HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky.- The Northern Kentucky University men's soccer team announced on Wednesday that four student-athletes signed National Letters of Intent to join the program for the 2016 season. The team also announced that it would receive one international transfer.

"Once again, the staff has done a great job in identifying players from a wide range of athletic backgrounds," head coach John Basalyga said. "This is a very diverse group of players who have competed in various sports and are from various parts of the country and overseas. The sooner they adapt and fall into our training culture the sooner they will have an impact on our program. Our plan is to improve on last year's third place Horizon League regular season finish."

The new crop of Norse includes Wladimir Babaew, Owen Betz, Jeffrey Bruni Jr., Anders Mathiesen and Joe Sabato. The group will join the Norse as they prepare for their second year in the Horizon League and first as full members in NCAA Division I with postseason eligibility. In 2015, the Norse finished 8-7-4 overall and 4-2-3 in League play. They also hosted a Horizon League quarterfinal match as the No. 3 seed in the League tournament.

Wladimir Babaew
Babaew a 6-foot defender from Bad Klosterlausnitz, Germany, has played center-back, left-back and defensive midfielder while competing in the Mens Oberliga. The defender attended Johann Chr. Fr. GutsMuths Sportgymnasium Jena.


Owen Betz
Betz a 6-foot-3 goalkeeper from Pass Christian, Mississippi, appeared in 59 matches in four seasons at St. Stanislaus High School. Betz was twice named to the all-district team (2016, 2014) and Sea Coast Echo Team (2016,2014). In 2016, the goalkeeper was named to the Sun Herald All-Coast Team. In club competition, Betz has most recently played with FC United out of Gulfport, Mississippi. He has earned several additional honors, including 2015 ODP Mississippi Player of the Year, OPD Region Team honors 2013-2016 and ODP Region All-Star Team.


Jeffrey Bruni Jr.
Bruni, a 5-foot-6 forward from Gulfport, Mississippi, scored 25 goals in his senior season at Gulfport High School. Bruni has earned numerous honors for his play including being named to the Sun Herald All-South High School Varsity Boys Soccer Team (2015-2016), the Mississippi Association of Coaches' High School Varsity Boys All-Star South Team (2015-2016), Most Valuable Offensive Player in the Mississippi High School Varsity Boys All-Star Game (2015-2016), all-district team (2015-2016), Clarion Ledger All-State Mississippi Varsity Boys High School Soccer Team honorable mention (2014-2015) and All-South High School Varsity Boys Soccer Team (2011-2012). Additionally, Bruni was a Wendy's Heisman State Finalist (State of Mississippi) (2015-2016).

In club competition, Bruni has most recently played with with FC United 98 Boys Blue out of Gulfport, Mississippi. The forward has earned numerous honors within the U.S. Youth Soccr Development Program (ODP) including ODP Player of the Year for the State of Mississippi (2014-2015).


Anders Mathiesen
Mathiesen, a forward from Vedback, Denmark, will transfer to Northern Kentucky from Handelshoejskolen HHX Knord in Copenhagen, Denmark. Playing for club team Boldklubben af 1893 (under-19) in 2014, Mathiesen scored 11 goals with 12 assists in 30 matches with the squad. In early 2015, Mathiesen received an early promotion from the club's under-19 team to the first-team men's squad. In August 2015, Mathiesen moved to his current club Boldklubben 1908.


Joe Sabato
Sabato a forward from Cincinnati, Ohio, scored 57 goals while dishing out 23 assists in four years at Elder High School. In his senior season with the Panthers, Sabato racked up 21 goals with six assists. Sabato was the Greater Catholic League (GCL) Player of the Year in 2014 and 2015 and was All-GCL first team in 2013, 2014 and 2015. In 2014 and 2015, Sabto earned All-State honors. Additionally, he was named All-Southwest Player of the Year and was All-Southwest First Team in 2013, 2014 and 2015. In the club ranks, Sabato has most recently played with Tri-State Elite out of Cincinnati, Ohio.