MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – West Virginia University men's soccer coach Marlon LeBlanc has announced that nine student-athletes have committed to join the program for the 2019 season.
 
The class features Joseph Biafora (Morgantown, West Virginia), Brian Bond (Clarksburg, Maryland), Kyle Lehnert (Charlottesville, Virginia), Ethan Malinoski (Charleston, West Virginia), Dominic Miller (Charlotte, North Carolina), Samuel Morgan (Charles Town, West Virginia), Rodrigo Robles (Miranda de Ebro, Spain), Coen Wilson (Canton, Ohio) and Connor Wilson (Troy, Ohio). Also included in this year's class is Pau Jimenez Albelda, who transferred to WVU and joined the Mountaineers in January.
 
"I couldn't be more excited about this group," LeBlanc said. "It's a group that we believe will have an impact on this program immediately and that will help us continue to compete for championships."
 
This year's class, with nine signees and Jimenez Albelda, comes from five states and one country outside of the United States, Spain. Three West Virginia natives will join their home state team beginning next fall, along with current Mountaineer Tyler Shaffer, a Charleston native who will be a redshirt junior in 2019. The class includes three forwards, three midfielders, two defenders, one goalkeeper and one defender/midfielder.
 
JOSEPH BIAFORA – FORWARD, MORGANTOWN, WEST VIRGINIA
A Morgantown native, Joseph Biafora is a forward at University High for coaches Dustin Talton and Michael Smith. He plays club soccer for Beadling SC and coach Denny Kohlmyer. A team captain, Biafora helped his team to a state runner-up finish in 2016, an undefeated regular season in 2018, three TRAC titles, two sectional and regional championships and two OVAC titles. Biafora's accolades include being named first team all-state and Region 1 Player of the Year in 2017 and 2018 and OVAC Player of the Year, WV Sports Writers Player of the Year, WVHSSCA AAA Player of the Year and Top-50 All-American watch list as a senior in 2018. Additionally, he broke the West Virginia high school record for career goals, with 126.
 
Biafora intends to major in business finance at WVU, and aspires to work as a commercial and residential developer and manager. His parents are Richard and Michelle, and he has one brother and one sister.
 
Biafora on West Virginia: "I was born and raised in Morgantown, and I have dreamed of playing WVU soccer my whole life. I am honored for the opportunity and privilege that the coaches have given me."
 
BRIAN BOND – FORWARD, CLARKSBURG, MARYLAND
A forward from Clarksburg, Maryland, Brian Bond attends Clarksburg High and plays for coach Kodjo Gnatiko. He plays club soccer at Pipeline for coach Philip Greatwich. A starter on his varsity team since he was a freshman, Bond is a two-time team captain and helped lead his squad to a pair of conference titles and state quarterfinal appearances.
 
Bond plans to major in sports education at WVU and wants to be a soccer coach at the conclusion of his playing career. His parents are Brian and Catherine, and he has two sisters.
 
Bond on West Virginia: "West Virginia felt like home to me the first day I stepped foot on campus. Everybody was warm welcoming and made me feel like I belonged there. The coaching staff and the style of play really convinced me that this is the place I want to spend my next four years."
 
KYLE LEHNERT – DEFENDER, CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA
Kyle Lehnert comes to WVU from Charlottesville, Virginia, where he attends Charlottesville High and is a defender for coach Martin Braun, who also coaches his club team, SOCA. At Charlottesville High, Lehnert earned first team all-district and all-region accolades in 2018 and first team all-district honors while helping his squad to a state runner-up finish in 2017. With SOCA, he was a four-time team captain, won the club champions league every year since 2016 and claimed the Virginia State Cup title in 2017. Additionally, Lehnert represented the United States in the Gothia Cup in Sweden with CCL United's U-17 squad.
 
Lehnert looks to major in sport and exercise psychology at West Virginia, and hopes be a sports psychologist when his playing career is over. His parents are Kurt and Rebecca, and he has one twin sister. Lehnert's father played soccer at Clemson and College of Charleston and was drafted by the Milwaukee Wave of the Major Arena Soccer League, played in the Bundesliga 2 for VFL Bochum and concluded his professional career with the Carolina Vipers of the Continental Indoor Soccer League.
 
Lehnert on West Virginia: "I chose to come to West Virginia because I fell in love with the campus the minute I arrived. The soccer program is great and run by the best coaches I have met. Coach LeBlanc, (assistant coaches Nick) Noble and (Andy) Wright have created a winning atmosphere at West Virginia and a great group of guys to spend my college years with."
 
ETHAN MALINOSKI – GOALKEEPER, CHARLESTON, WEST VIRGINIA
From Charleston, West Virginia, Ethan Malinoski is a goalkeeper and attends Charleston Catholic High. He plays for coach Niall Paul, and also plays for the West Virginia Football Club and coach Daniel Smeed. A two-time first team all-state honoree, Malinoski was named the West Virginia goalkeeper of the year in 2017 and the state's AA-A Player of the Year. He also was the WV Gazette Mail Men's Player of the Year in 2018. A state finalist in 2015 and a state semifinalist from 2016-18, Malinoski was a two-time team captain. He also played on the swimming and golf teams, where he made the state swimming meet from 2016-18 and the state golf tournament in 2018.
 
