Men's Soccer Bolsters Class of 2023
6/29/2023 1:51:00 PM | Men's Soccer
The Roos have officially signed 12 new student-athletes for the upcoming season
KANSAS CITY - Kansas City Men's Soccer and Head Coach Ryan Pore have secured the incoming 2023 class, officially signing 12 incoming student-athletes. The group, comprised of seven international students, four Kansans and a Texan, bring the Roos' total of 2023 signees to 15.
"Our coaching staff couldn't be more excited about the group of players that will be coming in to compete with our current roster," Pore said. "This group offers a good combination of maturity and youthfulness that we are excited to get on campus and start working with. I have to thank my assistant coaches, Rafa (Martinez) and Filippo (Errico), for the work they put in, traveling and identifying this large group of players. I strongly believe the relationships we've already built will help the players transition quickly. All of us are excited to represent Kansas City and most importantly, ready to get to work."
Robin Balters | 6'1 | GK | Sprendlingen, Germany | Gymnasium am Römerkastell | Grand View
2022 (Grand View): Spent his freshman year playing for the Heart of America Conference's Grand View Vikings … Helped lead team to a 10-7-3 record
High School/Club: Played for TSG Hoffenheim and TSV Schott Mainz … Was called up for regional selection in SW Germany
Personal: Born Aug. 16, 2001 in Wiesbaden, Germany … Son of Reinhold and Karoline Balters … Also likes to golf … Speaks German … Intends to study business administration
Why Kansas City?: "After many conversations with the coaching staff, I liked the professional mindset within the soccer program. The training environment is also professional, so I can keep working on myself in the best ways possible.'
Maël Caisson | D | 6'0 | Menton, France | OGC Nice
High School/Club: Played for OGC Nice and AS Monaco Academy … Coached by Frederic Barilaro and Manu Dos Santos at Monaco and Johan Louvel and Cedric Barrault in Nice
Personal: Born Dec. 16, 2003 in Monaco … Son of Fabrice Caisson and Celine Caruso … Has earned many academic honors and awards … Participated with Nice Baie Des Anges, which gives food and clothing to the homeless … Favorite movie is Creed 2 … Favorite musical artist is Ninho … Intends to study business
Why Kansas City?: "I chose to play at Kansas City because I like the spirit of the team. When I watched the team play, I really liked what I saw. The coaches and team seem like a family, which is important to me. I'm ready to begin a new chapter."
Mathew Drinkhouse | 5'9 | MF/D | Leawood, Kan. | Bishop Miege HS
High School/Club: Played at European Soccer Institute for Coach Stephane Auvray … Was a team captain
Personal: Born Feb. 10, 2004 … Son of Mary Ann Lillig and Ron Drinkhouse … Has four siblings, Amanda, Nathan, Collin and Teresa … Favorite TV show is Naruto … Favorite food is kebabs … Would like to live in the Caribbean or Florida … Can speak French … Intends to study business
Why Kansas City?: "I am from Kansas City and wanted to play for a great Division One soccer program.'
Miguel Fernandez | 5'9 | MF | Galicia, Spain | IES A Basella | Arosa SC
High School/Club: Played for Arosa SC
Personal: Born Oct. 4, 2004 … Son of Carlos Javier Fernández Fuentes and María José Novás … Has one sibling, Jennifer … Favorite movie is Whiplash … Favorite musical artist is Bad Bunny … Speaks Spanish … Intends to study business
Why Kansas City?: "I like the university and the options that they offer."
Yuki Ikezaki | 5'8 | F/MF | Amami, Japan | Kagoshima Josei HS | Allen CC
2022 (Allen CC): First Team All-KJCCC DII … Appeared in 17 games, starting each … Led team and ranked eighth in KJCCC with nine goals … Ranked second in KJCCC with 54 shots and third with 29 shots on goal … Scored in draw with St. Louis CC on Aug. 19 … Scored two goals in win over Metropolitan CC on Sep. 3 … Scored two goals at Hesston College on Sep. 24 … Scored in each of the team's final two games
2021 (Allen CC): Appeared in five games, making one start … Dished an assist against Pratt CC on Oct. 18
High School/Club: Kyushu League Champion
Personal: Born Feb. 23, 2002 in Amami … Son of Daisuke and Mayumi Ikezaki … Has two siblings, Yuto and Taishin … Favorite movie its Les Miserables … Favorite colors are white and gold … Would like to live in Barcelona … Intends to study early childhood education
Why Kansas City?: "I chose Kansas City because of the team's style of play and the ability to play soccer at a high level."
