Newcomers added to men's soccer team

After losing six student-athletes to graduation, the Syracuse men's soccer team has already started building its team for next season. Forward Alex Halis (Brampton, Ontario, Canada) and midfielder Mike Koegel (Chittenango, N.Y.) enrolled at SU earlier this month and will participate in spring practice, head coach Ian McInytre said Wednesday. 

"We are delighted to welcome Mike and Alex to our program this spring and we are looking forward to quickly integrating them both into our young squad," McIntyre said in a press release.

Both Halis and Koegel are freshman with four years of eligibility remaining. Halis is a member of the Canadian youth national program, and competeed for Team Canada in the 2011 U-17 World Cup. He also played club soccer for FC Sigma.

Koegel, who is listed as the third best soccer prospect in New York and in the top-150 prospects nationally by TopDrawerSoccer.com, played soccer at Chittenango High School. He will also be reunited with former Empire United Club teammates Alex Bono, Ben Ramin and Steganos Stamoulocatos.

McIntrye praised both Halis and Koegel. He said he was impressed with the talents each player can bring to his squad.

"Alex is an exciting, skillful player who is comfortable playing in a number of different attacking roles," he said. "Mike is a strong, physical player with good technique and I look forward to watching him make the transition to the college game." 

Coming off of the Orange's most succesful season in the McIntyre's era, Syracuse looks to build on its 14-6-1 record, starting with Halis and Koegel. The Orange begin spring practice later this month.