Malinoski plans to major in sports medicine at WVU and wants to be a doctor of sports medicine. His parents are Andy and Susan, and he has one brother and one sister.
 
Malinoski on West Virginia: "It has been my lifelong dream to be able to represent my state at a higher level. WVU feels like home to me, and everyone in the program understands what it means to play for the state. The coaches want their players to succeed on and off the field and they genuinely care about all of them."
 
DOMINIC MILLER – DEFENDER, CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA
Dominic Miller is a defender from Charlotte, North Carolina, who attends Charlotte Catholic High. He plays for the Charlotte Soccer Academy and coach Raymond Fraser, where he has started 59 of 69 matches since 2017 and led the team in minutes played in 2018. Miller was named a TopDrawerSoccer.com Unsigned Showcase IMG Best 11 in 2016.
 
Miller hopes to major in general business and economics at West Virginia, and is undecided on his career aspirations following his playing career. His parents are Brian and Ericka, and he has one sister. His father played soccer at Wisconsin Parkside.
 
Miller on West Virginia: "I am thrilled with my decision to be a Mountaineer and to be part of this elite program. I can't wait to play for this coaching staff in a professionally run atmosphere. Studying business and economics at WVU provides me with a great education for my future. I look forward to building on last season's success and working towards MAC and national championships."
 
SAMUEL MORGAN – MIDFIELDER, CHARLES TOWN, WEST VIRGINIA
A native of Charles Town, West Virginia, Samuel Morgan attends Mercersburg Academy and plays for coach Carl Stensland. A midfielder, he also plays for the Bethesda Soccer Club and coach Jerry McNeal. Morgan helped his team to an IPSL championship and PAISAA semifinal appearance in 2017 and 2018. As a team captain in 2018, he also led the team to a second-place finish in the Mid-Atlantic Prep League and was named First Team All-MAPL and All-IPSL. Morgan also won the Most Outstanding Contributions Award and the Mercersburg Fall Best Performance Award. Additionally, he was on the track and field team, where he earned three runner-up finishes at the MAPL championship, and the wrestling team.
 
Morgan is undecided on his major at WVU, but wants to be a business owner at the conclusion of his playing career. His parents are Jesse and Adrienne, and he has two brothers.
 
Morgan on West Virginia: "I decided to continue my academic and athletic career at West Virginia University because I have always wanted to play for and represent my home state. Also, I am very confident in the coaching staff. I am sure that during my time at WVU I will be able to improve as a player, but more importantly, as a person. I am very excited to play for the state of West Virginia and the coaching staff that has given me this wonderful opportunity."
 
RODRIGO ROBLES – FORWARD, MIRANDA DE EBRO, SPAIN
Rodrigo Robles comes to West Virginia from Miranda de Ebro, Spain, where he attends IES Miralcamp and is a forward for Villarreal C.F. and coach Miguel Angel Tena. Additionally, Robles played for Euskadi State from 2014-16 and Deportivo Alavés from 2014-16.
 
Robles plans to major in psychology at WVU, and plans to be a psychologist at the conclusion of his playing career. His parents are Fernando and Concepcion, and he has two sisters.
 
Robles on West Virginia: "I want to study psychology at the same time that I play soccer, with the objective of being a professional soccer player. I think WVU is the best college to achieve all I want in my life, because I am looking for a great intellectual formation and the best soccer academy to improve myself."
 
COEN WILSON – MIDFIELDER, CANTON, OHIO
A midfielder from Canton, Ohio, Coen Wilson attends Jackson High, where he played for coach Michael Biros, and plays club soccer with Internationals Academy and coach George Nanchoff. Wilson helped his team to a Federal League championship in 2015 and Federal League and district titles in 2016.
 
Wilson intends to major in accounting and finance at West Virginia, and wants to be a CIO of a major financial institution. His parents are James and Tamsin, and he has one brother and one sister. Wilson's sister, Miah, plays softball at George Mason.
 
Wilson on West Virginia: "From the first time visiting campus and the WVU men's soccer program, West Virginia felt like the perfect place for me! The support that is available to the team to become elite college athletes as well as stand-out students told me that the coaches believe in their players. The outstanding success of this team on and off the field, and their drive to win titles is something I am very excited to be a part of."
 
CONNOR WILSON – DEFENDER/MIDFIELDER, TROY, OHIO
Connor Wilson is a defender/midfielder from Troy Ohio, where he attends Miami East High and plays for coach Mash Weni and also plays club soccer for Ohio Premier National League and coach Alan Yost. He has helped his team to three state cup titles and a national championship appearance. Wilson owns the school record for most goals in a season, with 44 in 2018, and assists, with 16 in 2015. He was named second team all-district and CCC first team in 2015 and was team captain in 2018.
 
Wilson looks to major in sport and exercise phycology at WVU, and is undecided on what he wants to do when his playing career concludes. His parents are Brady and Sena, and he has two sisters.
 
Wilson on West Virginia: "I chose WVU because I felt it would challenge me not only in soccer, but in life. The first time I stepped foot on campus I knew it would be my new home. The coaching staff is top notch, the facilities are amazing, and Morgantown is a great place to grow as a person. I can't wait to spend my next four years as a Mountaineer!"
 
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