Men's Soccer Announces Class of 2024
Smithfield, R.I. – Bryant University men's soccer head coach Seamus Purcell announced the Class of 2024 on Thursday afternoon.
The twelve-member class includes seven players from New England, two players from the south, two players from Ontario, and one player from Panama.
"We are extremely excited to announce and welcome the class of 2024 to Bryant University. After graduating eleven players from the 2019 squad, next year's team will have many new faces along with an abundance of talent joining forces with an already gifted and hungry core of returners, Purcell said." "Where some would expect a year or two of rebuilding, without question we will field an extremely dynamic and exciting team that challenges to complete for a conference title. The way in which this class came together would never have happened without the work and help of my coaching staff. They have done a great job and we are lucky to have them here at Bryant. We will all enjoy working with and watching these players excel for the next four years."
Kyle Mabe – Right/Left Forward | Wayland, Mass | Wayland High School
Mabe played three years of varsity soccer for Wayland High School… Helped Wayland High School win the D3 State Championship in his junior year… Senior year he was the captain of the varsity team… He scored 19 goals in 20 games his senior year… Was selected to the Eastern Mass All-Star team his senior year.
Personal: The son of David and Kristi Mabe… Has two sisters.
Purcell on Mabe: Kyle is a speedy and versatile player who works extremely hard for 90 minutes. He has the ability to influence a game with his pace when active in the attack from the wing back or midfield position. We are impressed with Kyle's knowledge of the game and the way in which he brings other players into their rhythm on the field. Kyle will be a fun player to watch during his four years at Bryant.
Barnaby Brandon – Forward | Lexington, Mass | Lexington High School
Brandon played two years on the Lexington High School varsity team and played for the Boston Bolts Development Academy his senior year… Was the leading scorer on the freshman team with 21 goals also had 5 assists in 18 games… Won the State Championship his freshman year… Started varsity for Lexington High School his sophomore year and had 6 goals and 6 assists in 18 games… He started on varsity his junior year and had 11 goals and 9 assists in 18 games… Member of the National Honor Society and has made Honor roll every year.
Personal: Son of Nicholas and Julia Brandon… Has two brothers and one sister.
Purcell on Brandon: Barney is a versatile and athletic player who possesses great finishing abilities around the goal. He is comfortable and confident with the ball at his feet and will factor into our attack on the wing or in a forward position. Additionally, he has a knack for being in the right place at the right time. Barney is an offensive weapon and we expect big things from him for years to come.
David Medeiros – Center Attacking Midfielder | Attleboro, Mass | Attleboro High School
Medeiros played on the Boston Bolts Academy team for three years and spent his sophomore year on the varsity team for Attleboro High School… Made the U.S National Futsal team in 2016 and 2017…. Was a four-time Futsal Regional Champion… His sophomore year he was a Hockomock League All-Star and the Leach and Garner Cup MVP… Made the ECNL All-Conference Team in 2017 and 2018… Had 7 goals in 18 starts for the Boston Bolts Academy his junior year… Member of the National Honor Society.
Personal: Son of Dave and Jessica Medeiros… Has three sisters.
Purcell on Medeiros: David is an attack-minded midfielder who possesses great skills, plays with passion and has the ability to break down the opposing defense. His versatility makes him an important player as he could fill a number of different roles within our program. He is constantly moving and covering ground throughout the game and manages situations with great tactical awareness and mental toughness. We think David will be a special player.
Michael Gasparino – Goalkeeper | St. James, N.Y. | Smithtown High School East
Gasparino was a four-year varsity starter at Smithtown High School East… He earned All-Conference in 2018 and 2019 and made the All-County team in 2019… He was named the league goalie of the year in 2018 and 2019… His senior year he made the Suffolk County All-Star team… He posted 22 career shutouts and 332 career saves… He was a member of the Business, Italian, and National Honor Societies.
Personal: Son of Michael and Paula Gasparino… has one sister.
Purcell on Gasparino: Michael is very technically sound and has great presence and awareness in and around the goal. He plays the goalkeeper position with great confidence and analyzes situations very well. Mike's strength with distribution will help initiate our counter-attack and advance play. He has some competition in goal, but we expect him to embrace the challenge and develop into a fantastic collegiate keeper.
Jaiden Jacob – Midfielder | Milton, Ontario | Bishop P.F. Reading Catholic Secondary School
Jacob played for the Bishop P.F. Reading Catholic Secondary School varsity team during his freshman and sophomore year and played for the semi-professional Sigma FC in League 1 Ontario his senior year … He was invited to play overseas for KRC Greek in Belgium in 2016 and 2017 … In 2018 he was named the Bishop Reading Catholic Secondary School Male Athlete of the Year… Won the Potomac Memorial Tournament in 2018… He was called up to train with the professional team Forge FC in Hamilton Ontario in 2019… Made the honor roll from 2016-2019.
