@MSUDenverMSOC: Kirchhof Introduces Recruiting Class of 12

DENVER – MSU Denver coach Nick Kirchhof has announced a 12-player recruiting class that will be joining the Roadrunners this season.

Wed, Aug 14, 2024

DENVER – MSU Denver coach Nick Kirchhof has announced a 12-player recruiting class that will be joining the Roadrunners this season.

The group includes nine transfers and three freshmen. Seven of the incoming players are from Colorado.

"I'm excited to welcome 12 new student-athletes to our program," Kirchhof said. "Each brings great ability and work ethic but most importantly are high character individuals.

"The plan each year is to have a high-performing, competitive environment and the new additions will absolutely contribute in a variety of ways to that goal. I'm excited to get to work and see how they mesh with the strong group we have returning."

A capsule look at the recruits:

Diego Brandes | D | R-Fr. | 6-1 | 178 | Aurora, Colo. | Innova School (Chiclayo, Peru) | Jamestown (N.D.)

Before MSU Denver

Spent time at Jamestown (N.D.) of the NAIA and redshirted during the 2022-23 season.
Named team captain.

Club

Played for the Colorado International Soccer Academy of USL2.

Cullen Freeman | D | 5-9 | 157 | R-So. | Evergreen, Colo. | Evergreen HS | Franklin Pierce (N.H.) | Bryant

Before MSU Denver

Spent the 2023 season at Division I Bryant, and in 2022 was with Division II national champion Franklin Pierce (N.H.).
Redshirted as Bryant was 16-2-2 overall and 5-1-2 for the America East Conference championship.
Played in one game during the 2022 season for Franklin Pierce.

High School

All-state honorable mention in 2021.
All-Jefferson County League first team selection.
Had six goals and 18 assists in 53 career games at Evergreen.
Broke JeffCo League record for assists per game in a season.
Had three goals and nine assists as a senior in 2021.

Darwin Leiva | M | Jr. | 5-8 | 157 | Aurora, Colo. | Central HS | Laramie County CC (Wyo.) | Neosho County CC (Kan.)

Before MSU Denver

Played one season at Laramie County CC (Wyo.) and one season at Neosho County CC (Kan.).
Compiled seven assists for 10-5-4 Neosho in 2023.
Had two assists at Laramie County.

High School

Named Colorado League Player of the Year and all-league first team as a senior.
All-state honorable mention as a sophomore.
Led Trojans to a 13-3 record and the Colorado League championship before losing in the opening round of the CHSAA 5A State Championships.
Scored 11 goals and had 10 assists his senior year.
Had career totals of 13 goals and had 20 assists, including nine assists during his junior season.

Club

Most recently played for Azteca Football Club of the United Premier Soccer League.

John Lucio | M | Fr. | 5-9 | 145 | Commerce City, Colo. | Bear Creek HS

High School

Coached by Brett Carpenter at Bear Creek.

Club

Played for Real Colorado of MLS Next.
Also played with the Colorado Rush Development Academy and Colorado Rapids Youth Development Academy.

Charlie Matsumoto | M | 5-7 | So. | Mililani, Hawaii | Sunset HS (Portland, Ore.) | Denver

Before MSU Denver

Spent two seasons at Division I Denver, redshirting in 2022.
Played in one game in 2023, seeing eight minutes of action in a 5-0 win over St. Thomas (Minn.).

Club

Played for Portland Timbers Academy.
In U17, had three goals and six assists.
Trained at Barca Academy in Arizona.

Colin McKenna | M | Fr. | 5-10 | 149 | Sammamish, Wash. | Skyline HS

High School

Class 4A all-state selection as a junior in 2023.
Led Skyline to Class 4A state championship, capping a 16-5 season by scoring the game-winning goal in the state championship match.
Had five goals and four assists as a junior.
As a sophomore in 2022, helped team to 15-1-4 record and Class 4A runner-up finish.
Recorded one assist and earned All-KingCo Conference honorable mention.

