Joseph Melong, Goalkeeper, Shattuck Saint-Mary’s
Class: 2013
Commitment: Furman

Melong, a Canadian goalkeeper who has fine-tuned his position while competing at Shattuck St. Mary’s, saw a promising crop of players heading to Furman and wanted to join in on the fun.

Joseph Melong

“I decided to commit to Furman University because of the coaches, but also because of the current team and the incoming recruiting class,” he told TopDrawerSoccer.com. “With an already very good program and one of the top recruiting classes in the country, I feel as though we will be able to do very well in the future, and potentially next season.

“The Southern Conference is a good conference, but I feel as though we will be able to be dominant in the SoCon and be able to make the NCAA tournament on a yearly basis.”

A top class soccer program is one thing to help lure recruits. But another obvious piece to the puzzle is a coaching staff that players can connect with and feel comfortable with.

And that’s something Melong saw firsthand when he was going through the recruiting process.

“The coaches are also very dedicated to the program as well,” he said. “I am very excited to work with [assistant] coach [Geoff] del Forn, not only to help me get prepared to help the program succeed, but also help me personally to get to the next level. I know that all three coaches are capable of leading this program to a national championship. Coach [Doug] Allison really wants to win at least one national championship within the next four years, and I am very excited to be a major part of that success.”

The native of Winnipeg, Melong also saw this as an opportunity to see and experience a much different part of the continent.

“Being a Canadian and living in the north my whole life, the southern section of the country was a huge advantage to my college pursuit,” he said. “I am very excited that I have been given the opportunity to be a member of the Furman soccer program. Being one of the 15 nicest campuses in the country, the school itself is an amazing place to be. With all of the greenery throughout the campus, the appeal is unreal for high school students looking for a beautiful campus for college.”

Jake Heroux, Defender, Match Fit Chelsea
Class: 2013
Commitment: Loyola (MD)

A conference move, a good coaching staff, an attractive style of play.

Those were just three of the factors that Jake Heroux enjoyed about Loyola (MD) that enticed the Match Fit Chelsea defender to verbally commit to the Baltimore-based institution.

“All of the coaches from the start made me feel very welcomed and wanted during the recruiting process, which influenced my decision dramatically,” Heroux told TopDrawerSoccer.com. “What also really appealed to me was the style of play they had. I had watched them play numerous times before and I really like how they possessed the ball and how dangerous they were on the attack.”

Heroux also explained that Loyola’s move to the Patriot League for the 2013 season also influenced his decision, as his older brother plays at Colgate. This gives him the opportunity to go up against him at the collegiate level, something he's excited to have the chance to do.

The academics and campus played a part too.

“What I really liked about the school was the size, location, and the rigorous academics that it has,” Heroux said. “Baltimore has always been a city I have liked and the job opportunities post college are unlimited. The academics really played a huge role in my final decision as well because I wanted a school that would push my limits and I found the perfect fit in Loyola.”

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