Personal: Son of Kristen Jacob and Khaled Mohammad… has one brother.
Purcell on Jacob: Jaiden is a dynamic playmaker who works tirelessly on both sides of the ball. He has exceptional vision and manages the game well in tight spaces as well as possessing the ability to drive long passes to open the field of play. His creativity, tactical awareness and ability to manage the pace of play is very impressive. We have no doubt that Jaiden will excel at the next level.
Ryan Nichols – Left Back | Louisville, Kentucky | Saint Xavier High School
Nichols played three years of varsity for Saint Xavier High School and was a starter on the junior varsity team during his freshman year… In 2017 he was one of eight sophomores in program history to make the varsity team and made the Kentucky state finals that year… He led the team in assists and won the Kentucky State Championship in 2018… He was an all-region player and won the Kentucky State championship for the second time in 2019… After High School, he played his first professional season with Rood-Wit in the Netherlands… He made the honor roll and was a member of the National Honors Society.
Personal: Son of Ted and Jenny Nichols… has one brother and one sister.
Purcell on Nichols: Another player with pace and talent, Ryan is a welcomed addition to Bryant. His ability to shut down attacking players in 1v1 situations along with his mobility is very impressive. Additionally, he is skilled and dynamic when joining and supporting the attack in transition. We think Ryan will have a smooth transition and will enjoy playing our style of soccer.
Keegan Reim – Midfielder | Enfield, Conn. | Enfield High School
Reim was a four-year varsity player at Enfield High School… He won back-to-back State Championships in 2016 and 2017… In 2017 he won MVP, the top goal scorer, best goal, and made the All-Conference team… Third soccer player in Enfield High School history to be named to the All-Conference team as a sophomore… In 2018 he was the junior captain and was the top goal scorer and was named to the All-Conference team… He also was the ECNL player to watch for CFC United in 2018… In 2019 he was the senior captain, top goal scorer, scored 12 goals and posted 8 assists… Won the leadership award, MVP, and was named to the All-Conference team his senior year... finished High School as the top goal scorer in Enfield High School History.
Personal: Son of David and Courtney Reim… has three sisters.
Purcell on Reim: Another player that is confident with the ball at his feet and fearless in the attack, Keegan will help add to our offensive firepower. His ability to escape trouble in tight spaces along with keeping possession is very impressive. Keegan also has a high soccer IQ and reads the game very well. We are excited to see his growth and development while at Bryant. Great Kid, great personality, a great addition to our program.
Abdel Talabi – Center Back | Brewster, Mass. | Nauset Regional High School
Talabi was a four-year varsity player at Nauset Regional High School… He won the Sportsmanship Award in his freshman year… He was a second-team All-Star in his sophomore year… He also made the honor roll in his sophomore year... He was a first-team All-Star in his junior year… His senior year he was a first-team All-Star member, League Player of the Year, All-State, All-American, and was named the Massachusetts Player of the Year… .In his postgraduate year, at Worcester Academy under Head Coach James Proctor he made the first-team All-Star team… He most recently played for the New England Revolution Developmental Academy team.
Personal: Son of Amy Hartbeck and Bola Talabi… has two brothers.
Purcell on Talabi: This young man has the ability to be an impact player from the start! Talabi comes to us after a postgrad year at Worcester Academy under the direction of James Proctor. He will add a large presence to our backline and has the knowledge to contribute to the game on both ends of the field. Abdel has great physical strength, is good on set pieces and plays with great confidence and calmness under pressure. We believe that Abdel has the drive and talent to be a fantastic collegiate center back.
Andre Vieira – Midfielder | East Providence, R.I. | LaSalle Academy
Vieira was on the varsity team for all four years at LaSalle Academy… In 2017 he won the State Championships and made the second-team All-Division… In 2018 he made the first-team All-Division and the All-Tournament team… He also played at a sporting academy in Portugal in the summer of 2018… In 2019 his team won the State Championships and he made first-team All-Division, the All-Tournament team, first-team All-State, and a Player of the Year nominee… Made the honor roll three years.
Personal: Son of Suzel and Jose Vieira.
Purcell on Vieira: This young man is an impressive soccer player. Andre is a local talent that we feel will fit in very well and take pride in playing collegiate soccer close to home. He is fun to watch and very creative in the attack as well as gifted with natural abilities. We like that Andre is very comfortable with the ball at his feet in the possession and is hardworking and dynamic in the midfield. We are so happy to have Andre at Bryant.
