Luzzi adds seven

Northern Illinois head men's soccer coach Eric Luzzi added seven players to his 2010 roster on national signing day, the first-year leader announced Wednesday.

"I am very excited to announce our first recruiting class," Luzzi said. "As a class, they possess the personality, character, and talent that will continue to move our program forward and help ensure that we continue to be competitive with the top teams in the nation."

From the back looking forward, the class starts with goalkeeper Miles Herbert. The Libertyville native (Libertyville H.S.) played with the US Soccer Developmental Academy, and helped Eclipse FC to the State Cup Championship as a junior.

"I had worked with Miles for a few years with our state and regional ODP teams, and I knew early on that he would be a goalkeeper that I would want to have in our program," Luzzi said. "He is a very well rounded goalkeeper, who also has the ability to make the big save."

Luzzi also added two top-notch defenders. An early enrollee who is already practicing with the team, Sean Totsch is a member of the Chicago Sun-Times All-State Third Team, and has impressed Luzzi early in the spring season.

"In the time we have been together so far in our spring season, Sean has shown that he will be a very good player for us," Luzzi said. "His ability to consistently connect passes, his physical strength, and his honest work rate has allowed him to step right in and compete with our returning players this spring."

The Huskies will also add North Carolina native Daniel Sassano to their backline. Sassano currently plays at the highest youth soccer level in the nation as a member of the US Soccer Developmental Academy with his club North Meck.

"[Danny's] understanding of how to play as a center back, his positioning and reading of the game, his communication, and his composure under pressure will serve him very well at NIU," Luzzi said. "We have always taken pride in our team's ability to defend, and Daniel will help ensure that very good team defending remains an important part of our identity as a team."

In the midfield, Luzzi brought in four players for 2010. As an attacking midfielder, Karim Darbaki will come to DeKalb from Shattuck St. Mary's in Faribault, Minn.

"Karim is a player who has an amazingly high ceiling," Luzzi said of the 6-2, 180-pound high school senior. "Karim has the technical ability, vision, and athletic potential to have a great impact on our team, and to eventually continue playing after college."

Batavia, Ohio native Will Walker will also help bolster the Huskie attack from the midfield. Walker is a first-team all-state selection and two-time conference player of the year. As a senior he scored 25 goals and had 24 assists.

"[Will] has a very good soccer brain, great technical range, and a very honest attitude and personality," Luzzi said. "Even more impressive is how he has improved since this summer. He has grown a few inches and added a few pounds which will help his transition to Division I soccer."

Rounding out the midfield are signees are Houston Hoffman and Kenny Kranz. Hoffman was a key member of two state championship teams and a three-time first-team all-state selection.

"[Hoffman] is potentially one of the best players to ever play in South Dakota, and I suspect that he will surprise us and a lot of others when he arrives in the fall," Luzzi said. "His speed and quickness, work rate, ability to run at players one-on-one, and his personality fits our style of play very well."

Kranz joins the Huskies after one-year stints at Parkland College and Central College.

"Kenny also impressed us at our recent prospect camp with his energy, vision, and technical ability, and we knew that he is a guy that we wanted in our program," Luzzi said. "He will come in with two years of college under his belt, which will ease his transition to NIU."