INDIANAPOLIS – The IUPUI men's soccer program and Head Coach Brian Barnett announced four signees for the 2017 season on the first day of the signing period (Feb. 1). Barnett's first recruiting class is made up of four to-be true freshmen, spanning four different states.

"Overall, we're excited about this group of guys," Barnett said. "These are guys who have trained at an incredibly high level and who come from winning programs. The expectation is that they'll come in, immediately add depth, talent and athleticism to the program and challenge to make an immediate impact on the field. In addition, they're all really good students and will continue on our team's track of being sound in the classroom and active in the community. 

"I'm really pleased with how this class has come together."
 
Fernando Borges (Olathe, Kan./Saint Thomas Aquinas)
5- 8 I Forward I Sporting Blue Valley
Awards & Honors
-Full-time player for Sporting Kansas City U17/18, scoring a pair of goals in the 2015-16 season
-Four-year honor roll student
-Member of the National German Honor Society
 
"We're excited about Fernando's prospects at the collegiate level. He played in one of the country's elite developmental pyramids in Sporting Kansas City. He's going to add strength and depth to our attacking core with his work rate up and down the flanks of the field. He's a dynamic attacking player capable of eliminating defenders in the final third. We're excited to be adding him to the program," Barnett said.
 
"Fernando is a tremendous young man with a bright future. He is very respectful young man with a very high work rate. He takes a lot of pride in his academics and is always striving to be the best he can be, both in the classroom and on the field. He is an attacking player who will always be a threat for defenders with his quickness and speed. He is very dangerous when he has the ball in 1-v-1 situations and has a lot of confidence taking players on. He has always been a team player and a good leader. I believe IUPUI is great fit for Fernando as he is looking to pursue Engineering and the opportunity to continue to build the soccer program at IUPUI. He was very excited about the academics and especially enjoyed the coaching staff and the direction the program is heading," said Angelo Catenacci, Head Coach of Sporting Blue Valley.
 
Tyler Gainer (Carmel, Ind./Carmel)
5-7 I Defender I Indiana Fire Academy
Awards & Honors
-Started 24 of 25 games for the Indiana Fire Development Academy U15/16 Team
-Was a member of Indiana's ODP State Team from 2011-14
 
"I'm excited that Tyler is the only Indiana kid in our first recruiting class. He's trained at a high level with the Indiana Fire Academy as Coach Phil Presser uniquely prepares his kids to be collegiate student-athletes. He'll bring pace and athleticism to the outside back position and will allow us to initiate the attack from the outside back position. We're excited to be adding him to the program," Barnett said.
 
"Tyler is an extremely focused player who brings discipline and effort to the field. His attention to detail and his ability to adapt in situations make him a reliable piece of the puzzle.  Tyler's decision to play at IUPUI came very quickly after his meeting with Coach Barnett. The confidence, respect, and passion for the IUPUI program was very evident from Coach Barnett which lured Tyler into the recruiting class of 2017," said Phil Presser, Director of the Indiana Fire Academy.

Cameron Haegele (Fenton, Mo./St. John Vianney)
6-1 I Midfielder I SL Scott Gallagher Elite
Awards & Honors
-Earned Second Team All-Conference as a senior after tallying six goals and six assists
-Earned First Academic Honors his freshman year and Second Honors his junior year
-Awarded the Dean's Recognition Scholarship to attend IUPUI
 
"Cameron was our first commitment in the 2017 class and comes to us from St. John Vianney and Saint Louis Scott Gallagher, both of which are known among the top high school and developmental programs in the country. He adds versatility in that he can play multiple positions throughout the front four. His overall athleticism and elite technical ability are what make him an exciting college prospect," Barnett said.
 
"Cameron is a high character young man who has a contagious 'team first' attitude. IUPUI is a perfect fit for his academic and career aspirations. On the field, he brings a unique combination of size, speed, and skill that will be an asset for IUPUI. Cameron is versatile enough to help the Jaguars in a number of different ways," said Brian Haddock, Head Coach of St. John Vianney High School.

Thomas Patacca (Independence, Ohio/Saint Ignatius)
5-9 I Defender I Team Challenger FC
Awards & Honors
-Helped Saint Ignatius to three straight Ohio Division I State titles in 2014, 2015 and 2016 and back-to-back Division I National Championships (2015 & 2016)
-Served as team captain and team's Most Valuable Defender as a senior
-Named Academic All-American his senior year
-Was a five-year team captain for Team Challenger FC, helping them to five State Cup titles
-Helped Team Challenger FC to a Regional title in 2016 and a Regional Runner-Up finish in 2015
-Two-year National Honor Society member
-Earned First Honors every semester of his high school career
 
"Thomas comes to us from the Cleveland-area and played at Saint Ignatius, which is one of the top boy's high school programs in the country. He's a tough, tenacious, lockdown 1-v-1 defender who is going to win his individual battle every game. His ability to contribute to the attack as an outside back is another reason we liked him," Barnett said.
 
"Tommy is a winner as a person and as a player. On the field, he was a captain and a critical part of our back-to-back high school National Championships. He reads the game really well, is an outstanding defender and is also dangerous going forward. He has tremendous leadership skills and his work ethic will inspire his teammates to be their best every day. I know that Tommy is really excited to make his mark at IUPUI," said Michael McLaughlin, Head Soccer Coach at Saint Ignatius High School.
 

"Not many coaches are lucky enough to have had the opportunity of working with a dream student athlete. I am proud to say I am among the lucky few who have had the opportunity of working with a dream player. Tommy Patacca is absolutely the type of player and person every coach desire and wishes to work with. I have had the great opportunity of working with him since he was nine years old and while the years have flown by it has been remarkable watching Tommy develop into the person and player he is today. There are a few strong words that describe Tommy and anyone spending time around him would agree that he is loyal, committed, trustworthy, selfless, smart and determined. He has always been very coachable and that is the best characteristic a player can have. His ability to follow instructions has always been admirable, however, his biggest attribute as a player and person in my opinion has always been his work ethic and his commitment. There are players who cut the corners when the coach is not looking and then there is Tommy. I think i could provide him with a task and leave practice and he would still be working on the task upon my return. Commitment has grey areas with some players but Tommy is the epitome of committed. He is the dream player for every coach and the dream teammate for every player. Tommy has never cared for the glory but rather is always the player making the ultimate sacrifice for his team even if it means he could possible get hurt or cautioned. I don't think it will be long before faculty members and the coaching staff realize that they have admitted a fantastic student-athlete. His study habits and athletic commitment to his team and personal growth will be evident and hard to overlook. I am extremely proud of the man he has become as a player and person and I am 1000 percent certain that he will exceed all expectations placed on him," said Oliver Condell, Director of Coaching for Team Challenger FC.
 

IUPUI Men's Soccer Signees (as of 2/1/2017)
Name	Pos.	Ht.	Wt.	Hometown	High School	Club
Fernando Borges	F	5-8	150	Olathe, Kan.	Saint Thomas Aquinas	Sporting Blue Valley
Tyler Gainer	D	5-7	145	Carmel, Ind.	Carmel	Indiana Fire Academy
Cameron Haegele	MF	6-1	170	Fenton, Mo.	St. John Vianney	SL Scott Gallagher Elite
Thomas Patacca	D	5-9	170	Independence, Ohio	St. Ignatius	Team Challenger FC