Harvard Men's Soccer Bolsters Roster with Seven Newcomers

Harvard adds two goalkeepers, two midfielders, two forwards and a defender and will look to improve on last year’s 2-12-3 overall mark. In addition, the Crimson returns 21 student-athletes from last fall and will open the 2012 campaign by visiting Massachusetts Aug. 31.

Mark Ashby/Defender/Denton, Texas/Denton Ryan

Before Harvard:
Named the All-District Newcomer of the Year for the 2007-2008 season while at Denton Ryan High … That same year was named the Team Defensive M.V.P for Denton Ryan as well as named First Team All-District … In 2012 was named the ESPN Rise No. 83 Recruit out of the top 150 in the country … As a member of Club Team FC Dallas U-17/18 won the Texas Division three years in a row … Was a member of the finalist team in the 2011 USSDA national championship … Played in AEGON Future Cup in Amsterdam for the number one ranked team in the nation in 2012 ... Also excelled in the classroom; Named Valedictorian at Denton Ryan in 2012 … National Merit Commended and AP Scholar…Member of National Honor Society and Student Council … Helped the community through volunteer work with autistic children. 

Andrew Chang/Midfielder/Defender/Highland Park, Ill./Highland Park

Before Harvard:
Starting center midfielder on varsity soccer team at Highland Park High … Soccer captain senior year … Highland Park Team MVP senior year … All-State for Illinois senior year … Center midfielder for Sockers FC Academy team … Member of USA U-17 National Team from 2009-2010 playing right back … Chicago Fire All-State Academic Team … Camp counselor for summer sports camp run by Willow Creek Community Church for two years.

Nick Davey/Forward/Boise, Idaho/Boise

Before Harvard: 
Captained Boise High School soccer team in 2011 … Named to Top Drawer Soccer Northwest Region Top 20 Ranking, Class of 2012 … ESPN HS Fall Boy’s Soccer State All-Star, 2011-2012 … Idaho Gatorade Player of the year Finalist, 2011-2012 … Idaho Rush Elite Player of 2012 … 5A All-State First Team 2011 … Boise High School Varsity Offensive MVP, 2010, scoring 18 goals and nine assists … Boise High School Varsity Most Inspirational Player, 2011 … Four Time Idaho State Champion with club team Idaho Rush … Member of 2011 Boise High School Soccer State Champions … Named a National AP Scholar in 2011 and 2012 … AP Scholar with Distinction in 2010, 2011, and 2012 … National Merit Finalist and Foundation Scholarship Winner in 2012 … Siemens Award for Advanced Placement in 2012 … Rotary Scholar in 2012 … Graduated Top of Class from Boise High School in 2012 … Named to the Academic Honor Roll Boise High School from 2009-2012 … Received the United Dairyman Distinguished Student Award in 2011 … National Spanish Exam Silver Medalist in 2011 … National Junior Honor Society in 2009 … National Honor Society in 2012 … ASB Student Ambassador in 2012 … Member of Senior Mentor Leadership Council in 2012 … One World Refugee Soccer Camp Coach from 2007-2012 … Idaho Humane Society Volunteer from 2011-2012. 

Joe Festa/Goalkeeper/Medfield, Mass./Medfield

Before Harvard:
Soccer captain for senior season (2011) … MVP of BU17 Massachusetts State Cup (2011) … National Merit Scholarship – Commended Scholar … Member of National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society … Received Medfield “Shining Star” and “Above and Beyond” awards for Academic Recognition in Biology (2009), Physics (2010), and U.S. History (2011) … Summer Intern at Children’s Hospital Boston … Volunteer with Medfield Youth Soccer and St. Edward’s Parish … Father, Michael Festa, Harvard Class of 1981 (Football: ’77-’79); Baseball (’78-’79) ... Sister Amy Festa, 2012 Captain of Babson College Women’s Soccer Team. 

 
Jake Freeman/Forward/Melville, N.Y./Half Hollow Hills East

Before Harvard:
Played soccer and basketball at Half Hollows Hills East ... Served as soccer captain as senior ... Earned team MVP honors in 2011 ... Named all-region, all-county and all-league ... DECA three years ... Member of Future Business Leaders of America for two years ... Worked with Hoops on the Hill community service for two years ... Interests include music.