WASHINGTON – American University men's soccer head coach Zach Samol announced the signing of nine student-athletes to his 2024 recruiting class. The Eagles will welcome freshmen Rex-Emmanuel Cobbina, Moad Ezzahir, Javi Gonzalez, Kobe Keomany, Colin O'Brien, Patryk Rojek, Oliver Snowdon and Chris Sullivan, as well as sophomore Owen Edsell.
 
"We are excited to welcome this versatile and talented group," Samol said. "I want to thank Patrick Mehlert and Zach Weidman for their work in getting this group of players here to AU. Mike Montross has moved on from AU, but I'd also like to thank him for his role with this recruiting class. These nine newcomers will join a competitive group of veterans, and we are excited for them to jump right in and add more competition to the team."
 
Rex-Emmanuel Cobbina
Position: Defender
Club: Toronto FC Academy
 
Cobbina comes to American from the York Mills Collegiate Institute in Toronto, Ontario, where he played his club soccer with Toronto FC. He won a League 1 Ontario championship and earned the opportunity to train with Toronto FC's first team. In school, he was an Ontario Scholar and ran track, where he was a regional champion.
 
Samol on Cobbina:
"Rex is an athletic defender who has the versatility to play at CB and RB. He spent the last year with Toronto FC developing, and his good mentality and training habits have paid off, as he has recently had opportunities to train with the first team. He's calm with good defending awareness, and his pace will help protect the space behind our back four. With the ball, Rex brings passing range, a good tempo and a simple and efficient way of playing the game. We're excited to add him to the group, and we're excited about his future."


 
Owen Edsell
Position: Defender
Club: Cedar Stars Bergen
 
Edsell, a rising sophomore at AU, joins a stout defensive group on the Eagles squad. A two-time MLS NEXT All Star in high school, Edsell was part of an undefeated U-16 season, and he also participated in the Capelli Sport Cup in Denmark.
 
Samol on Edsell:
"Owen joined us last spring from Cedar Stars Bergen and had the chance to jump right in with us and learn the ropes at CB. He has a very good range of pass, can play a wide variety of passes in general and is strong in the air. He stays calm on the ball and can solve pressure with a pass. Owen has meshed in with our guys well and we are excited about his future."


 
Moad Ezzahir
Position: Midfielder
Club: Springfield Youth Soccer Club
 
Ezzahir makes the short trip to Washington D.C. from Springfield, Va., where he attended John R. Lewis High School and scored 42 goals in his club career with Springfield Youth Soccer Club. He was a First Team All-District and All-Region selection in high school and earned a spot on the "All-A" Academic Honor Roll.
 
Samol on Ezzahir:
"Moad is a local product who played for SYC. He's a box-to-box midfielder who's happy to play both sides of the ball. He's a good ball-striker, a distributor and will open up the game for us with his range of pass. We've had the chance to get to know Moad well at our ID Clinics and we know we are bringing a great person and character into our locker room."


 
Javi Gonzalez
Position: Midfielder
Club: Metropolitan Oval
 
Gonzalez comes to American from Woodside, N.Y., as well as Metropolitan Oval Academy, where his team won their MLS NEXT Flex Group three years in a row. In his U-17 fall season, his team went undefeated.

Samol on Gonzalez:
"Javi is one of two players coming to us from Met Oval, one of the top teams in the MLS NEXT league for the last 2 seasons. He brings steel and passion to the game and is willing to do whatever it takes to protect the back four. He's got a great mentality and work rate to his game while also providing composure and calmness on the ball. Javi brings the midfield characteristics needed for a winning team, and we are excited to add his personality into our locker room." 


 
Kobe Keomany
Position: Midfielder
Club: Pipeline Soccer Club

Keomany comes to the nation's capital from White Marsh, Md., and Pipeline Soccer Club. A highly decorated high school athlete, Keomany was a three-time First Team All-State and All-Metro selection, as well as being named ECNL Mid-Atlantic Player of the Year and an ECNL All-American during his club career.

Samol on Keomany:
"Kobe is an attacking player coming to us from a successful Pipeline SC team out of the ECNL. He's a balanced, strong left-footed player who can deliver real service from the wide areas and wins his headers. He can score goals from both inside and outside the box and has the versatility to possibly become a future LB. He wore the captain's armband at Pipeline SC for a reason, as he brings a team-first mentality."


 
Colin O'Brien
Position: Forward
Club: Cedar Stars Bergen
 
O'Brien comes to American from Hoboken, N.J. and St. Peter's Prep, where he earned Second Honors in his freshman, junior and senior years. In his club career for Cedar Stars Bergen, he was a two-time runner-up for the National Academy championship.
 
Samol on O'Brien:
"Colin comes to us from a very successful Cedar Stars Bergen team, who were finalists in the MLS NEXT Cup playoffs last month. He has scored goals consistently at all age groups and has great instincts around the goal. He can act as a creator, and we love his runs and activity in and around the box. Colin has the right kind of drive and mentality to improve his game, and we are excited about his future."


 
Patryk Rojek
Position: Forward
Club: Sockers Football Club

Rojek joins the Eagles from Chicago, Ill., where he played for Sockers FC. His teams qualified for the MLS NEXT Playoffs in every season, and he was the top goal-scorer on the team in his first year. He won the IMG Championship two years in a row and his team went undefeated in his U-16 regular season.

Samol on Rojek:
"Patryk is a versatile attacking player who comes to us from an extremely successful and talented Sockers FC team. He can play wide in a winger role, tuck inside to operate in the pockets, or play as a forward. We like his brain, decisions with the ball and his ability to create goal-scoring chances for himself and his teammates. Patryk will have the ability to help the team link and combine, but also provide movement off the ball and behind."


 
Oliver Snowdon
Position: Midfielder
Club: Shattuck-St. Mary's

Snowdon joins Shattuck-St. Mary's products Jonah Fogel and Reyes Parra on the Eagles' roster. He was part of the USYS "Best XI" in 2021, and he follows in the footsteps of his older brothers, who both played college soccer.

Samol on Snowdon:
 
"Ollie will be our third Shattuck player following in the footsteps of Jonah Fogel and Reyes Parra. He's a feisty two-way center midfielder who will cover the ground. He brings more edge to our midfield group while also bringing the ability to open the game with his ball striking. Although he attended Shattuck, Ollie is a local product who we were lucky to have at our ID Clinics and we're excited to add him into the group."


 
Chris Sullivan
Position: Midfielder
Club: Metropolitan Oval
 
Sullivan joins American from Southampton, N.Y., and Southampton High School, where he was an All-State selection as a sophomore. He scored nine goals and tallied six assists in the 2024 MLS NEXT spring season with Metropolitan Oval, and he qualified for the MLS NEXT Playoffs two years in a row.
 
Samol on Sullivan:
"Chris is a fun attacking player who can play out wide or in the pockets. He is elusive, shifty and feels pressure well while also bringing the mentality to score and create goals. He has the work rate and edge to press on the defensive side of the ball, and although he thrives in pockets, he's willing to run in behind as well. Chris has spent the last two years commuting from Long Island to play for Met Oval, which is a great example of his drive to be the best player he can be."



For the latest on American University Men's Soccer, stay tuned to AUEagles.com and follow the team on Twitter (@AU_MSoccer) and Instagram (@au.msoccer).