KALAMAZOO, Mich.- Western Michigan head coach Chad Wiseman has announced the addition of four transfers to the men's soccer team who will be eligible to compete for the Brown & Gold this upcoming fall.
Joining the Bronco program as redshirt freshmen is Evan Brandon (UConn), Tommy Clark (Bradley), Jake Rufe (Indiana) and Kyle Taalman (Ohio State). The four transfers, plus the six members of the 2016 signing class bring WMU's total of newcomers for next season to 10. Western Michigan lost 10 seniors to graduation this past season.
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Evan Brandon
Hometown: Chicago, Ill.
High School: Lincoln Park
Previous School: Connecticut
Height: 5-8
Weight: 165
Position: Midfield
Brandon joins the program from the University of Connecticut. He played for the Chicago Magic PSG of the U.S. Developmental Academy from 2011-14 and also spent time training in Germany with FC Augsburg. Brandon played varsity soccer at Lincoln Park High School as a freshman where he was named a co-captain and finished his freshman campaign with seven goals and 12 assists. He concluded his high school career with a 4.2 grade-point average.
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WISEMAN ON BRANDON
“Evan was a really nice pickup for us in the transfer window. He is a versatile midfielder with the ability to play several positions. Evan is quite technical and sound in possession and also has the ability to beat players when isolated. He has a high soccer IQ and reads the game quickly and does a great job dissecting defenses. He adds immediate depth to our program.”
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Tommy Clark
Hometown: Granger, Ind.
High School: Saint Joseph
Previous School: Bradley
Height: 5-10
Weight: 160
Position: Midfield
Clark joins the Broncos after a stint at Bradley University. He led his high school team at Saint Joseph (Ind.) to four consecutive sectional championships during his four-year varsity career. Clark was a second-team all-state selection as a junior in 2012 and a first-team all-state selection in 2013 after recording 12 goals and 12 assists during his senior campaign. He also was selected the Northern Indiana Conference Most Valuable Player. He helped his Three Lions FC Elite team to championships at the Nike Academy Showcase and Carmel Crossroads Showcase, which led to the state's top ranking according to “GotSoccer”. Clark also was a member of the Indiana Olympic Development Program squad from 2009-11 and has also trained with top-level Chilean club Magallanes during the summer of 2012 and for two months in the winter of 2013.
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WISEMAN ON CLARK
“Tommy is a very technical and crafty addition to our program. He is a soccer junky that has a great passion for the game. He has a very high understanding of the game and reads it at a fast pace making him a great asset in possession and also when trying to find penetrating passes to beat defenders. Tommy also goes about his business with a tireless work rate and with great discipline that tells the coaching staff he is going to continue to improve every year he is with us. Tommy is going to have a very nice career here in Kalamazoo.”
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Jake Rufe
Hometown: Huntsville, Ala.
High School: Grissom
Previous School: Indiana
Height: 6-2
Weight: 165
Position: Midfield
Rufe has arrived in Kalamazoo after beginning his career at Indiana University. In the 2013-2014 high school season, he was named Gatorade Alabama Boys State Player of the Year, Player of the Year for Alabama by the NSCAA, NSCAA All-Region team and Tennessee Valley Player of the Year. Rufe was a three-year team captain at Grissom High School, two-time team MVP and tallied 33 goals through his junior season. Jake was also a three-time Huntsville Times All-Metro first teamer, named team's top midfielder as a sophomore and Best Offensive Player as a junior. His Grissom team was ranked as high as fourth nationally by NSCAA in 2011, section champions in 2011 and area champions in 2013.
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WISEMAN ON RUFE
“Jake is going to have a great career as a Bronco. He possesses many tools that make him a versatile addition to our roster. He is a very athletic player; strong, quick, fast and good in the air. He is a pretty technical player with the ability to cover ground in the middle third both on the defensive and attacking side of the ball. Simply put he can impact a game in several different ways. Jake brings a workman's mentality every day in training that is infectious and we are very excited to have him join our program.”
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Kyle Taalman
Hometown: Hudsonville, Mich.
High School: Hudsonville
Previous School: Ohio State
Height: 6-0
Weight: 160
Position: Goalkeeper
Taalman enters his first season as a Bronco after starting his career at Ohio State University. A Michigan native, he attended high school at Hudsonville where he lettered three years as starting goalkeeper and was named Rookie of the Year by his teammates as a freshman. Taalman was also named first team all-conference and MVP two consecutive years as a sophomore and junior. He spent five years at Alliance FC playing under Abe Shearer. |
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WISEMAN ON TAALMAN
“Kyle brings immediate competition and adds depth to our goalkeeper position. He is a very athletic goalkeeper with the ability to cover the entire range of his goal. He is a great organizer, good shot blocker, holds things well and takes really good command of his box. Kyle is also another top talent out of the Grand Rapids area which is fantastic. We want to continue to have the best players in that area to continue to want to be Broncos.”
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