Luis Fernando Paúl– Forward | Costa Del Este, Panama | The Pennington School
Paúl started two years of varsity at the International School of Panama and the Pennington School… In 2016 he won the Panama Intercollegiate Championships and was named the Rookie of the Year and was the top goal scorer in the league… In 2017 he was the ISP player of the tournament… In 2018 his team was the Mercer County Champions and he posted six goals and five assists during the season… His team were the Mercer County Champions and he made the All-Area first-team, the All-Prep first-team made the Mercer county All-Star team, and won the Red Raider Award.
Personal: Son of Luis Eduardo Paul and Daniela Tosta… has two brothers.
Purcell on Paúl: We are lucky to have Luis joining our program in 2020. Luis is an exciting player to watch and will embrace the collegiate speed of play and flourish. He is a natural leader and attack-minded player who moves effortlessly with the ball at his feet. From our first interaction with Luis, he has impressed every step of the way. We are certain that he will have a great collegiate career at Bryant University.
Matthew Bilan – Forward | Shrewsbury, Mass. | Shrewsbury High School
Bilan played varsity for three years at Shrewsbury High School and played for Bolts Academy for two years… He previously played for Waterford F.C in Ireland, before moving to America four years ago... In his sophomore year, he was selected to the All-Star and All-State teams and scored 11 goals on the season… He was selected to the All-Star team and scored six goals in his junior year… He made the GPS National team in 2017 and 2018… He won back to back National Championships in 2017 and 2018.
Personal: Son of Vadim and Natasha Bilan… has one sister.
Purcell on Bilan: Matt is naturally a great athlete and will bring pace and tenacity in our attack. Whether playing on the wing or as a striker, his great work ethic and ability to take players on in the final third will prove to be an important role in our attacking style of play. We are excited to see Matt develop and become a consistent and impactful player in our lineup.
Luka Grubisa – Center Midfielder | Thornhill, Ontario | Bill Crothers Secondary School
Throughout his soccer career, Grubisa was invited to play with Genoa, Paris St. Germain, and AFC Bournemouth... He played in a couple of friendly matches with Benevento Calcio U19 and was invited to train with Toronto FC U19... Most recently Grubisa played for Bobby Graham at the Winstars Soccer Academy in Toronto, Canada... Grubisa said, "I wouldn't be at Bryant without Bobby's help and guidance... and I am grateful for all of his efforts."
Personal: Son of Tamara and Damir Grubisa… has one sister.
Purcell on Grubisa: Luka finds his way to Bryant via the Winstars Soccer Academy in Toronto, Canada and under the direction of Bobby Graham. One of the finest academies in all of Canada, Winstars has also produced current standout and team captain, Ben Williams. We know Luka comes to us having great coaching and guidance and we expect him to be an instant impact within our program. His ability to drive at the defensive backline and test the keeper from range with driven shots will pose a threat to any team. Luka is a technical player who performs very well under pressure and will help us maintain possession while building in the attack.
Jack Bacon – Goalkeeper | Lincoln, R.I. | Pomfret School
Bacon played four years of varsity soccer at the Pomfret School… In 2014 he made the NEPSAC Junior All-Star team… In 2015 he was first-team All-State in Connecticut and was named a High School All-American.
Personal: Son of John Bacon… has one sister.
Purcell on Bacon: We have known Jack for several years and have kept track of his collegiate career. When it was clear that Jack was looking for graduate school options, we knew that the time was now to have him attend Bryant and become a Bulldog. He is a seasoned collegiate goalkeeper with great shot-stopping abilities, great communication, and presence along with a certain confidence in goal. We are thrilled that Jack will be joining us next year at Bryant.
Thomas Murray – Center Back | Tiverton, R.I. | Tabor Academy
Murray was a three-year varsity starter at Tiverton High School… In 2012 his team was the state runner-ups and he made the second-team All-Division… In 2013 he was named the team captain, made first-team All-Division, All-Newport County team, All-Herald News team, won team MVP, and led his team in goals (10) and assists (10)… He then played two years a Tabor Academy where he was a two-year starter… he won the Player of the Week award three times… In 2014 he led his team in goals with 6 and won the Team Coaches award… In 2018 and 2019 he played at Belmont Abbey College… He was selected for the All-Conference team in 2018… In 2019 he was named team captain… He made the Honor Roll every year in High School and was a member of the National Honors Society.
Personal: Son of Tom and Tonya Murray… has two sisters and one brother.
Purcell on Murray: Experience, consistency, toughness and the ability to read the game at a fast pace is what Thomas brings to our program in the center back position. For the past two years, the experience he has gained while anchoring the backline for his university team will most certainly help his ability to compete for a position in a new-look backline for us next year at Bryant. We expect Thomas to perform at a very high level and we are excited for him and for this opportunity.