COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The University of Colorado Colorado Springs men's soccer head coach Brian Miller announced the signing of 13 Mountain Lions for the upcoming 2020 season.

"I am extremely excited to announce our 2020 class," said Miller. "We are bringing in some great talent and depth to our squad. We have players coming in from extremely high levels and all areas of the world. I look forward to these motivated student-athletes joining our squad and culture here at UCCS."

Coming over from Helsingborg, Sweden, Alex Andersson joins the Mountain Lions after playing with club team Helsingborgs IF since 2006 as he's gone through their elite selections since 2011. While playing with Helsingborgs IF, Andersson has experienced much success beginning with a Goliath Cup Championship in 2011 and a 2015 third-place finish in the Swedish Cup. A year later in 2016, Andersson helped Helsingborgs IF to a second-place finish at the Gothia Cup Tips Elite Trophy as they were U17 Allsvenskan South Champions and finished second in the U17 Allsvenskan Playoffs. In 2017, the team success continued as Andersson and Helsingborgs IF finished third in the U17 Allsvenskan South with a quarterfi'nals appearance for the Gothia Cup Tips Elite Trophy as they later advanced to the U19 Allsvenskan South playoffs two years later in 2019. Outside of the team success, Andersson was a senior competitive call up for the Swedish Cup and is also a regional team selection for Skåne Laget. In 2010, Andersson earned the Bill Peterssons Fond award for Most Developed Player.

"Alex Andersson possess great pace to get forward," said Miller. "He's able to break lines to create scoring opportunities in the run of play."

A native of Los Angeles, Calif., Alan Araiza-Zarate makes his way to UCCS as a center back transfer from Briar Cliff University. Araiza-Zarate graduated from Sherman Oaks CES High School in 2018 where he was an all-city first team division IV and all-league second team selection in boys volleyball as he helped the Knights to their first ever city final in 2018. Araiza-Zarate also was a member of the National Honor Society and AVID in high school. While at Briar Cliff, Araiza-Zarate performed on the pitch as he was a GPAC All-Conference Honorable Mention (2018) and a GPAC All-Conference First Team (2019) selection as he also earned a GPAC Player of the Week selection on October 21^st during the 2019-20 season. A key piece on the Chargers' backline, Araiza-Zarate helped guide Briar Cliff to a third-place finish in the GPAC during the 2018-19 season, the highest finish in the program's history. During the 2018-19 season, Araiza-Zarate and the Chargers' backline ranked No. 18 in NAIA Division I in total shutouts while also ranking No. 19 in shutouts per game. In addition to soccer, Araiza-Zarate was a member of the Spanish Club at Briar Cliff as he became a three-time recipient of the Dean's List award.

Araiza-Zarate's presence on the backline caught the eye of Miller:

"Alan Araiza will bring a voice of leadership and experience to our backline as he has found a great deal of success in NAIA as well as USL2."

A soon to be graduate from Prosper High School, Brycen Drew joins the Mountain Lions as a center back. From Prosper, Texas, Drew helped his teams earn multiple finalist appearances and multiple championships while in high school. Between 2017 and 2018, Drew was a four-time champion with championship finishes in the state cup (2017), FCD King Tut (2017), Las Vegas Mayors International (2018), and Plano Labor Day (2018) tournaments while he recorded finalist appearances in the Region 3 (2017), Regional Premier League (2017), and National League (2018). In 2019, Drew and his team were Ken Smith Dallas Cup Qualifier Champions and ECNL Texas Conference Champions as they notched finalist appearances in the State Cup, Region 3, Plano Labor Day tournament, and ECNL National tournament.

"Brycen Drew is an athletic and physical central defender that has a large presence in the box," said Miller. "Drew brings great depth to our back line."

A midfielder from Snohomish, Wash., Adan Fernandez posted 18 goals and 21 assists at Henry M. Jackson High School. Set to graduate from Henry M. Jackson in 2020, Fernandez was a two-time WESCO First Team selection as he earned an all-area second team and Wendy's WIAA Player of the Week honor. The 2019 season was big year for Fernande and the Timberwolves as he helped the team to a WESCO Championship and KINGCO/WESCO District Championship as they went on to finish third in state.

"Adan Fernandez is a versatile player," said Miller. "Adan has pace, creativity, and drive on both sides of the ball to start a new phase of play."

From Tymákov, Plzen, Andreas Kokoška is a 2019 graduate from Sunderland College and plays goalkeeper for the club team Fañabé CF. With Sunderland College Kokoška was a North East College Cup winner and competed on the ECFA Premier League. Kokoška also competed on the Northern League Division 1 with Sunderland RCA as he was called up to the Canary Islands U18 National Team. Before committing to UCCS, Kokoška was an online student at Wilmington University while he resided in Spain.

"Andreas Kokoska is a goalkeeper that is dominant in his box," said Miller. "He has the ability to distribute to all areas of the field."

