Linfield University men's soccer coach Andrew Duvall has announced the addition of 13 prospective student-athletes for the 2023-24 academic year. Each prospect has paid their deposit to the university and is expected to enroll for classes in August.
 
Like the 2022 recruiting class, the 2023 class builds upon every position on the field and creates more depth and competition all over the pitch. A major emphasis in 2023 was to further build the goalkeeping group as the lone returning goalkeeper in 2023 is rising junior Christian Saenz. Duvall believes the 2023 class makes Linfield a stronger program in every facet and continues to model a level of maturity and professionalism that every college program should strive to attain.
 
Here's a player-by-player preview of the 2023 recruits:
 
DYLAN WATKINS
Dylan is coming to Linfield from NCAA Division II Converse University in South Carolina. Originally from Newport News, Virginia, Dylan will be a sophomore in the fall of 2023 and brings strong goalkeeping experience with him. Before spending this past year at Converse, Dylan played goalkeeper for Buckswood Academy (UK) during a gap year as part of the English Schools Football Association. Additionally, Dylan has minded the net for the Tidewater Sharks of the NPL. Coach Duvall is excited about the experience Dylan will add to the position.
 
"Dylan has several great performances while playing in strong competitive arenas. With his maturity, ability and knowledge of the position he will compete at a high level in our goalkeeping group." – Coach Duvall
 
 
MATTY HOURIGAN
A soon-to-be graduate of Heritage High School (Brentwood, Calif), Matty hails from Antioch, Calif. Matty is coming in as a true freshman goalkeeper with a strong youth career. He played recently with the East County Revolution and also spent time playing in the UPSL. Linfield assistant coach Alex Ponce liked Matty's ability from the first time he evaluated him in Davis at the NorCal Showcase.
 
"Matty showcased well and immediately caught the Linfield coaching staff's attention with strong performances. He has the size, intelligence and presence to compete as a strong goalkeeper in the Northwest Conference." – Coach Duvall
 
 
COLBY REESE
Colby is coming to Linfield University from Overland Park, Kansas, where he attends Blue Valley West High School. Colby will be another freshman goalkeeper who impressed in film and when he visited campus earlier this year. Colby has also had a strong youth career and great goalkeeper training outside of his club and high school teams. He is currently starting in goal for Sporting Blue Valley in the Elite Academy E64 league in the U19 Midwest Division. Coach Duvall knew right away that Colby was a great fit for the goalkeeping group in the program.
 
"Colby's work rate and positive attitude have contributed significantly to the goalkeeper and young man he has become. He is smart, agile and good with his feet. He will positively impact our program." – Coach Duvall
 
 
RYAN VALDEZ
Ryan is coming out of Olympian High School and Chula Vista, Calif., where he currently plays for San Diego Surf. Ryan is a versatile attacking player who has played several positions in the midfield and along the front line. During his youth career, he has played in the former United States Soccer Development Academy and the new MLS Next leagues. Ryan's vision and mindset to play patiently with a high level of technical ability are hallmarks of his game.
 
"Every team needs a player like Ryan who will look for ways to speed up or slow down the tempo of the game when necessary. He is skillful and a strong decision maker on the ball who can play a wide range of passes to unlock attacking moments in a game." – Coach Duvall
 
 
MARCO ORLANDO
Marco will soon be a graduate of Camas High School in Camas, Wash., where he currently plays for his Washington Timbers FC ECNL team. Marco has seen time on the field in high school and club soccer as a defensive player and a midfield player and has the ability to excel in both areas. Marco displays good physical qualities as a midfielder and outside back. It was his aggressive nature with and without the ball that the Linfield staff liked about Marco.
 
"Marco attended multiple Linfield ID camps and the coaching staff got to work with Marco a couple of times over his junior and senior year. He impressed us with his work rate, quickness, assertive mindset in the attacking phase and overall aggressive nature. Marco has the foundation to do really well in our conference." – Coach Duvall
 
 
ROSS VARGO
Ross is a member of the San Juan 04/05 ECNL team in northern California. He is from Sacramento, Calif., and will soon graduate from Sacramento Country Day School. Ross is another player with experience in the United States Development Academy who is now performing really well in the ECNL with San Juan SC. He can play as an outside back or center back as his size and speed give him the opportunity to be used where it best suits the team.
 
"Ross is a strong defender with a positive attitude and team first mentality. He can lock down defensively in 1-v-1s, he has the size and strength to win balls in the air over any attacker and is an excellent fit as a back line player in the Northwest Conference." – Coach Duvall
 
 
WOLFGANG PFAEFFLE
Wolf will join Linfield men's soccer after recently playing for Eastside FC near Seattle, WA. He is from Renton, Wash., and will graduate from Hazen High School this spring before heading to Linfield. Wolf is another back line player who has spent time at center back and outside back. He is very athletic and has a tireless work rate. Playing in the ECRL for Eastside FC Wolf has been evaluated several times by the Linfield staff.
 
