PITTSBURGH - Head coach Chase Brooks announced Duquesne's 2017 recruiting class on Thursday. The group of 12 includes a trio of Top 150 national recruits, five ranked among the Top 20 in their respective region and seven from US Soccer Development Academy clubs. The class is currently ranked among the Top 20 nationally by TopDrawerSoccer (as of Jan. 30).

"Character and team-orientated are the words we use to describe this group of future Dukes," said Brooks, who will be entering his fifth season in 2017. "We are a family here at Duquesne. Everything we do is program first, and individual second. These guys embody these beliefs and we are very excited to add them to our family!

"I would like to thank our recruiting coordinator, Robert Spain, and assistant coach Josh Faga for all their hard work and sacrifices to bring together this talented class."

BRENDEN AKUT
- Arsenal FC
- Team captain at Plum
- Part of PA West State Cup champions in 2011, 2012, 2013 & 2015
- US National Team pool futsal player
- First team all-section and all-WPIAL
- National Honor Society member

Chase Brooks on Brenden Akut: "Brenden is a local player from Arsenal FC that loves to attack and get to goal. We are looking forward to him bringing his confidence and work rate to Rooney Field."

OMAR AYALA
- Philadelphia Union USSDA
- Ranked No. 116 in the class of 2017 by TopDrawerSoccer
- Ranked No. 132 by CollegeSoccerNews
- Ranked No. 8 in his region and No. 27 defender in his class by TopDrawerSoccer
- Involved with the U.S. Youth National Team at U14
- U.S. Youth National Training Center invitee
- Selected to a 2014 MLS All-Star Academy event coached by Pep Guardiola

Chase Brooks on Omar Ayala: "Omar is a player with the technical know-how and tactical IQ to make everyone around him better. His top 150 standing is well warranted and we look forward to having him competing on the Bluff this fall."

ZION BEATON
- Michigan Wolves
- Olympic Development Program Region II Interregional Team
- Named to TopDrawerSoccer's 2016 ODP Interregional Best XI Team
- Had 24 goals and 23 assists as a high school senior
- 2015 Division I Michigan high school all-state selection
- Three-year team captain
- National Honor Society member

Chase Brooks on Zion Beaton: "Zion is a tall, athletic, versatile soccer player. He also happens to be one of the nicest young men I have had the pleasure to get to know. We are excited he will be joining our program and are looking forward to him competing this fall."

JACK BESSEY
- Sockers FC USSDA
- Ranked No. 15 in his region by TopDrawerSoccer
- Helped Sockers FC to a USSDA playoff berth
- Named as a 2016 Academy Playoffs top performer

Chase Brooks on Jack Bessey: "Jack is a competitor and a winner. His Sockers FC team led the Academy in goals against and his leadership has been at the center of it. We are excited he has chosen to bring his hard working mentality to Duquesne."

DORION DIXON
- Bethesda SC USSDA
- Ranked No. 63 in the class of 2017 by CollegeSoccerNews
- Ranked No. 17 in his region by TopDrawerSoccer
- Played for 2014 & 2015 Virginia State Cup champions
- National semifinalist in 2014
- Invited to U.S. Soccer National Training Center in 2012, 2013 & 2014

Chase Brooks on Dorion Dixon: "Dorion is a dynamic attacker with the pace and skill to put opposing players on their heels. He brings a great attitude with him and we are looking forward seeing him in Duquesne colors."

TYRESE EDWARDS
- Woodbridge Strikers SC
- Ranked No. 143 in the class of 2017 and No. 11 in his region by TopDrawerSoccer
- Ranked as the No. 50 forward in the class of 2017 by TopDrawerSoccer
- Helped his club team to back-to-back Ontario Cup Championships (2015 & 2016)
- Finished second at the Canadian National Championship in 2015 and third in 2016
- Was the leading scorer for his club team in each of the two years he played (45 goals and 21 assists in 50 games)
- Called in by Trinidad and Tobago for their U20 and U17 Youth National Teams
- Honor roll student

Chase Brooks on Tyrese Edwards: "Tyrese is a strong, powerful forward with great intensity about his play. Even better than that, he is a tremendous young man and will add to our community here at Duquesne."

ERIK ESPINOZA JR.
- Bethesda SC USSDA
- Played two years of high school varsity soccer, earning first team all-conference honors as a sophomore and junior
- Led his club team to a Virginia youth soccer state championship, Region I tournament and US Youth National League
- Attended the U.S. National Youth Training Center in 2014

Chase Brooks on Erik Espinoza Jr.: "Erik is a hard-nosed, no-nonsense player with the desire and work ethic we love in a student-athlete. He has the all-around quality to be an impact guy during his time at Duquesne."

JESPER EVENSEN
- Sandefjord Football
- Led his club team to a 17-4-1 record, including a 5-1 win over Odense Boldklub - considered the top U19 team in Denmark
- Helped his team reach the National Championship round of 3
- Captained his high school team
- Also served as captain for Sandefjord U19

Chase Brooks on Jesper Evensen: "Jesper has all the attributes you look for in a college soccer player. He has good technical ability, vision, athleticism and work ethic to name a few. He fits our mentality very well and will be a solid addition to our program."

LIAM HARMON
- North Union United/PA Classics USSDA
- Scored a league-leading 26 goals with six assists for Bloomsburg HS
- Also played for FC Delco and FC Continental Academy clubs as a youth
- National Honor Society member

Chase Brooks on Liam Harmon: "Liam has the tenacity and quickness that will allow him to excel defensively in 1v1 situations and has the attacking qualities that will allow him to be a threat getting forward. We are excited to get him here."

ANDREW MURRAY
- Players Development Academy USSDA
- Cited as a 3-star recruit by TopDrawerSoccer
- Help his high school team to a 22-4 record, sectional championship and an appearance in the state championship game
- Earned all-state and all-county honors
- Player Development Academy captain U15 & U16

Chase Brooks on Andrew Murray: "Andrew is a versatile, hardworking, defensive-minded player. He has great leadership potential and is a student-athlete we look forward to working with."

BRETT STERN
- Empire United USSDA
- Cited as a 3-star recruit by TopDrawerSoccer
- Played for the NYW State Cup Champions (2014)
- Also part of USYSA Region I Colonial League Championship & Jefferson Cup Championship teams

Chase Brooks on Brett Stern: "Brett has the ability to play in tight areas and the pace and athleticism to take advantage of open field. He is a proven goal scorer and a great young man, perfect for Duquesne."

VITO VINCENT
- FC Europa
- Ranked No. 19 in his region by TopDrawerSoccer
- Played for ninth-ranked nationally club team
- 2016 club state champion
- National Honor Society member

Chase Brooks on Vito Vincent: "Vito has the athletic tools to impose himself on college soccer. He is a quality person and teammate and I know he will sacrifice everything to help our program reach greater heights."

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2017 DUQUESNE MEN'S SOCCER RECRUITING CLASS

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