A 5-foot-10 goalkeeper from Plainfield, Ill., Marcos Papakostas is a 2020 graduate of Plainfield North High School. Voted Varsity Most-Improved in 2019, Papakostas and the Plainfield North Tigers notched playoff appearances in 2017 and 2019 as they recorded a runner-up finish in Regionals in 2019. A four-time honor roll selection, Papakostas earned Chicagoland Man-of-the-Match in 2019 with his club team.

"Marcos Papakostas has great confidence coming off of his line and quality reactions in tight situations to keep the ball out of the back of the net," said Miller.

From Bellevue, Wis., Sybren Russell is a midfielder who has recorded 30 goals and 27 assists in his high school career while also netting 40 goals and recording 29 assists in four years with his club team. A 2019 graduate from Interlake High School, Russell helped the Saint Bernards to a third-place finish at state during his senior year as he also earned an all-league first team selection in the same year. Before his senior year, Russell's stellar play earned him two all-league honorable mention selections (freshman and sophomore years) and an all-league second team selection during his junior year.  Off the pitch, Russell was a recipient of the Integrity Award during his senior year.

"Sybren Russell is an attaching player who finds success on the flanks with a great strike and vision for the goal," said Miller.

A Colorado Springs, Colo. native, Miller signs a two-time state champion in midfielder Adin Schwenke. Schwenke is a varsity letter winner in both men's soccer and men's basketball at Air Academy High School where he registered 33 career goals and 20 assists to become a two-time 4A All-State First Team selection, PPAC All-Conference First Team and Second Team selections, and was voted Air Academy High School Postseason MVP. In addition to helping the Cadets to two state championships (2017, 2018), Schwenke and the Cadets had three State Final appearances (2017, 2018, 2019) and were two-time conference champions (2017, 2018). As a student-athlete, Schwenke is a four-time academic letter winner and four-time honor roll student as he was the Leader of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes at Air Academy, and a member of the National Honor Society.

"Adin Schwenke, an exciting local player, adds to our depth in the midfield as he wins the physical battles on both sides of the ball," said Miller.

Jack Souder, cousin of UCCS Volleyball student-athlete Maren Burkhart, is an Overland Park, Kan. native who joins the Mountain Lions as a forward.  Souder is a 2020 graduate of Blue Valley North High School where he notched 18 goals and 13 assists as he went on to earn accolades of all-state honorable mention, all-conference second team, and two Offensive Player of the Year. Souder was also a two-sport student-athlete as he was a varsity letter winner in men's soccer and men's basketball.

"Jack Souder is physical, hardworking attacker that is strong on and off the ball," stated Miller. "Which allows him to find scoring opportunities that others do not."

A left back from Mesa, Ariz., Carson Standridge comes to the Mountain Lions after experiencing much success with his club team RSL Arizona. In 2016, Standridge and RSL Arizona came away with a huge win as they became Frisco, Texas USYS National Champions. A year later in 2017, Standridge and RSL Arizona kept rolling as they went to Seattle, Washington and finished as Regional Finalists. The following year, Standridge helped RSL Arizona to a Regional League Championship (2018) and became a Region IV ODP Interregional Squad Member (2018).

"Carson Standridge is an agile, versatile player with a great change of direction and service with his left foot which will bring a new aspect of play to the squad," said Miller.

Transferring from Salt Lake Community College, Kaydon Zamora-Reeves is a 2018 graduate from Taylorsville High School. While at Salt Lake Community College, Zamora-Reeves and the Bruins were back-to-back SWAC Conference Champions as they also notched a regional championship in 2019. His hard work transitioned into the classroom as well with a Dean's List selection for students who maintain a 3.5 GPA or higher. Zamora-Reeves found success with his club team also as he helped them win a State Championship and register a Far West Regionals Semi-Finalist appearance in 2018.

"Kaydon Zamora is a central midfielder that has the vision and creativity to change the game in possession as well as going to goal," stated Miller.

A native of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Miller and the 2020 Mountain Lions adds midfielder Marques Scott. Transferring from Sheridan College where he earned two All-Region IX Second Team Honors (2018, 2019), Scott helped the Generals to the program's first Region IX Semi-Final and Finals appearance in 2018 where Scott earned Region IX All-Tournament Team honors. Academically, Scott has been awarded 2018 Vice Presidents Honor Roll and 2019 Presidents Honor Roll for his outstanding grades. A 2018 graduate of Riverside East Collegiate high school, Scoot is set to graduate from Sheridan College in 2020.

"Marques Scott found great success at the NJCAA level and will bring knowledge and experience to the central midfield that will allow us build out of the back," said Miller.

Luke Sussex (Wrexham, Wales) is set to join the Mountain Lions this fall after being a left back for the club team Cefn Druids AFC. Sussex was a Cefn Druids Men's First Team selection as he helped the program to their first Welsh Premier League Development North Championship (2018-2019) and Welsh Development Cup (2016-2017). The winning did not stop there as Sussex and Cefn Druids AFC notched a WNL League Cup (2017) and WNL Reserves League Championship (2018-2019) as they also became Welsh Premier League Development Finalists in 2018-2019.

"Luke Sussex is a physical defender on the flanks who is great in 1v1 situations as well as winning the battle in the air," said Miller.

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