the Eagles from Bellingham, Washington where he played youth soccer for WFC Rangers. During high school, Brennan played for the Bayhawks where he was named Second Team All-Conference, Offensive Team MVP and was a team captain. 

O'Keefe's Thoughts on Furlan
"Brennan is a creative and technical central midfielder. We identified him at a prospect camp on campus and were equally impressed with his athletic ability as we were with his high level of character. Brennan is an excellent competitor with a tenacity to create goal scoring chances for himself and his teammates. He plays with high intensity and I am thrilled to see him progress on and off the field."

To view the complete Fall 2022 men's soccer roster, CLICK HERE.