Men's Soccer Adds Three to Class of 2023
11/10/2022 9:13:00 AM | Men's Soccer
The Roos will welcome Dylan Ashford, Brevyn Cole and Jesper van Halderen
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Kansas City Men's Soccer has kicked off the 2022-23Â signing period by adding three incoming Roos. The initial class includes two freshmen and one transfer, including a pair of local products.
Dylan Ashford | 5'10 | Forward | Shawnee, Kan. | Mill Valley HS
High School/Club: Attended Mill Valley High School, where he was a four-year varsity player … 2022 KSHSAA 6A State Champion … Captained soccer team in 2021, 22 … Two-time First Team All-Sunflower League (2021, 22) … Second Team All-State in 2021 … Two-time regional champion (2020, 22) … Two-time Sunflower League champion (2021, 22) … Played club ball for KC Fusion Academy '05 and Coach Jimmy Perez … Captain from 2019-22 … 2021 Kansas State Cup Champs … Three-time State Cup Runner-up (2019, 20, 22)
Personal: Born June 27, 2005 in Shawnee … Parents Jeff and Stephanie Ashford … Mother Stephanie attended UMKC … Has two siblings, Alea and Jake … Alea attends UMKC … Jake plays soccer at Creighton … Also ran track in high school … Favorite TV show is Criminal Minds … Favorite musical artist is Noah Kahan … Intends to major in Business
Why Kansas City: "I wanted to play for my home city, and the university has a really good business school."
Coach Pore on Ashford: "Dylan is a player that really impressed us during the recruiting process with his competitive nature and selflessness to help the team anywhere on the field. He's a versatile dynamic player that we can envision playing multiple positions for us. Dylan comes from a family of DI soccer players and we believe he will only get better in our program. Best of all, he's a winner, recently winning the Kansas High School State Championship and he's excited to represent Kansas City at the next level."
Brevyn Cole | 5'9 | Defender | Olathe, Kan. | Olathe South HS
High School/Club: Played at Olathe South High School, where he was a two-year captain … First Team All-State … First Team All-Sunflower League … Played club for KCSG ECNL 04/05 and Coach Brandon Waterman … With former SBV Academy '04 team, won 2021 Kansas State Cup and was named team MVP
Personal: Born Nov. 15, 2004 in Lawrence, Kan. … Parents Jaymie and Oscar Cole … Has two siblings, Brody and Kamryn … Favorite movie is Minions … Would like to live in Australia … Took AP Spanish, and is working on fluency … Undecided on major
Why Kansas City: "The style of play and the personnel fit with what I was looking for."
Coach Pore on Cole: "We are very familiar with Brevyn, as (Assistant Coach) Rafa (Martinez) coached his SBV club team last year. He's tactically very good and can play both outside back positions equally. He has a quiet competitive streak about him that will suit him well in our environment and the athleticism to defend his position at the DI level."
Jesper van Halderen | 5'11 | Forward | Ursem, the Netherlands | Han Fortmann | Casper College
2022 (Casper): Notched program records in goals and assists … Helped lead team to 14-3-2 record, including 6-1-1 mark in conference play … Tallied 15 goals, including five game-winners … Notched multiple goals in three games … Dished out 11 assists, including two games with multiple
2021 (Casper): Helped lead team to 10-6-1 mark, 7-2 in conference play … Scored goal against Northwest College on Oct. 23 … Tallied two assists
High School/Club: Played for Netherlands U19 Futsal National Team
Personal: Born April 9, 2001 in Haarlem, the Netherlands … Parents Norbert van Halderen and Marleen Gerritsen … Earned President's Honor Roll honors … Named NJCAA Academic All-American … Favorite movie is Shawshank Redemption … Also speaks Dutch … Intends to major in Business Administration
Why Kansas City: "I chose to play at Kansas City because of the connection I had with the coaches, and the opportunities that UMKC brings."
Coach Pore on van Halderen: "Jesper is one of, if not the, best attacking players to come out of junior college this year. He's consistently scored goals with his time at Casper College and can do so in a variety of ways. We believe he will fit seamlessly in our system and can't wait for him to get on campus in January. We expect Jesper to make an immediate impact."