ANNVILLE, Pa. - With preseason camp in full swing, Lebanon Valley College men's soccer is working on incorporating 10 new players into the mix, including eight freshmen and a pair of transfers.

One of the most promising recruiting classes in program history includes plenty of firepower, with forwards Ethan Abdalla, Austin Freeman, Brian Lowe, and Tyler Skye. Matt Prince is the lone midfielder in the group, while defensively head coach Charlie Grimes adds David Brooks, Nate Gibbons, Ari Gouskos, and Travers Mutton with Cam Avery between the sticks at goalkeeper.

High school connections abound in the class; Freeman and Prince were a playmaking duo at Hamburg, while Mutton and Abdalla held the back for Pottsgrove. Avery reunites with former Cumberland Valley teammates and current Dutchmen Cam Alexander and Jake Herron.

Lebanon Valley starts 2014 at the Christopher Newport Tournament Aug. 29-30, taking on Whitman and Randolph-Macon before their home opener Sept. 7 against either Wesley or Gwynedd-Mercy as part of the joint LVC-F&M Tournament.
 

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Ethan Abdalla
Forward – Pottstown, Pa./Pottsgrove (FC Premiere)
Coach Grimes: "Ethan's ability to hold the ball and get in behind the defense, along with his creativity around the box will fit our style perfectly."
High School/Personal: Three-time all-conference selection at Pottsgrove … Had first-team selections in 2011 and 2013 … Also played basketball and baseball … Honor roll student … Son of Patty and Mike Abdalla … Actuarial science major.
 
Cam Avery
Goalkeeper – Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley (HMMS)
Coach Grimes: "Cam has been playing at a high level and combines strength in the air with great athleticism. He will be one of four goalkeepers on the team."
High School/Personal: Captain at Cumberland Valley … Mid-Penn All-Star … Honor roll student … National Honor Society member … Son of Julie and David Avery … Physical therapy major.
 
David Brooks
Outside Back – Jonestown, Pa./Northern Lebanon (LDC United)
Coach Grimes: "David is a quick, technical player.  He has the ability to get forward in the attack, beat players off of the dribble as well as combine with others."
High School/Personal: Two-time all-Lebanon County pick at Northern Lebanon … Three-time Lancaster-Lebanon League All-Star … Also played basketball and baseball for the Vikings … Honor roll student … Son of Nancy and Lynn Brooks … Accounting major.
 
Austin Freeman
Forward – Hamburg, Pa./Hamburg (Rage Soccer Club)
Coach Grimes: "Austin is a goal scorer. His speed and powerful left foot make him a dangerous threat in any game."
High School/Personal: All-state forward as a senior at Hamburg … Scored 34 goals with 10 assists in 2013 to be named the Berks County Player of the Year … Scored 66 goals and 25 assists (a school record) in his career … Four-year varsity stater … Led Hamburg to the District 3 AA playoffs … Honor roll student … Son of Julie and Doug Freeman … Actuarial science major.
 
Nate Gibbons
Center Back – Frederick, Md./Urbana (Potomac Soccer Club)
Coach Grimes: "Nate is a solid 1v1 defender who is technically solid and tactically aware.  He will bring leadership and composure to our back line."
High School/Personal: Led Urbana to the 2013 Maryland state title … Second-team Frederick News Post all-area team … Graduated with highest honors … Member of the National, Math, and Spanish honor societies … Son of Nancy and Bob Gibbons … Physics/mathematics major.
 
Ari Gouskos
Outside Back – Easton, Pa./Easton (Seton Hall University)
Coach Grimes: "Ari is a hard working outside back that will look to get involved in the attack as well as provide speed on the flank."
High School/Personal: Second-Team All-Area at Easton … Also on the swim team … Honor roll student … Latin Club member … Son of Eve and Dennis Gouskos … Early childhood education major.
 
Brian Lowe
Forward – Westminster, Md./Westminster (Elmira University)
Coach Grimes: "Brian will be transferring in to LVC as a junior.  He combines a powerful frame with good technical ability, pace, and a blue-collar work ethic."
High School/Personal: At Elmira, appeared in 33 games in two years, scoring eight goals with two assists … At Westminster (Md.), was a first-team all-Chesapeake Conference pick and led the team in scoring as a senior … Son of Maril and Frederick Lowe … Sociology major.
 
Travers Mutton
Outside Back – Pottstown, Pa./Pottsgrove (FC Premiere)
Coach Grimes: "Travers will be transformed into an outside back this season and will provide creativity on the flanks. His ability to get stuck in on tackles as well as his quickness and technical ability will fit the outside back role perfectly."
High School/Personal: Two-time all-conference selection at Pottsgrove … Honor roll student … Son of Kristin and Stevenson Mutton … Open major.
 
Matt Prince
Midfield – Hamburg, Pa./Hamburg (Rage Soccer Club)
Coach Grimes: "Matt brings energy to the center of the pitch.  He tackles hard, wins balls in the air, and possesses the ability to help our team keep possession."
High School/Personal: Two-year captain at Hamburg … All-Berks County First-Team … Helped Hamburg to the PIAA District 3 playoffs … Honor roll student … Son of Anne and Dean Loeb … Actuarial science major.

Tyler Skye
Forward – Bridgeton, N.J./Cumberland Regional (Cohansey Blitz/Philadelphia Union Academy)
Coach Grimes: "Tyler is comfortable beating players off the dribble and has the ability to put the ball in the back of the net."
High School/Personal: Third-team all-state forward at Cumberland Regional (N.J.) … Captain … Scored 49 career goals with 20 assists … South Jersey all-star … Three-year varsity player … Honor roll student … Son of Martha Rojas and Bill Skye … Music recording technology major.