Men's Soccer Announces Signing Class
March 04, 2024 | Men's Soccer
LOS ANGELES – UCLA men's soccer head coach Ryan Jorden officially announced the program's newest recruiting class on Monday, a group of six players from the academy and collegiate ranks that will join the team for the 2024-25 school year.
UCLA's incoming group has been tabbed No. 9 nationally in TopDrawerSoccer's most recent college recruit class rankings. It marks the third top-ten class for the program in the last four seasons.
By position, the incoming group features one goalkeeper, two defenders, one midfielder, and two forwards.
"With this group of incoming players, we have added both quality and experience," head coach Ryan Jorden said. "We replace a number of important roles in our team from 2023 and are excited about the prospective impact of these players on our team."
The 2024 UCLA men's soccer recruiting class consists of goalkeeper Lucca Adams (LA Galaxy Academy), defender Allan Legaspi (LA Galaxy Academy), defender Shakir Nixon (LAFC Academy), central midfielder Tamir Ratoviz (LAFC Academy), forward/winger Artem Vovk (Elk Grove Sporting), and forward Nikolai Rojel (Wofford College).
Below are capsules on all six of the incoming Bruins, featuring bios of their soccer careers as well as a short scouting report from Coach Jorden.
Lucca Adams – Goalkeeper – Manhattan Beach, Calif. – LA Galaxy Academy
Bio: Goalkeeper from the LA Galaxy Academy … Led the U-17 LA Galaxy team to the MLS Next National Championship … was named the MLS Next Cup Best Goalkeeper at the U-17 Championship this past season.
Jorden's Scouting Report: "Lucca has very good goalkeeping technique, passing quality with his feet, and can make the big saves required at this level."
Allan Legaspi – Defender – Pico Rivera, Calif. – LA Galaxy Academy
Bio: Defender from the LA Galaxy Academy … Captained the U-17 LA Galaxy team that won the MLS Next U-17 championship this past season … Has played for the LA Galaxy MLS Next Pro team… No. 15 ranked player from his class in the Southern California region in TopDrawerSoccer rankings … Nationally, is the No. 34-ranked defender and No. 107 overall player in TopDrawerSoccer rankings.
Jorden's Scouting Report: "Allan has top class passing ability, a calmness when understanding and executing tactics, and has the competitive bite required for a defender."
Shakir Nixon – Defender – Cerritos, Calif. – LAFC Academy
Bio: Defender from the LAFC Academy … Part of the US U-17 National Team pool in preparation for the 2023 U-17 World Cup … Has made multiple appearances for LAFC2 in MLS Next competition… No. 8 ranked player from his class in the Southern California region according to TopDrawerSoccer… Nationally, is the No. 12-ranked defender and No. 40 overall player in the class of 2024 in the latest TopDrawerSoccer rankings.
Jorden's Scouting Report: "'Shakir has good technical qualities and has shown great tactical understanding when asked to play in multiple defensive positions. He is also a fantastic athlete and competitor."
Tamir Ratoviz – Central Midfielder – Oak Park, Calif. – LAFC Academy
Bio: Central midfielder for the LAFC U-17 team who has played regularly for his MLS NextPro team … Has been called into both the US U-17 National Team as well as the Israeli U-17 National Team… Listed as the No. 16 player from his class in the Southern California region … Nationally, is the No. 37 midfielder and No. 109 overall player in the class of 2024 according to TopDrawerSoccer.
Jorden's Scouting Report: "Tamir is elegant with the ball and links the game extremely well, and is also someone who can get forward and attack from central positions."
Artem Vovk – Forward/ Winger – Sacramento, Calif. – Elk Grove Sporting
Bio: Forward/ Winger for Elk Grove Sporting… Named to the TopDrawerSoccer Best 11 at U-19 at the Elite Academy Level.
Jorden's Scouting Report: "At the club level, Artem has amassed gaudy goal totals. His ball striking and dribbling ability allow him to create good attacking actions, which usually leads to him scoring or creating chances."
Nikolai Rojel – Forward – Copenhagen, Denmark – Wofford College
Bio: Junior forward who has played at Wofford College for two seasons… As a freshman, he was selected as the SoCon Freshman of the Year while scoring nine goals and contributing two assists… As a sophomore, he scored 11 goals with one assist and was named the SoCon Player of the Year.
