Head coach Mike Siener and his staff have brought in a dozen talented student-athletes from across the nation to comprise the 2016 recruiting class. Paired with Dino Music and Alex Whalen, who rejoin the program this year, the incoming class will bolster an already strong group of returning players.
 
"The 2016 recruiting class is one we are very excited about," Siener said. "Our staff did an exceptional job identifying some highly talented and technical players who should have an immediate impact on our program.   There is a little bit of everything in this class.  We were able to build on what we have coming back by adding some quality depth at attacking positions while landing key pieces to strengthen our back line and goalkeeping."
 
Goalkeepers
The Gorloks welcome two new goalkeepers, Eli Smith and Kyle Hertel, into the fold. Smith joins the program by way of Dr. Phillips High School in Orlando, Fla. A captain and selection as the team's Most Outstanding Defender, Smith made 137 saves and helped the Panthers go unbeaten 10 straight games his senior year. Smith has twice trained with U.S. Soccer goalkeeper Tim Howard in addition to playing on the club team GOSA & FKK.
 
Hertel, a goalkeeper out of Sandpoint High School in northern Idaho, accumulated seven shutouts and 77 saves his senior year. He posted a 1.1 goals-against average and .802 save percentage en route to being named an All-State first-team selection. Hertel played seven years for Spokane Valor and the Sandpoint Strikers, qualifying for Nationals one of those seasons.
 
"Eli and Kyle are two big, strong, athletic goalkeepers with great shot-stopping abilities and high soccer IQs," Siener said. "They are equally excellent academically, and we're thrilled to have them as our final line of defense these next four years."
 
Defenders
The Gorloks added some student-athletes who will significantly strengthen a defensive unit that improved as the 2015 season wore on. Justin Schmidt, a center back who attended Metro Academic and Classical High School, played eight years for St. Louis Scott Gallagher. Most recently, he was a key member of Gallagher's U.S. Soccer Development Academy in Collinsville, Ill.  Schmidt and his squad traveled the country to play other Academy teams in arguably the most competitive league in the nation for that age group.
 
Zach Judis, a left back and center back from central Ohio, played three years of varsity for New Albany High School and four years for the prestigious Columbus Crew SC Pre-Academy team. Judis's high school team went 28-17-4 during his three-year varsity career, while the Crew won a state championship.
 
Miles Minnaar is one of five incoming University freshmen to receive the Presidential Scholarship, the top academic scholarship offered by Webster.  Minnaar, a wing back, led the Carmel High School (Ind.) Greyhounds to a 32-2-1 record during his two years on the team. He played eight years for the Indiana Fire Juniors club.
 
Pablo Mattingly is a tall, strong and versatile defender/center midfielder from Perryville High School, which is located a little more than an hour south of St. Louis. During Mattingly's four years of varsity soccer, the Pirates claimed four district titles, three conference championships and the 2014 Missouri Class 2 state championship. Mattingly tallied 12 goals and 13 assists his senior season, earning him All-District, All-Conference and All-State recognition.
 
"Our defensive corps is going to be vastly improved this year thanks to the addition of these terrific student-athletes and young men," Siener said. "We are going to be more difficult for opponents to break down. Additionally, these defensive-minded players know how and when to get forward, which will aid us in possession and on the counter-attack."
 
Midfielders
Emilio Mattingly, Pablo Mattingly's twin brother, is one of multiple incoming midfielders who should help a solid group of returning Gorloks. Emilio, a center midfielder and forward, scored 12 goals and assisted on 12 others for Perryville. Like Pablo, Emilio was named to the 2015 All-District, All-Conference and All-State teams. The Pirates went a remarkable 94-18-1 during the Mattingly brothers' four-year careers, including a 29-1 record their junior season and a 24-5 mark last year.
 
Michael Baldridge is a wing midfielder from Chicago who played three years of varsity for Mount Carmel High School and three years for the Cicero Mayas club. At Mount Carmel, Baldridge recorded 20 goals and 10 assists for a tidy 50 career points. He received the Coach E. Leadership Award and paced Mount Carmel to its first regional victory since 2008.
 
Tyler Kendrick's track-level speed made him a force for Parkway Central High School in St. Louis. The wing midfielder compiled 27 goals and 13 assists for 67 career points. He notched 16 goals and five assists for the Colts last season. As a result, he was an All-Region, All-Conference first-team and All-State second-team honoree.
 
Noah Whalen, a center midfielder, was a teammate of Kendrick at Parkway Central and played on the same club team (Lou Fusz — Mousdicas). Whalen was an All-Conference selection his senior season as he helped Central put together a 15-8-2 campaign. In his three-year varsity career, Whalen collected nine goals (three game-winners) and nine assists for 27 points.
 
"We were pleased with what our group of midfielders accomplished in 2015, and this class of dynamic incoming players should help push that unit to another level," Siener said. "Emilio, Michael, Tyler and Noah are skilled two-way players. They can create opportunities for others and stick the ball in the back of the net themselves."
 
Forwards
Juan Garcia was one of the finest attacking players in Missouri high school soccer last year and will look to make a smooth transition into the collegiate game. Garcia put up 47 goals and 30 assists for a whopping 124 points during his four-year career at Duchesne High School in St. Charles, Mo. Garcia was a four-time All-Conference first-team selection and made the All-State first team his junior and senior years. He was his conference's Player of the Year for 2015 and was a two-year captain at Duchesne.
 
Tucker Hively is one of the more versatile players the men's soccer program has ever had. Hively, who graduated from the academically prestigious Saint Louis Priory School, could play forward, wing back, wing midfield or center back for the Gorloks in the coming years. He was an important cog in the Rebels' undefeated (27-0) run to the Missouri Class 2 state championship in 2011. Hively was a captain at Priory and for his Tony Glavin Celtic FC affiliate squad. He received multiple awards for leadership, service and academic excellence while at Priory.
 
"Juan and Tucker are great embodiments of the prototypical NCAA Division-III student-athlete," Siener said. "Juan was on the Duchesne Honor Roll, in the National Honor Society and selected All-Academic three straight times. Tucker received the John B. Kistner, Jr. Memorial Scholarship for his character and integrity his senior year. Juan and Tucker are standouts academically, in the community and on the field — we're ecstatic to have them in our program."
 
Music and Whalen are back with the Gorloks after missing 2015. The two were Webster teammates during the 2013 and 2014 seasons. Music, a center midfielder who attended St. Louis's Mehlville High School, played significant minutes for Webster his initial two seasons. He has already appeared in 33 college games, collecting 10 points (four goals, two assists) in the process.
 
Alex Whalen, older brother of incoming freshman Noah Whalen, played in 21 contests in each of his freshman and sophomore campaigns at Webster. He picked up seven goals and two assists for 16 points while making 26 total starts.
 
"It's really good to have Alex and Dino in the program again," Siener said. "Their experience should allow for a smooth transition for them. Overall, we're really looking forward to what these 12 first-year players and two returnees can do for Webster soccer this year and beyond. Our staff is going to have some fun piecing it all together as we strive for a strong showing in nonconference and SLIAC play this year."

Webster opens the season on September 1 vs. Washington University at the Worldwide Technology Soccer Park at 7:00 p.m.