Adam Lansdown | 6'0 | GK | Flower Mound, Texas | Edward S. Marcus HS
High School/Club: Played at Edwards S. Marcus HS, where he was a team captain and named team MVP … Named First Team All-Conference … Played club ball for FC Dallas and Coach Casey Cantor, where he was also team captain
Personal: Born Mar. 11, 2004 in Naperville, Ill. … Son of Robert and Anne Lansdown … Father Robert played football at Kentucky … Has one sibling, Zane … Favorite TV show is MasterChef … Favorite food is tacos … Would like to live in Montana … Intends to study criminal justice
Why Kansas City?: "Coach Pore made the recruiting process very smooth and transparent, the way he described the program and the team just felt at home with me."
Julien Le Bourdoulous | 5'9 | MF | Quemperven, France | FC Lannion
High School/Club: Played for Rospez CS, En Avant Guingamp, Plabennec FC and Lannion FC
Personal: Born Dec. 28, 2001 … Son of Rémy Le Bourdoulous … Has two siblings, Laura and Mathieu … Is an Arsenal FC fan … Intends to study liberal arts
Why Kansas City?: "I've come to Kansas City to study and they offered me a scholarship to play soccer."
Brandon McGaugh | 6'5 | GK | Prairie Village, Kan. | Shawnee Mission East HS | Johnson County CC
2022 (Johnson County CC): Earned second-team All-Kansas Jayhawk Community College East Division honors … Finished career third in program history with 197 saves … Played in 12 games, all as a starter … Finished 10-2-0 with six shutouts, a goals against average of 0.90 and a save percentage of .863 … Etched his name on JCCC's season leaders chart for save percentage (11th), goals against average (13th) and win (T-16th) …  Led the conference in shutouts, goals against average and save percentage, and second in saves … Nationally he ranked tied for eighth in wins, tied for seventh in shutouts, ninth in GAA, and sixth in save percentage … During the season was named the KJCCC D-I Goalkeeper of the Week three times, including back-to-back weeks in weeks four and five … Picked up his first award after stopping all four shots faced to preserve a 4-0 shutout over Central (9-7-22) … A week a later stopped all six shots in a 1-0 shutout victory at Kansas City Kansas to earn the week five goalkeeper of the week honor (9-14-22) … Registered is fourth straight shutout of the season in a 1-0 win at No. 13 Coffeyville, saving seven shots on goal, which earned him the week 7 KJCCC D-I Goalkeeper of the Week (9-28-22) … Saved a season-high 11 shots in a 1-0 overtime win over No. 5-ranked Barton in the semifinals of the Region 6/Plains District Tournament (11-3-22) … It was his fifth shutout of the season, which tied him for 17th on JCCC season chart.
2021 (Johnson County CC): Played in and started eight games … Finished the season with mark of 2-5-0 with one shutout … Logged 735:00 minutes with a goals against average of 1.84 and a save percentage of .797 … Topped double digits in saves in three matches and tallied 59 total saves on the season … Ranked sixth in the conference in goals against average and saves, and was second in save percentage … Pitched a shutout in his season opening match with three saves in a 3-0 win at Southwestern (8-27-21) … Followed with a season high 12 saves in a 2-1 loss at Coffeyville (9-1-21) … Stopped 11-of-12 shots in a 1-0 loss at Garden City (10-1-21) … Made six saves to earn a 3-1 victory over Kansas City Kansas (10-16-21) … Made 10 saves in a 3-2 loss to No. 3 Cowley in the Region VI playoffs (11-1-21).
