Feb. 4, 2016
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SPRINGFIELD - Entering his 25th season, Missouri State men's soccer head coach Jon Leamy announced the addition of six players who will be joining the team for the 2016 season.
Standout student-athletes Sheriden Smith, Dakota Karns, Nicholas Padgett, Michael Creek, Ben Stroud, and Jordan Robins are slated to join the MSU squad this fall as the Bears look to capture their third Missouri Valley Conference regular-season title in five seasons.
"We are excited to welcome a good, diverse group of young men to the Missouri State soccer program," commented Leamy. "They all come from different backgrounds and will make nice additions to the team. We believe that they each possess characteristics that could make us a stronger team."
2016 Men' Soccer Commitments:
Sheriden Smith (Forward, 5-11, 167, Webster Groves, Mo./Webster Groves High School)
A speedy striker, Smith will be coming to MSU with an impressive resume. The two-time state champion helped Webster Groves High School become the first public school to win back-to-back Missouri soccer state championships after recording a combined 42 goals his junior and senior seasons. For his career, Smith tallied 66 goals which makes him Webster Grove's all-time leading scorer. After earning conference player of the year, all-region player of the year, and all-state player of the year each of his junior and senior seasons, Smith closed out his senior season with All-American status and as the all-metro player of the year tabbing him the best player in the St. Louis metro area.
Associate head coach Michael Seabolt on Smith:
"Sheriden will be a great asset to the program in his time here. He is quick with exceptional scoring ability. It is always a positive when a young man, who we view as one of the best players in the state of Missouri, chooses to stay in the home state and be a part of our program."
Dakota Karns (Midfielder, 5-10, 165, Parkville, Mo./Park Hill South High School/Sporting Kansas City Academy)
Karns will join the Bears after playing club soccer for the Sporting KC Academy for four years in Kansas City. He started on the U16 team his freshman year and led all players in goals scored his second year with the club. In 2014, he joined the U18 team where he will end his club career before coming to MSU. On that squad, Karns saw the starting lineup on multiple occasions. His team is currently in fourth place in the Frontier Division with a record of 7-5-1.
Associate head coach Michael Seabolt on Karns:
"Dakota has been a top prospect since a young age and has strong experience playing for the Sporting KC Academy. He has strong technical ability and will be able to play a number of different roles in the midfield for us. We enjoy the opportunity to add a top prospect to our program from the highly successful local Major League Soccer franchise."
Nicholas Padgett (Defender, 6-4, 190, Castle Pines, Colo./Rock Canyon High School/Real Colorado Developmental Academy)
Padgett comes to Springfield after playing exclusively for the Real Colorado U.S. Development Academy as a full-time defender. Being a member of this type of Academy is the highest level of club team in the U.S. for young soccer players. Padgett is coached by former Major League Soccer player Chris Martinez, who played for the Colorado Rapids from 1997-2001. Over the last four seasons, he has helped his team finish in the top-five of their division. Padgett comes from a collegiate soccer family, as his dad, Scott, played for the University of New Mexico and lettered for the Lobos in 1984.
Associate head coach Michael Seabolt on Padgett:
"We have a long relationship with the coaches at Real Colorado and we are excited to continue that with the addition of Nicholas. He is a defender that is known to be a leader on and off the field. He comes from a club that has a strong history of producing good players and we are excited to see his success unfold here."
Michael Creek (Goalkeeper, 6-1, 180, St. Louis, Mo./Lindbergh High School)
The Bears will look to strengthen their depth in the net with the addition of goalkeeper Creek. The Lindbergh High product tallied 1275 minutes in the net this season as a Flyer. After allowing only 12 goals as a senior, Creek earned a 0.75 goals against average. He made 114 saves in his final season at Lindbergh, and after allowing only 12 goals, Creek ranks eighth overall in save percentage (0.905) in the metro area. The two-year varsity captain earned all-conference recognition three seasons at Lindbergh.
Assistant coach, head goalkeeper coach, Cory Herchenroeder on Creek:
"Michael has the ability to compete and push the two keepers that we have. I think that the three of them will work well together and push each other to continue to improve. He is a really technical goalkeeper with good communication skills. He has strong potential to succeed here at Missouri State."
Ben Stroud (Defender, 6-3, 183, Christchurch, New Zealand/Scots College/Wellington Phoenix FC)
The 6-foot-3 defender will be a major addition to the Bears, adding needed power and size to MSU's backfield. Stroud attended St Bede's College and Scots College in New Zealand and was most recently a part of the New Zealand U17 and Wellington Phoenix Reserve Teams in 2015. The son of Alan and Helen Stroud, he plans to study physical education at MSU. Stroud's father, Alan, played for the New Zealand National Team.
Associate head coach Michael Seabolt on Stroud:
"Ben is a top prospect in New Zealand who comes to us with experience playing for a top team there, the Wellington Phoenix. He is an experienced central defender that we feel can make an immediate impact on the field. He is a good organizer of the backline and he has the potential to add an important voice in the defense."
Jordan Robins (Midfielder, 5-8, 170, Sittingbourne, England/Maplesden Noakes School/Niagara University)
Robins is a transfer from Niagara University in New York. In his two seasons with the Purple Eagle, Robins combined for 36 games played, one assist, and seven shots. Not only has Robins been successful on the pitch, but he has carried his success into the classroom. The sports management major earned a spot on the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) All-Academic Team in the 2015 season.
Associate head coach Michael Seabolt on Robins:
"Jordan is a technical player that has experience and can play left back or midfield. He comes to our program with two years of Division I experience as a regular starter for Niagara University which gives him an opportunity to come in and compete early on."
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