Jorden's Scouting Report: "'Nikolai's technical execution, goal scoring ability, and linking play is very good and his willingness to work defensively is impressive."
UCLA's incoming group has been tabbed No. 9 nationally in TopDrawerSoccer's most recent college recruit class rankings. It marks the third top-ten class for the program in the last four seasons.
By position, the incoming group features one goalkeeper, two defenders, one midfielder, and two forwards.
"With this group of incoming players, we have added both quality and experience," head coach Ryan Jorden said. "We replace a number of important roles in our team from 2023 and are excited about the prospective impact of these players on our team."
The 2024 UCLA men's soccer recruiting class consists of goalkeeper Lucca Adams (LA Galaxy Academy), defender Allan Legaspi (LA Galaxy Academy), defender Shakir Nixon (LAFC Academy), central midfielder Tamir Ratoviz (LAFC Academy), forward/winger Artem Vovk (Elk Grove Sporting), and forward Nikolai Rojel (Wofford College).
Below are capsules on all six of the incoming Bruins, featuring bios of their soccer careers as well as a short scouting report from Coach Jorden.
Lucca Adams – Goalkeeper – Manhattan Beach, Calif. – LA Galaxy Academy
Bio: Goalkeeper from the LA Galaxy Academy … Led the U-17 LA Galaxy team to the MLS Next National Championship … was named the MLS Next Cup Best Goalkeeper at the U-17 Championship this past season.
Jorden's Scouting Report: "Lucca has very good goalkeeping technique, passing quality with his feet, and can make the big saves required at this level."
Allan Legaspi – Defender – Pico Rivera, Calif. – LA Galaxy Academy
Bio: Defender from the LA Galaxy Academy … Captained the U-17 LA Galaxy team that won the MLS Next U-17 championship this past season … Has played for the LA Galaxy MLS Next Pro team… No. 15 ranked player from his class in the Southern California region in TopDrawerSoccer rankings … Nationally, is the No. 34-ranked defender and No. 107 overall player in TopDrawerSoccer rankings.
Jorden's Scouting Report: "Allan has top class passing ability, a calmness when understanding and executing tactics, and has the competitive bite required for a defender."
Shakir Nixon – Defender – Cerritos, Calif. – LAFC Academy
Bio: Defender from the LAFC Academy … Part of the US U-17 National Team pool in preparation for the 2023 U-17 World Cup … Has made multiple appearances for LAFC2 in MLS Next competition… No. 8 ranked player from his class in the Southern California region according to TopDrawerSoccer… Nationally, is the No. 12-ranked defender and No. 40 overall player in the class of 2024 in the latest TopDrawerSoccer rankings.
Jorden's Scouting Report: "'Shakir has good technical qualities and has shown great tactical understanding when asked to play in multiple defensive positions. He is also a fantastic athlete and competitor."
Tamir Ratoviz – Central Midfielder – Oak Park, Calif. – LAFC Academy
Bio: Central midfielder for the LAFC U-17 team who has played regularly for his MLS NextPro team … Has been called into both the US U-17 National Team as well as the Israeli U-17 National Team… Listed as the No. 16 player from his class in the Southern California region … Nationally, is the No. 37 midfielder and No. 109 overall player in the class of 2024 according to TopDrawerSoccer.
Jorden's Scouting Report: "Tamir is elegant with the ball and links the game extremely well, and is also someone who can get forward and attack from central positions."
Artem Vovk – Forward/ Winger – Sacramento, Calif. – Elk Grove Sporting
Bio: Forward/ Winger for Elk Grove Sporting… Named to the TopDrawerSoccer Best 11 at U-19 at the Elite Academy Level.
Jorden's Scouting Report: "At the club level, Artem has amassed gaudy goal totals. His ball striking and dribbling ability allow him to create good attacking actions, which usually leads to him scoring or creating chances."
Nikolai Rojel – Forward – Copenhagen, Denmark – Wofford College
Bio: Junior forward who has played at Wofford College for two seasons… As a freshman, he was selected as the SoCon Freshman of the Year while scoring nine goals and contributing two assists… As a sophomore, he scored 11 goals with one assist and was named the SoCon Player of the Year.
Jorden's Scouting Report: "'Nikolai's technical execution, goal scoring ability, and linking play is very good and his willingness to work defensively is impressive."
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