Men’s Soccer Adds Six Players to 2025 Roster
12.06.24 | Men's Soccer
Head Coach John Higgins announced the signees on Friday afternoon
CINCINNATI - Xavier head men's soccer coach John Higgins announced the signing of six players to the 2025 roster on Friday afternoon.
"We need attacking talent in this class and we have delivered on that," said Higgins. "We have the right personalities in this class and we have a bunch of student-athletes who will represent Xavier in the right manner. I'm excited to add these attacking players to a group that performed well in many facets last fall."
Harun Bakaran, 6-4, F, Fr., Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina/Hoosac School (NY)
Vlad Danciutiu, 6-2, MF, Fr., Elmhurst, Ill./Laurel Springs HS
Ryan D'Urso, 5-11, MF, Fr., Keller, Texas/Keller HS
Johnny Gourley, 5-11, MF, Fr., Carmel, Ind./Carmel HS
Christopher Jean-Francois, 5-10, D, Fort Lauderdale, Fla./South Broward HS
Ezra Widman, 6-0, MF, So., New York, N.Y./ Brooklyn Technical HS/Syracuse
NOTABLES
Helped his team post a 25-12-10 record from 2023-24… also scored 60 goals and recorded 19 assists over two seasons… was the top goal scorer in the PPL in 2023 and 2024… also played for the Bosnia and Herzegovina National Team.
COACH HIGGINS ON BAKARAN
"He is a proven goal scorer in a tough east coast prep school league. He is a natural number 9 who has great instincts in the box. He will work hard up top for us, is good with his back to goal, and attacks crosses very well."
NOTABLES
Plays for the Romanian National Team… played in Chicago before leaving to play in the German League with 1860 Munich... also played for Udinese in Italy… will represent Romanian in the summer of 2025 at the U19 euros.
COACH HIGGINS ON DANCIUTIU
"Vlad has outstanding youth experience in Germany and Italy. He is physically ready to play in the league. He has a willingness to work on both sides of the ball and has the ability to play with his back to goal but can also turn and beat players 1v1."
NOTABLES
Was a four-year varsity letterwinner… scored 35 goals in four seasons… finished the year ranked No. 4 in the state of Texas for high school forwards… was the defensive newcomer of the year in his team's conference… earned first-team all-district honors and was named the All-District MVP… was named to the all-state second team… earned ECNL First Team All-Conference honors… selected to the ECNL Conference Cup camp… played for the Solar Soccer Club.
COACH HIGGINS ON D'URSO
"Ryan will fit our culture perfectly because he is a humble player who is very hard working. His athleticism and competitiveness gives us the ability to play him in a couple of different positions."
NOTABLES
Helped his high school team to a 17-2-2 record, scoring 18 goals and earning second team all-state and all-district honors… played for the MLS Next team… also played for the Hoosier FC and the Hoosier Premier teams… helped his team win a state and regional title in 2023-24, while advancing to nationals… helped his team win the 2022-23 state title, while finishing as finalist for regionals and qualifying for nationals.
COACH HIGGINS ON GOURLEY
"Johnny can play in the front 3 positions for us. He is very good 1v1 and once he finds the pace of the BIG EAST he will develop into a dangerous attacker for us. He is a great striker of the ball with both feet and will score goals for us."
NOTABLES
Was a three-year varsity letterwinner, helping his team to a 52-11-10 record… also led his team a state championships… scored 25 goals and recorded 32 assists… was an All-Broward County First-Team selection… also played for Miami FC.
COACH HIGGINS ON JEAN FRANCOIS
"Christopher will provide attack from the fullback position for us. He has lots of experience with Miami in the USL Championship and that should translate into him being an impactful player in the BIG EAST immediately. He will offer great pace out wide and is dangerous when isolated 1v1."
NOTABLES
Played in 18 matches with two starts at Syracuse from 2023-24… scored two goals and took 10 shots… logged 474 minutes… helped the Orange post a 16-12-10 record in two seasons with one NCAA Tournament appearance… also played for the New York Red Bulls Academy and the New England Revolution Academy prior to Syracuse.
COACH HIGGINS ON WIDMAN
"Ezra will come in and play in the 8 for us. He has real quality on the ball and will link the midfield to the attack. He energy and legs in midfield will be important for our style of play."
