St. John's University Athletics
Masur Announces Addition Of Seven Players For 2016 Season
5/18/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
QUEENS, N.Y. - St. John's head coach Dr. Dave Masur has announced a group of seven players that will be joining the men's soccer team. The group includes transfers Harry Cooksley and Jordan Shankle, as well as NLI signees Ludvik Benco, Alistair Johnston, Thomas Mickoski, Wilhelm Nilsson and Olli Pirinen.
A third team NSCAA Division II All-American as a sophomore at Limestone College, Cooksley totaled 17 goals, four game-winners, and 12 assists in two seasons with the Saints. Cooksley appeared in 37 games, 34 starts, and helped Limestone College post a 32-8-1 record and advance to two NCAA Tournaments.
The forward also garnered first team NSCAA All-Southeast Region, first team CCA All-Southeast Region and first team All-Conference Carolinas accolades as a sophomore after finishing with 11 goals, two game-winners, and eight assists. Cooksley finished with six goals, two game-winners, and four assists as a rookie and earned both Conference Carolinas Freshman of the Year honors and second team All-Conference Carolinas accolades.
As a sophomore defender at Richland College, Shankle appeared in 19 games, including 16 starts, and finished with one goal and five assists. Shankle helped lead a defense that posted seven shutouts as the Thunderducks won the District C Championship and finished third at the NJCAA Division III National Championship as part of a 15-4-1 season.
Shankle appeared in 23 games, 22 starts, as a freshman at Northeast Texas C.C. and helped the Eagles reach the NJCAA Division I National Tournament and post a 17-4-2 record. Playing as a forward, Shankle finished with five goals, one game-winner, and three assists.
Benco has spent the past two seasons with Lillestrom SK Academy, one of Norway's top Premier League academies, and has competed with both the Reserves and the U-19 squad. In 2014, the midfielder helped the Reserves win the third division title, while helping the U-19 squad to a third place finish in the top league. Benco has also had the opportunity to practice with the First Team, which competes in Norway's top tier: the Norwegian Tippeligaen.
Prior to his time with Lillestrom SK Academy, Benco competed for the First Team, Reserves and U-19 squad of Skedsmo FK in 2013. Benco played primarily with the Reserves and U-19 squad, but did become the youngest player in Skedsmo FK history to make his First Team debut.
Hailing from Canada, Johnston plays his club soccer for Vaughan SC. The midfielder helped the Vaughan Azzurri win the 2015 U-18/U-19 Disney Soccer Showcase as well as the 2015 OYSL U-18 League title. On the national level, Johnston was one of 28 players from League1 Ontario invited by Canada Soccer to a U-20 identification camp.
A Toronto FC Academy player, Mickoski previously played his club soccer for the North Toronto Nitros. The midfielder also represented Canada at the 2015 CONCACAF U-17 Championship, starting and playing the full 90 minutes in 5-of-6 contests as the team posted a 3-2-1 record in the competition.
Nilsson, who hails from Sweden, has spent the past two seasons with Djurgardens IF, one of the most successful clubs in Scandinavian history. The defender has been a starter for both the U-19 (2015) and U-17 (2014) squads, and has also seen some action with the U-21 team. Playing for IF Brommapojkarna in 2013, Nilsson served as a team captain and started every game for the U-17 squad.
Pirinen has represented his native Finland as a member of the U-17, U-16 and U-15 Finnish Youth National Teams, and made an appearance against San Marino in the Qualifying round of the UEFA European U-17 Championship. The forward/midfielder also has extensive club experience, including stints most recently with both Tampereen Viipurin Ilves-Kissat and Tampereen Pallo-Veikot. Pirinen has also played on the club level for FC Haka, competing for the U-19 team and training with the First Team.
