Marquette Soccer Announces 2011 Recruiting Class
2/9/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Feb. 9, 2011
Photo Gallery - 2011 Signing Class
MILWAUKEE - Marquette University head men's soccer coach Louis Bennett has announced his incoming class for 2011. Next year's class, Bennett's sixth since joining MU in 2006, will include three international players, along with one top local talent.
Already enrolled at Marquette and participating in the team's off-season workouts, which began in January, are Swedish freshmen Sebastian Jansson and Axel Sj?berg. They will be joined this incoming fall by Ghanaian James "C" Nortey and South Milwaukee's Kelmend Islami, who both signed National Letters of Intent.
"It's a small but precise class," said Bennett, whose squad loses just four seniors while returning eight starters from last year's team that advanced to the BIG EAST Men's Soccer Championship quarterfinals for the first time since joining the league in 2005.
"They bring a maturity and strength in positions in which we've lost seniors. This class comes in right after a great 2010 class. We are continuing to add high-quality players, and a foreign contingent, so for that we are really excited. "
| Name | Ht. | Pos. | Hometown | High School | Amateur Club |
| Sebastian Jansson | 5-8 | MF | Sodertalje, Sweden | Vackstanas | Enhorna IF |
| Axel Sjoberg | 6-7 | D | Stockholm, Sweden | Rudebecks | Sollentuna United |
| Kelmend Islami | 5-5 | F | South Milwaukee, Wis. | South Milwaukee H.S. | FC Milwaukee/Croatian Eagles |
| James "C" Nortey | 5-8 | F/MF | Accra, Ghana | Hotchkiss School (Conn.) | n/a |
Sebastian Jansson | 5-8 | MF | S?dert?lje, Sweden | Vackstan?s Gym | Enh?rna IF
A left-footed wing, Jansson played with Enhörna IF, a top Swedish football club, since the age of six where he was named the squad's top player in his age group each season from 2004-08 and again in 2010 ââ'¬Â¦ Led club in points five times and was the team's leading goal scorer in 2006, while Enhörna advanced to the highest league among youth teams during his tenure ââ'¬Â¦ Helped Enhörna win the ?rebro Cup - one of the largest youth tournaments in Sweden - in 2005, 2006 and 2007 ââ'¬Â¦ Also played with S?dermanland provincial team from 2006 until 2008, helping the club to a third-place finish nationally in 2006 ââ'¬Â¦ Grew up playing ice hockey for S?dert?lje SK, which is a member of "Elitserien," or the Swedish Elite League, the topmost hockey league in Sweden ââ'¬Â¦ Won the junior division in 2008 while with S?dert?lje ââ'¬Â¦ Was ranked among the top 60 youth hockey players in Sweden and received a tryout with the internationally-regarded Swedish men's national ice hockey team ââ'¬Â¦ Born Nov. 8, 1991 in S?dert?lje, Sweden ââ'¬Â¦ Son of Lennart and Sussane Jansson ââ'¬Â¦ Intends to major in business marketing ââ'¬Â¦ Attended secondary school at Vackstan?s Gymnasium.
Coach Bennett on Jansson: "Sebastian is quick, and he's left-footed and can play left midfield, forward and left half back. He exudes an air of confidence in his play. Sebastian will give us that extra dynamic in that he can transition from a defensive position into offense, and he can get from point "A" to point "B" very quickly. This allows us to continue on our coattails from last season where we were looking to counter and to get forward, but in larger numbers. He's going to allow us that opportunity."