Club

Played for Snohomish United of the ECNL Northwest Conference from 2022 through 2024, compiling totals of six goals and 10 assists.
Team qualified for ECNL national playoffs in 2023.
Named to "Players That Impressed" list at ECNL showcase in Texas in 2023.
Played for Bellevue Rush in 2022.
Also played for Crossfire United DA and ECNL from 2015-21, qualifying for ECNL national playoffs in 2021.
Played in multiple international tournaments in Belgium, England and Spain.

Nick McNeil | GK | 6-3 | Jr. | Draper, Utah | Corner Canyon HS | Snow (Utah)

Before MSU Denver

Played two seasons for Snow (Utah), and was 11-7-0 with four shutouts, a 1.59 goals-against average and a .690 save percentage.
In 2023, posted a 5-4-0 record with three shutouts, a 1.28 goals-against average and a .717 save percentage.
Named Scenic West Conference Goalkeeper of the Week on Oct. 17, 2023, after posting two victories, including a shutout.
In 2022, was 6-3-0 with one shutout and a 1.80 GAA to go with a .675 save percentage.

High School

Class 6A all-state second team selection for Corner Canyon in 2022.
Helped the Chargers finish 14-3 his senior season.

Brendan O'Toole | F-D | Sr. | 5-7 | 145 | Denver | Regis Jesuit HS | Regis

Before MSU Denver

Played at Regis and registered three goals and two assists.
Scored one goal, against Fort Lewis on Oct. 8, while playing in nine games for a total of 293 minutes as a sophomore in 2023.
Had two goals and an assist, all against South Dakota Mines on Sept. 23, while playing in 10 games as a redshirt freshman in 2022.
Redshirted in the 2021 season.

High School

Earned All-Continental League first team and second team honors during his career.
Compiled eight goals and six assists in nine games in 2020 (played in spring 2021) and followed up with two goals and one assist in three games in 2021.

Club

Played for Real Colorado.
Trained with Northern Colorado Hailstorm.

Mario Ramirez | F | Jr. | 5-8 | 145 | Aurora, Colo. | Central HS | Arizona Western College | Laramie County CC (Wyo.)

Before MSU Denver

Played one season at Arizona Western College after one season at Laramie County Community College (Wyo.).
Scored one goal and one assist in 14 games with Arizona Western in 2023.
Team reached the national semifinals while going 17-1-3 overall, including 9-0-2 in Arizona Community College Athletic Conference play.
Goal came in a 2-0 victory over Mt. San Antonio College (Calif.) on Aug. 25, and his assist was on Sept. 2 in a 8-0 victory over Chandler-Gilbert Community College (Ariz.).
Started 13 games as a freshman at Laramie County.

Club

Played for Colorado Rapids Academy.
Recorded six goals and five assists in 2020.
Had 10 goals and nine assists in 2018.

Spent time in Division I with both Longwood (2021 and 2022) and Eastern Illinois.
Played in six games for a total of 109 minutes for Longwood in 2021.

Club

Played for Bracknell Town FC in England.

Harrison Tibbetts | F | Jr. | 5-11 | Kinver, England | Northland (Wis.)

Before MSU Denver

Played two seasons at Division II Northland (Wis.), registering 22 goals in 39 games.
Upper Midwest Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year and All-UMAC first team in 2023 after recording 17 goals for 34 points in 19 games.
Scored five goals in a 6-0 win against Martin Luther (Minn.) on Sept. 16, then followed it up with three goals a 4-1 win against North Central (Minn.) on Sept. 19.
Four of his 17 goals were game-winners.
Had five multi-goal games.
Put 33 of his 54 shots on goal.
Led Jacks to 9-10-2 overall record, including 8-4-2 in the UMAC.
All-UMAC honorable mention in 2022 after producing five goals and one assist for team that finished 8-8-5 overall and 7-3-4 in league play.
Scored one goal in three of the final four games of the season.

Bryan Vera | GK | 5-9 | Fr. | Aurora, Colo. | Wheat Ridge HS

High School

2023 Class 4A all-state honorable mention.
2023 All-Jefferson County League first team selection.
As a senior, was 5-2-0 with four shutouts, a 1.50 goals-against average, and 62 saves.

Club