2020 (Johnson County CC): Earned All-Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference East Division first-team and All-Region VI/Mid-Plains District second-team ... Played in and started 11 games… Posted a 2-9-0 record with on full shutout … Logged 882-minutes, 20-seconds in net … Allowed 30 goals for a goals against average of 3.06 … Registered 69 saves and a save percentage of .697 … Ranked second in the conference in saves, fourth in minutes played and ninth in save percentage … Made a season high 13 saves in a season opening loss to Coffeyville (4-5-21) … Followed with eight saves in a 3-0 loss at Cowley (4-11-21) … Saved six of eight shots faced in a 2-0 loss to Dodge City (4-24-21) … Earned his first victory with two saves in a 2-1 overtime win against Crowder (4-26-21) … Registered a shutout victory with six saves in a 6-0 win over Garden City (5-1-21) … Recorded five saves in a 1-0 loss at Kansas City Kansas (5-5-21) … Saved eight shots in a 2-1 setback at Neosho County (5-12-21).
High School/Club: Finished 14-0-4 as a senior, posting a goals against average of 0.39 … Allowed just five goals and made 50 saves … Helped Lancers reach KSHSAA 6A State semifinals … Played club for Toca FC and Coach Matt Trump … Earned a runner-up finish at nationals, defeating the top-ranked Canadian team and tying with the top-ranked US team
Personal: Born July 23, 2001 … Son of Jessica Kincaid … Has two siblings, Anaya and Ava … Earned Spring 2023 academic honors … Favorite color is blue … Favorite musical artist is Rod Wave … Would like to live on the beach … Intends to study business
Why Kansas City?: "I like the opportunity to continue to play at the next level, I believe this is a great program, where I can develop as a player and person, all while staying local and playing in my hometown of KC."
Brice Middleton | 6'0 | F | Overland Park, Kan. | Rockhurst HS
High School/Club: Played for Sporting Blue Valley and Coach Shawn Forceilli … Also played football and baseball
Personal: Born June 2, 2005 in Detroit, Mich. … Son of Chalet and Brian Middleton … Has one sibling, Carter … Favorite color is navy … Favorite food is chicken wings … Can "jump pretty high" … Would like to live in France … Intends to study finance
Why Kansas City?: "I wanted to continue playing the sport that I love."
Guille Muñoz Villarejo | 6'1 | D/MF | Madrid, Spain | Persio FC
High School/Club: Played for Persio FC
Personal: Born Dec. 30, 2001 … Son of Julian Muñoz … Favorite movies are the Harry Potter series … Favorite food is hamburgers … Would like to live in California
Why Kansas City?: "I think that it is the best place for me to study and play football."
Sam Safly | 6'3 | D | Lenexa, Kan. | Shawnee Mission West HS
High School/Club: Played at Shawnee Mission West HS, winning Sub-State titles in 3-of-4 years … Two-time Firsst Team All-State … Two-Time First Team All-Conference … 2022 Second Team All-Metro … 2021 Honorable Mention All-Metro … Two time team captain and team MVP … Also played for KS Rush 05 and coach Christopher Nicot
Personal: Born Jan. 11, 2005 … Son of Jason and Anne Safly … Father Jason played football at Northern Iowa … Has one sibling, Lydia … Favorite movie is Star Wars Ep. 3 … Favorite color is purple … Is missing one of his front teeth … Would like to live in Norway … Intends to study computer science
Why Kansas City?: "I'm in love with KC and I wanted to stay closer to home. I love the campus size and the degree programs, and I'm excited for the growth of the athletic program and the school as a whole."
Hector Taboada | 6'1 | MF/F | Barcelona, Spain | SD Huesca
High School/Club: Played for SD Huesca, Alcañiz CF and CE Sant Gabriel
Personal: Born Sep. 6, 2004 … Son of Aurelio Taboada Lopez and Sandra Martinez Felix … Has two siblings, David and Sol … Also recruited by Incarnate Word and North Florida … favorite TV show is Prison Break … Favorite musical artist is Bad Bunny … Speaks Spanish and Catalan … Intends to study business
Why Kansas City?: "I liked the mentality of the coaches."