Axel Sj?berg | 6-7 | D | Stockholm, Sweden | Rudebecks Gym | Sollentuna United FF
Sj?berg, listed at 6-foot-7, adds considerable size and strength to MU's formidable backline ââ'¬Â¦ Captured Player of the Year honors in 2010 with Sollentuna United FF (a member of the Swedish second division) after helping the team finish second in the Norra Svealeand section and advance to the Swedish Cup ââ'¬Â¦ Served as the club's captain seven times since 2002 and was a four-time Player of the Year recipient ââ'¬Â¦ Played at Everton's home stadium, Goodison Park, leading Sollentuna to a 2-1 victory over the Toffees' reserves in 2010 ââ'¬Â¦ Trained under Paul Lindholm and assistant coach Anders Limpar, a former winger who played in over 160 matches with Premier League clubs Arsenal and Everton ââ'¬Â¦ Also played soccer with highly regarded DjurgÃ¥rdens IF between 1997-2009, and played center in ice hockey while growing up ââ'¬Â¦ Born March 8, 1991 in Stockholm ââ'¬Â¦ Son of Lars-Erik Sj?berg and Anna Kullander Sj?berg ââ'¬Â¦ Interested in majoring in business administration ââ'¬Â¦ Attended secondary school at Sigrid Rudebecks Gymnasium.
Coach Bennett on Sj?berg: "He's obviously a large soccer player, and with good distribution skills and athleticism, he has a specific skill set to be a valuable central defender. He brings the appropriate amount of power and aggression to the position, but one of the things I was impressed with when I met him was his personality. He's very goal-oriented and ambitious. His height is an asset on set pieces, and when we're attacking, we'll need him to seal off any chances at a breakaway counter attack. Like Sebastian, he's excited to be here at Marquette."
Kelmend Islami | 5-5 | F | South Milwaukee, Wis. | South Milwaukee HS | FC Milwaukee/Croatian Eagles
A prolific scorer, Islami tallied a single-season record 43 goals as leader of the South Milwaukee boy's soccer team, which won back-to-back Woodland Conference titles in 2009 and 2010 and finished undefeated in league play ââ'¬Â¦ Named 2010 Woodland Conference Player of the Year following his senior season ââ'¬Â¦ Wisconsin Soccer Coaches Association second-team all-state selection and two-time all-conference selection ... Grew up playing with the Croatian Eagles, where he guided the club to back-to-back state championships, and later joined FC Milwaukee ââ'¬Â¦ Born Oct. 22, 1992 ââ'¬Â¦ Son of Muhamed and Seline Islami.
Coach Bennett on Islami: "He's an exciting player and has strong soccer acumen. His experience growing up playing for an ethnic club like the Croatian Eagles has given him a feel and appreciation for the intensity it takes to score goals. He's a versatile player, and we're excited about adding another player to the front five who can help us break through tight BIG EAST defensive units and get production on the score sheet. He runs right at people and scores goals."
James "C" Nortey | 5-8 | F/MF | Accra, Ghana | The Hotchkiss School
Nortey arrived at The Hotchkiss School in Lakeville, Conn., from Ghana as part of the Right to Dream Academy, a charity that offers underprivileged children in Africa the opportunity to "reach their true potential" through sport and education ââ'¬Â¦ Was a three-time all-state and all-region selection while at Hotchkiss and led the school in goals scored as a freshman, sophomore and senior ââ'¬Â¦ Hotchkiss went undefeated in 2007 and 2010 with Nortey serving as team captain during the 2010 campaign under head coach Chris Downs ââ'¬Â¦ Recipient of The Theodore Newlin Prize given to the Hotchkiss student who has made the most positive contribution to the school ââ'¬Â¦ Led club team to the U-18 state championship and a third-place finish at the U-19 regional ââ'¬Â¦ Also participated in track and field and dance in high school ââ'¬Â¦ Born Dec. 20, 1991 ââ'¬Â¦ Son of Samuel Nortey and Josephine Addo ââ'¬Â¦ Will major in athletic training or business.
Coach Bennett on Nortey: "When you see C step on the field, he's got an array of tools; you can tell he's had a disciplined soccer background. He uses his creativity when running at defenders and getting forward. He will give us a dynamic from either flank and can break down the integrity of the other team's defensive structure. He understands the game. Even though he has individualistic talents, he's not a selfish player, as he's equally adept to pass the ball."