"Wolf is a no-quit high energy player that plays with a bit of an edge. As a back line player, he is prideful in his 1-v-1 defensive work and he learns quickly which will serve him well in the Northwest Conference." – Coach Duvall
 
 
RILEY RAMA
Riley is joining Linfield men's soccer from his hometown of Agat on the island of Guam. He attends Father Dueñas Memorial School and is currently playing in Guam's soccer league for the Shipyard Wolverines Soccer Club. Riley is an attacking player that can play as a striker, a winger or a playmaker underneath the striker. Aside from his time playing for club and school Riley has represented Guam in international competitions playing for the Guam U20 national team. He is excited to begin to represent Linfield this next Fall.
 
"Riley plays for the boys around him and is just as happy to provide an assist as he is to score a goal. He is a handful for center backs to manage due to his playing style, and he is excited about this opportunity to push himself at Linfield." – Coach Duvall
 
 
E.J. SABLAN
Another young man joining us this fall originally from Guam is E.J. Sablan. E.J. and his family moved from Guam in the summer of 2022 to Puyallup, Wash. He attends Emerald Ridge High School in Puyallup. He recently played club soccer for Strykers FC and also played in international competitions while playing with the Guam U20 national team. E.J. is another creative attacking player who can play anywhere in the front of the pitch, and the coaching staff knows his experience at the youth level will bring good habits with him to Linfield.
 
"E.J. is creative, dangerous with ball and hard-working. He made it clear during recruiting conversations that he wanted a professional and well-organized environment with a high commitment level by all involved. He knows he will get that at Linfield." – Coach Duvall
 
 
BLAKE TASCI
Blake is coming to Linfield from Pasco, Wash., where he will graduate from Chiawana High School. He plays his club soccer with Three Rivers Soccer Club and has solid experience in high school and club as a center back. While competing as club player in the ECNL he has played against good competition matching up with smart and athletic strikers like he will see as a defensive player in the Northwest Conference. While evaluating Blake in club play, high school play and ID camps he convinced the staff that he was a great fit for Linfield as a player and person.
 
"We have seen Blake play several times in multiple environments. Blake is smart and tenacious when necessary. He has all the athleticism a coach wants in a strong center back and he shows discipline and a cool head in chaotic moments." – Coach Duvall
 
 
JAYDEN SOTO
Jayden is heading south from Spanaway, Wash., to join Linfield men's soccer. He is graduating from Bethel High School and competes with Bellevue Rush. As a youth player he has also spent time with the WPL Surf Academy Regional Team. Jayden is a versatile back line player who can fill the center back role or play as a right or left back. His aggressive play style and ability to not give up on a play were evident every time he was evaluated by the Linfiled staff.
 
"Jayden will be one of the hardest working players we will have in this 2023 class, which is saying a lot! Every time we watched Jayden, he pushed harder than anyone on the pitch and made improvements in his game. We are thrilled to welcome him to Linfield." Coach Duvall
 
 
LUKE SMITH
Luke graduated ahead of schedule from Skyline High School in Sammamish, Wash., in December 2022 and began attending Linfield in the spring of 2023. Being from Sammamish, Luke played with Eastside FC and was often deployed as a striker or playmaker under the striker. He competed well as a youth player with Eastside having played in the RCL Division 1. Luke is a force with a big strong physical frame and his level of discipline and desire to excel stood out as the Linfield staff got to know him.
 
"Luke is another player we got to know from club play and Linfield's own ID camps. We liked Luke from the start. His mentality matches our program culture and he is a big, strong striker who can match up physically with any center back in the Northwest Conference." – Coach Duvall
 
 
JAMIS GONZALEZ
Jamis is from Ontario, Ore., where he attends Ontario High School and most recently played club soccer for his hometown team the FC Tigers. For Ontario High School, Jamis enjoyed a stellar career. In his junior year he played in a state quarterfinal and narrowly lost by a goal to eventual finalist Hidden Valley. In his senior year, Jamis helped Ontario High School boys soccer win the Oregon 4A State Championship. For his contribution, the Oregon high school coaches jointly recognized Jamis and his Ontario teammate Jaaziel Chavez as 4A State Co-Players of the Year.
 
"Jamis is creative, deceptive and decisive in the attacking phase of the game. He is smart in the final 40 yards of the pitch and can pair up with several types of players to create goal scoring chances." – Coach Duvall