ADAM & HENNEKE JOIN UCLA MEN’S SOCCER

UCLA Men’s Soccer Head Coach Announces Two Additions To 2015 Class

Soccer News: The UCLA Men’s Soccer program has added forward Abdullah Adam and midfielder Tobias “Tobi” Henneke to the incoming class for the 2015 season, it was announced by Head Coach Jorge Salcedo.

Adam comes to Westwood as a transfer from Lyon College (NAIA) with two years of eligibility remaining. The 6-foot-1 forward had a single season school-record 13 goals and six assists last season and leaves Lyon College ranked sixth in career goals (17) and seventh in career points (42). After earning American Midwest Conference Freshman of the Year in his debut campaign, Adam was named first team all-conference this past season.

“Abdullah will make an immediate impact on our program because of his personality and drive to succeed,” said Coach Salcedo. “He will be our second attacking Ghanaian player who brings a dynamic presence to our group. During the recruiting process we like to quickly understand each individuals desire to compete and succeed. Abdullah has a burning desire to be successful and this was very apparent during our recruitment of him. He can play in several attacking positions and can post up and hold the ball in important parts of the field. Our staff is eager to help Abdullah reach his full potential as a young man and soccer player.”

Hailing from Accra, Ghana, Adam led the conference in goals per game (0.87) and points per game (2.13) last season for the Scots. The 2014 AMC All-Academic selection claimed the conference’s Offensive Player of the Week on October 13 after scoring three goals and adding three assists in his team’s two matches. Overall, Adam scored or assisted on 19 of the team’s 32 goals last season, accounting for 59 percent.

Henneke joins the program as an incoming freshman hailing from Munich, Germany. Since 2012, Henneke has played for TSV 1860 Munich, the same club that recent UCLA alum, MLS first round pick and MAC Hermann Trophy winner Leo Stolz played for. In 45 matches in the A-Junioren Bundesliga, Henneke racked up five assists, making 20 starts split between central and defensive midfield. Last season, Henneke logged 1,105 minutes, ranking ninth most on the team.

“We are excited to welcome another German student-athlete to our program,” Salcedo said. “Tobias is a very intelligent young man who made a great impression on our staff. He is a technical and talented central midfielder who can play as a six or an eight. His background and experience in Germany gives us supreme confidence that he will have a fantastic career at UCLA. He follows Leo Stolz, Felix Vobedja and Larry Ndjock who have all very positively impacted our program over the last several years.”

The 5-foot-8 midfielder has made one international appearance for the German U-16 National Team, starting against Scotland in 2011. Henneke comes to UCLA after attending school at Theodolinden-Gymnasium in Munich for the past eight years.

Adam and Henneke will join the group of incoming freshmen who have already signed to play at UCLA in the fall. The 2015 recruiting class was named the number one class in the nation (Top Drawer Soccer) – the third consecutive top-ranked class for Recruiting Coordinator Nick Carlin-Voigt and Salcedo.

“The 2015 recruiting class is in large part due to the dedication and hard work of our Recruiting Coordinator Nick Carlin-Voigt,” said Salcedo. “He has once again turned over every stone to find players from all over the country and around the world. The student-athletes are the single most important facet in our program, and Nick continues to help find the best young men to represent UCLA Soccer.”

The full incoming class consists of forwards Abdullah Adam (incoming junior), Robert Knights, Blayne Martinez and David “DJ” Villegas, midfielders Tobias “Tobi” Henneke, Jose Hernandez, Stephen Payne, Alberto “Kike” Poleo, Matthew Powell and Jackson Yueill, defenders Erik Holt and Malcolm Jones, and goalkeepers Dakota Havlick and Cole Martinez.

“The 2015 class is a very talented array of young men,” remarked Salcedo. “The group has combined skill-sets of the most important facets of the game; competitive greatness, technique, pace, and a high soccer IQ. We are very excited to welcome every one of them to the UCLA Soccer family. Each year our recruiting philosophy is to find the ‘best in class’ talent around the country and world. This year’s group absolutely embodies this approach as we will see these gifted student-athletes take the field for UCLA in 2015 and for years to come.”

Both Jones and Yueill have been consistent starters for the USA U-18 National Team this summer and are two of eight incoming freshmen that are ranked in the College Soccer News Top-150. Overall, seven players have taken part in the USA National Team program at the U-17 or U-18 level. Additionally, Jones is rated as a five-star recruit by Top Drawer Soccer, while six others earned four-star ratings.

After scoring 25 goals this season for Real Salt Lake Academy, Hernandez was recently named the U-18 Player of the Year for the West Conference. His Real Salt Lake side, captained by fellow incoming freshman Holt, broke the all-time U.S. Development Academy record with 161 total goals in 39 games.

2015 UCLA Men’s Soccer Incoming Class