Lobo Soccer Announces 2015 Recruiting Class

February 5, 2015

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - The University of New Mexico men's soccer program is pleased to announce a dynamic 2015 recruiting class. This high-achieving group features a junior college first team All-American, two players from Major League Soccer Development Academies, a player from the prestigious Scott Gallagher Soccer Club in St. Louis, and two Europeans with over a decade’s worth of experience in the youth systems of professional clubs.

"Through the efforts of associate head coach Paul Souders and assistant coach Mike Graczyk, we have attracted outstanding young men to the University of New Mexico," head coach Jeremy Fishbein said. "This group of student-athletes will represent Albuquerque, the state of New Mexico and our University in explerary fashion. Each young man possesses and displays the attributes which define our program: excellence in the clasroom, excellence in the community and excellence on the playing field."

The Lobos must replace a lot of talent and heart from their 2014 squad as four players are currently in preseason camp with MLS clubs, and a fifth is on trial with the USL LA GalaxyII. 

Yuri Domiciano, from Belo Horizonte, Brazil, was an NSCAA Junior College First Team All-American at Iowa Western Community College last season. New Mexico native Aaron Herrera has spent the last three years in residency with MLS Real Salt Lake's academy in Casa Grande, Ariz., and Andy Rios of Highlands, Texas, has trained and played for MLS Houston Dynamo's academy the last three years. Kasper Kajermo and Simon Spangenberg have represented professional clubs in their native Sweden and Belgium, respectively, and each has come to the U.S. to pursue both their educational and soccer goals in lieu of signing professional contracts. Rounding out the class is Devin Boyce who has starred for USSDA program Scott Gallagher, one of the historically greatest clubs in American amateur soccer. His father, Barney Boyce, had a long, productive professional playing career in the NASL, MISL and WSA.

The Lobos expect to sign another two or three additional players in the coming months to complete the 2015 class. 

Devin Boyce - 5-foot-10 Midfielder - St. Louis, Missouri - Scott Gallagher

Named a four-star recruit by TopDrawerSoccer, Boyce has played in the midfield for St. Louis Scott Gallagher’s U17/18 team the last two years and has consistently been one of the team's most influential players. Named to the varsity squad at Christian Brothers College as a freshman, he helped lead the school to the Missouri State High School Championship from his central midfield position as a sophomore.

Coach Fishbein on Devin: "Devin comes from a passionate soccer family. He's got incredible vision, a thorough understanding of the game and a desire to succeed. I'm really excited that he is joining us, and I know he is going to develop into a top player for the Lobos."

Yuri Domiciano - 6-foot-0 Defender - Belo Horizonte, Brazil - Iowa Western

A native of Belo Horizonte, Brazil, Domiciano spent the last two seasons at Iowa Western where he was honored for both his play on the pitch and his work in the classroom. In 2014 he was named both an NSCAA First Team Junior College All-American and a First Team Junior College Scholar All-American as he helped the Reivers advance all the way to the national semifinals and an undefeated 23-0-2 record. Domiciano started 21 of the team’s 24 games and scored two goals with three assists while helping Iowa Western hold opponents to just 0.45 goals per game.

Coach Fishbein on Yuri: "Yuri excells in the classroom and on the playing field. We were fortunate to have him join the program in January. He already has three weeks worth of work under his belt. He's going to make a seamless transition and has quickly acclimated himself to our program's demands. He's an intelligent, skillful and hard-working player. We feel he can play as a left back or higher up the field. He brings athleticism, maturity and tenacity to our team."

Aaron Herrera - 5-foot-11 Defender - Las Cruces, N.M. - Real Salt Lake Academy

Herrera is the latest player from MLS Real Salt Lake’s Arizona Academy to head to New Mexico, joining current Lobos Josh Goss, Sam Gleadle and Lucas Seligman. A native New Mexican from Las Cruces, Herrera spent three years in the academy and was the starting right back for RSL last season when they reached the final of the USSDA Championship. In October 2014 he attended his first training camp with the U.S. U18 National Team and looks to represent the U.S. in years to come. Herrera's RSL-AZ U17/18 team ended 2014 on a three-month unbeaten streak. That streak continued into the first club match of 2015 when he scored a goal in victory over Juventas Sport Club.

Coach Fishbein on Aaron: "Our goal at New Mexico is to attract the top players in the state that we feel can make an impact on our program. Aaron is an excellent student, a very driven player and has succeeded at the highest levels of youth soccer in the United States. We think he's going to come in and compete from day one."

Kasper Kajermo - 5-foot-9 Midfielder - Stockholm, Sweden - Hammerby IF

Kajermo comes to New Mexico from Stockholm, Sweden, where he has played for Hammerby IF’s U19 and U21 teams. In 2014 he spent the preseason with the club's first team at its training camp in Cyprus. A 5’9, 150-pound midfielder, Kajermo will bring nine years of experience with Swedish professional soccer clubs to the Lobos.

Coach Fishbein on Kasper: "Kasper is a dynamic two-way player. He's extremely comfortable on the ball and has a real sense of professionalism as a young man. He's very academically oriented and strives for excellence in all that he does. Kasper is a player who could've pursued professional soccer, but he recognized the opportunity in the United States to pursue both academics and his soccer career. He has the tools to fit into our attack immediately."

Andy Rios - 6-foot-2 Goalkeeper - Highlands, Texas - Houston Dynamo Academy

A member of MLS Houston Dynamo’s USSDA academy since 2012, Rios was named a four-star recruit by TopDrawerSoccer after appearing for both the U15/16 and U17/18 teams. His play earned him Development Academy Central Conference Starting XI honors in 2013-13, and in 2013-14 he was named Frontier Conference All-American. He was the starting goalkeeper for the Goose Creek Memorial High School varsity soccer team as a freshman in 2012 and was named the district newcomer of the year.

Coach Fishbein on Andy: "Andy has trained with current Dynamo professional keeper Michael Lisch, a former Lobo. He is driven and very comfortable in a professional setting. He's going to transition well into our environment. Andy is a great student, and we have high expectations for him academically and in the goal. He will push our goalkeepers for minutes."

Simon Spangenberg - 5-foot-10 Midfielder - Brussels, Belgium - Waasland-Beveren

An offensive midfielder/winger, Simon has spent the last two seasons on the U21 squad of Waasland-Beveren in Belgium's first division.  He spent the previous season playing for White Star Woluwe FC in Belgium's second division. An excellent student with engineering aspirations, he passed his European Baccalaureate with honors.

Coach Fishbein on Simon: "Simon has an incredible feel for the game. His intelligence and work ethic will prepare him for a seamless transition. Like Kasper, Simon had an opportunity to play professionally, but he felt coming to the United States was a way to combine his academic goals with his soccer aspirations. We look for him to be an integral part of our 2015 squad."

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