"We need attacking talent in this class and we have delivered on that," said Higgins. "We have the right personalities in this class and we have a bunch of student-athletes who will represent Xavier in the right manner. I'm excited to add these attacking players to a group that performed well in many facets last fall."
2025 SIGNEES
Harun Bakaran, 6-4, F, Fr., Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina/Hoosac School (NY)
Vlad Danciutiu, 6-2, MF, Fr., Elmhurst, Ill./Laurel Springs HS
Ryan D'Urso, 5-11, MF, Fr., Keller, Texas/Keller HS
Johnny Gourley, 5-11, MF, Fr., Carmel, Ind./Carmel HS
Christopher Jean-Francois, 5-10, D, Fort Lauderdale, Fla./South Broward HS
Ezra Widman, 6-0, MF, So., New York, N.Y./ Brooklyn Technical HS/Syracuse
HARUN BAKARAN
NOTABLES
Helped his team post a 25-12-10 record from 2023-24… also scored 60 goals and recorded 19 assists over two seasons… was the top goal scorer in the PPL in 2023 and 2024… also played for the Bosnia and Herzegovina National Team.
COACH HIGGINS ON BAKARAN
"He is a proven goal scorer in a tough east coast prep school league. He is a natural number 9 who has great instincts in the box. He will work hard up top for us, is good with his back to goal, and attacks crosses very well."
VLAD DANCIUTIU
NOTABLES
Plays for the Romanian National Team… played in Chicago before leaving to play in the German League with 1860 Munich... also played for Udinese in Italy… will represent Romanian in the summer of 2025 at the U19 euros.
COACH HIGGINS ON DANCIUTIU
"Vlad has outstanding youth experience in Germany and Italy. He is physically ready to play in the league. He has a willingness to work on both sides of the ball and has the ability to play with his back to goal but can also turn and beat players 1v1."
RYAN D'URSO
NOTABLES
Was a four-year varsity letterwinner… scored 35 goals in four seasons… finished the year ranked No. 4 in the state of Texas for high school forwards… was the defensive newcomer of the year in his team's conference… earned first-team all-district honors and was named the All-District MVP… was named to the all-state second team… earned ECNL First Team All-Conference honors… selected to the ECNL Conference Cup camp… played for the Solar Soccer Club.
COACH HIGGINS ON D'URSO
"Ryan will fit our culture perfectly because he is a humble player who is very hard working. His athleticism and competitiveness gives us the ability to play him in a couple of different positions."
JOHNNY GOURLEY
NOTABLES
Helped his high school team to a 17-2-2 record, scoring 18 goals and earning second team all-state and all-district honors… played for the MLS Next team… also played for the Hoosier FC and the Hoosier Premier teams… helped his team win a state and regional title in 2023-24, while advancing to nationals… helped his team win the 2022-23 state title, while finishing as finalist for regionals and qualifying for nationals.
COACH HIGGINS ON GOURLEY
"Johnny can play in the front 3 positions for us. He is very good 1v1 and once he finds the pace of the BIG EAST he will develop into a dangerous attacker for us. He is a great striker of the ball with both feet and will score goals for us."
CHRISTOPHER JEAN-FRANCOIS
NOTABLES
Was a three-year varsity letterwinner, helping his team to a 52-11-10 record… also led his team a state championships… scored 25 goals and recorded 32 assists… was an All-Broward County First-Team selection… also played for Miami FC.
COACH HIGGINS ON JEAN FRANCOIS
"Christopher will provide attack from the fullback position for us. He has lots of experience with Miami in the USL Championship and that should translate into him being an impactful player in the BIG EAST immediately. He will offer great pace out wide and is dangerous when isolated 1v1."
EZRA WIDMAN
NOTABLES
Played in 18 matches with two starts at Syracuse from 2023-24… scored two goals and took 10 shots… logged 474 minutes… helped the Orange post a 16-12-10 record in two seasons with one NCAA Tournament appearance… also played for the New York Red Bulls Academy and the New England Revolution Academy prior to Syracuse.
COACH HIGGINS ON WIDMAN
"Ezra will come in and play in the 8 for us. He has real quality on the ball and will link the midfield to the attack. He energy and legs in midfield will be important for our style of play."
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