MSOC Announces Class of 2016
8/21/2012 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
The versatile group includes defender Julian Kennedy (Nindorf, Germany), Pasquale Suriano (Lebanon, N.J.) and Chris Hall (Bridgewater, N.J.), a pair of midfielders in Eric Lagg (Lafayette, N.J.) and Lucas Ventura (Brookline, Mass.) and forward Danny Bartok (Union, N.J.).
Kennedy is the first recruit that Echeverry was able to bring in for this season. An athletic 6-foot-4-inch defender, he played one season for the Niendorfer TSV club team and two seasons with Altona 93 in Hamburg, Germany.
"I heard about Julian and was able to take a trip out to Germany to scout him and watch him train with his club team," Echeverry said. "I really liked what I saw out of him and was very excited that we were able to get him to come join our program."
Suriano was a four-year letterwinner at North Hunterdon High School in addition to playing with Copa FC where he caught the attention of Echeverry. He was a First-Team All-Conference and First-Team All-County selection as a senior, scoring 14 goals to go along with five assists.
"Pasquale is a very technical and tenacious player that has done very well during the preseason and at our first exhibition," Echeverry said. "He is someone that is also going to be fighting to get on the field at the very deep outside back position. But he has shown some grit and a lot of ability."
Hall played prep soccer at Bridgewater-Raritan High School where he helped his team advance to the NJSIAA Group 4 State Tournament Championship game as a senior. He was tabbed as a Courier News All-Area honoree and was also named Second-Team All-Conference.
"Chris is a defender and he has been a real surprise. He got together with the kids at captain's practice and from then on has made an impression on all of them and all of us," Echeverry said. "He is another player that will help us in the back; we were a little short on defenders and he is a pure defender."
Lagg wrapped up a prolific career at Pope John XXIII where he graduated as the program's all-time leading scorer with 46 goals, while his 23 tallies as a senior set a school single-season record. He also spent three seasons playing with the Red Bulls Academy and was a member of the Olympic Development Program Super Y National Team in 2010.
"Eric is a player that can play multiple positions between defense, midfield and up front," Echeverry said. "He is a very good utility player, he is very skillful, a hard worker and is a player that I think can see some time this fall."
Ventura hails from Brookline, Mass., where he played three varsity seasons with Brookline High School where he drew the attention of SHU's new coaching staff.
"Lucas is a kid that we invited to come join us and he definitely made a good impression," Echeverry said. "Each day he is getting more comfortable and he could be an asset as a defensive midfielder or even playing in the back."
Bartok attended Union High School and has played with the Red Bulls club team from U14 to U18. He is a three-time All-Union County selection and garnered Second-Team All-State honors in 2008 and 2011. He suffered an injury during the spring and will redshirt the 2012 season.
"The goal for Danny is for him to start training toward the end of the season so that we can have him ready for the spring and get him back to where he was before his injury," Echeverry said.
Seton Hall plays its final preseason exhibition on Tuesday, Aug. 21, against Bloomfield College at Owen T. Carroll Field at 7 p.m. The Pirates' regular season opener is Friday, Aug. 24, when they host Saint Peter's University. Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m.
