Saint Louis head men’s soccer coach Mike McGinty has announced the addition of eight Billikens to the roster. They will begin their eligibility at SLU in the fall.
The new players are:
Sean Armistead • F • Cypress, Texas (Cypress Ranch HS | Texans SC Houston)
Ben Barkley • MF/F • Tulsa, Okla. (Bishop Kelley HS | Tulsa United)
Reed Hawkins • D • Granite City, Ill. (Granite City HS | St. Louis Scott Gallagher Metro)
Ben Huels • F • Waterloo, Ill. (Waterloo HS | St. Louis Scott Gallagher Metro)
Matteo Kidd • MF • St. Louis, Mo. (Chaminade | St. Louis Scott Gallagher)
Sean McGinty • D • St. Louis, Mo. (Kirkwood HS | Lou Fusz SC)
Andrew van Nispen • D • West Chicago, Ill. (Wheaton Academy | Chicago Magic, FC United)
Patrick Wilkinson • MF/D • Overland Park, Kan. (Shawnee Mission South HS | Sporting KC Academy | Swope Park Rangers)
“I am extremely excited by this incoming class,” McGinty said. “Assistant coaches Brian Grazier and Michael Robson have done a great job finding players who fit the SLU culture, both as people and as players. These are dynamic and positive players who will contribute from day one and build on our A-10 regular-season title from last season.”
Sean Armistead • F • Cypress, Texas (Cypress Ranch HS | Texans SC Houston)
Plays for Texans SC Houston in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy … was the top scorer on the Texans’ U16 and U14 teams … prepped at Cypress Ranch High School … chose SLU because of its ability to produce professional soccer players in addition to the quality engineering program.
McGinty on Armistead: “Sean comes to us from the Texans SC in Houston and has consistently been his team’s top scorer. He is a quick and dynamic forward who is a consistent threat up top. Sean has a great engine and a great attitude that will fit in perfectly with our team.”
Ben Barkley • MF/F • Tulsa, Okla. (Bishop Kelley HS | Tulsa United)
Preps at Bishop Kelley High School and plays club for Tulsa United Blitz 98 … two-time All-District selection … named to Top Drawer Soccer All-State team as a junior … led Bishop Kelley in goals and assists his sophomore and senior seasons … helped Comets advance to the state semifinals his junior year … helped Tulsa United to two state championships … chose SLU for the academic and soccer opportunities, and because of the campus, coaching staff and players.
McGinty on Barkley: “Ben is a winner, having won at every level. He is an attacking player with the creativity and vision necessary to play as either a forward or attacking midfielder. Ben has the ability to make everyone around him better, and he will add to our attacking options.”
Reed Hawkins • D • Granite City, Ill. (Granite City HS | St. Louis Scott Gallagher Metro)
Plays club for St. Louis Scott Gallagher Metro in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy … co-captain for his U14, U16 and U18 teams … plays for Saint Louis FC U18 squad … trained at Feyenoord Youth Academy in Rotterdam, The Netherlands … four-time invitee to U.S. Soccer Training Center ID sessions … academically, he ranks first out of 462 students at Granite City High School with a perfect grade point average … has career aspiration to be an orthopedic surgeon … chose SLU because of its academic reputation and the rich soccer history.
McGinty on Hawkins: “Reed comes to us from St. Louis Scott Gallagher Metro, where he has been a consistent starter for coach Kevin Stoll. He is a reliable defender who is comfortable on either side of the field. He is tough, tenacious and a great leader. He has the mentality and attitude that we are looking for in a SLU player.”
Ben Huels • F • Waterloo, Ill. (Waterloo HS | St. Louis Scott Gallagher Metro)
Helped Waterloo High School to an Illinois state championship his junior season, scoring 31 goals and adding nine assists … plays club for St. Louis Scott Gallagher Metro in the US Soccer Development Academy … added 30 goals and 12 assists as a senior at Waterloo … fourth in Bulldog history with 61 career goals despite playing just two seasons … first-team All-Metro by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch … Belleville News-Democrat Player of the Year … chose SLU for its Jesuit education, and to be part of the SLU family.
McGinty on Huels: Ben comes to us from St. Louis Scott Gallagher Metro where he has played as a forward throughout his career. Ben is a scorer, he is calm in the box and good at combining in tight spaces. We think he has a great upside and could feature in a number of positions for us because of his soccer IQ, athleticism and skill set.”
Matteo Kidd • MF • St. Louis, Mo. (Chaminade | St. Louis Scott Gallagher)
Plays club for St. Louis Scott Gallagher in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy … played varsity as a sophomore at Chaminade … for St. Louis Scott Gallagher, advanced to the playoffs with his U16 team … currently playing with the Saint Louis FC U18 squad, with whom he won a state cup in 2016 … chose SLU for its superb academics, amazing soccer history and the potential to win a national championship.
McGinty on Kidd: Matteo, who comes to us from St. Louis Scott Gallagher, is a midfield dynamo who is always looking for the ball on both offense and defense. His maturity and development over the last season with coach Tim Lees have been fun to watch. Matteo committed to us a year ago, but he had a great opportunity to stay with SLSG and STLFC and we couldn’t be any happier to see how he has improved.”
Sean McGinty • D • St. Louis, Mo. (Kirkwood HS | Lou Fusz SC)
Prepped at Kirkwood High School and played club for Lou Fusz SC … helped Pioneers to a conference championship and a 16-6-1 record in 2016 … named Kirkwood’s Defensive MVP as a senior, Most Improved as a junior and Hardest Worker as a sophomore … team captain of Lou Fusz club side … also ran track at Kirkwood and ran the team’s fastest two-mile time … son of head coach Mike McGinty … chose SLU for its academics and the ability to help him become a better person.
McGinty on Sean McGinty: “Sean plays for Lou Fusz Soccer Club and coach Todd Phillips. Sean is a tough, tenacious and athletic defender. He is comfortable at center back and right back and has the right mentality to fit in perfectly with our team.”
Andrew van Nispen • D • West Chicago, Ill. (Wheaton Academy | Chicago Magic, FC United)
Played for Wheaton Academy his sophomore season and helped team to a state title … played club ball for Chicago Magic/FC United in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy … was team captain every year … tabbed to the NPL National Championships Best XI in 2015 … holds dual citizenship – USA and The Netherlands … has career ambition to become a physician … chose SLU because of the family environment, outstanding soccer program and the rich history of the school and soccer team.
McGinty on van Nispen: “Andrew comes to us from FC United Academy, formerly known as Chicago Magic. He is a tough, no-nonsense defender who has the physical and mental characteristics to be a dominating center back.”
Patrick Wilkinson • MF/D • Overland Park, Kan. (Shawnee Mission South HS | Sporting KC Academy | Swope Park Rangers)
Played club for Sporting KC and Swope Park … called up to the Swope Park Rangers, Sporting’s Division II USL team, in 2016 … appeared in four games for Swope Park … currently playing for Sporting KC in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy … helped Sporting to a playoff appearance last season … chose SLU because of the great coaching staff, the historic soccer program and the academic opportunities.
McGinty on Wilkinson: “Patrick comes to us from Sporting KC, where he was a consistent performer for coach Jon Parry. Patrick is comfortable in midfield and on defense, and his versatility is a big plus for us. He has experience playing with Swope Rangers last season in the USL, and we feel he has tremendous upside.”
