Five new signings will make CNY their home in 2025
On February 27th, the Syracuse Orange men’s soccer Instagram started to roll out announcements for new transfers coming in for the 2025 season. After a massive influx of players over the last few seasons, only five new transfers have been announced so far to pair with eight new freshmen.
In 2022, the team won the ACC regular season, ACC Tournament, and NCAA Championships in a historic year for the program that saw them finish 19-2-4 (5-1-2).
In 2023, SU had what was still a strong campaign (9-5-7 (2-1-5)) and qualified for the NCAA Tournament for the second straight year.
However, after losing nearly 30 players to the portal, graduation, and professional opportunities between the two seasons, the program came crashing down to earth in 2024 as they finished 7-7-3 (2-4-2).
A young and inexperienced squad was unable to cope with the pressures of competing in the top conference in college soccer, and the Orange’s rebuild will continue into this year.
The program has already announced eight incoming freshmen, and it still boasts some high-level talents on the roster from last season who will undoubtedly contribute going forward.
This incoming slate of transfers will be used to supplement and add experience to a young Orange squad that will be looking to improve from last year. Let’s take a look at these incoming options.
Tim Brdaric
Standing at an imposing six-foot-four, Tim Brdaric will bring a composed and physical presence to Cuse’s backline. Having spent time playing professionally in Germany’s lower leagues, the Düsseldorf native had already played at a level well above what he will encounter at SU.
Already 24, Brdaric will likely only have one year of eligibility. However, he should give Cuse some much-needed leadership and composure at center-back this season. He will bring composure, physicality, and leadership to SU in 2025.
Santiago Frias
Hailing from Oakville, Ontario, Canada, Frias continues the tradition of Canada-Cuse talent pipeline. Frias has already been accustomed to Central New York after featuring for the UAlbany Great Danes for the last two seasons.
Last year, he started eight games and played over 700 minutes while dealing with some injury issues. He also featured off the bench in SU’s 3-1 win at Albany in 2024. Prior to Albany, Frias played two seasons at Akron.
A six-foot-four Canadian is versatile, having played all over the field throughout his career. He provides another physical presence, experience, and strong ball-playing ability, which can all help Cuse in his fifth season of NCAA soccer.
Ernest Mensah Jr.
Hailing from Naperville, Illinois, Mensah spent his first three years in college soccer as a crucial contributor at Xavier. The rising senior has amassed over 3,600 minutes in the NCAA and has been labeled one of their most reliable and consistent players.
Mensah thrives as a wing-back or full-back on the right side, where he boasts excellent strength, motor, and game-reading.
On offense, he is an intelligent passer and off-ball runner who would seem to fit SU’s system as a wingback. This is a role for which they have been looking for a natural fit since 2023. He could well be a starter next year in the ACC.
Tim Noeding
Hailing from Bad Hersfeld, Germany, Noeding is a veteran of the college game, having dominated at Bethel University in a career that included a 2022 National Championship.
The midfielder missed the second half of the 2023 season and the entire 2024 season through injury but was absolutely electric when healthy. In 2022 and the first half of 2023, he registered six goals and eighteen assists in 33 games, contributing to a goal every 95 minutes.
Noeding can do everything at a good level in midfield, particularly in an attacking sense, but it will remain to be seen if he can recover from his injury and work his way into the team at a higher level. This could be a sneaky steal signing for the Orange.
Bryson Rodriguez
Originally from Liberia, Costa Rica, Rodriguez has already played professional club soccer in his home nation and has represented Costa Rica at the under-20 level. Still only 19, Rodriguez comes into the program with far more experience at a high level than the average player his age.
Rodriquez played for Municipal Liberia in his hometown, where he served as an all-action midfielder boasting tons of energy, according to reports. It is hard to find out much more on the midfielder, but at a young age with great experience, he has the potential to develop into a key contributor for SU, potentially even from day one.
While these new transfers have been announced as arrivals, Top Drawer Soccer has listed that Jaheim Wickham (South Florida), Ezra Widman (Xavier), and Braedon Smith (WVU) have all transferred away from the program.
Wickham did not play a minute last year, whilst Widman saw his minutes decrease throughout the season as he failed to make his mark in the Syracuse midfield.
Smith will be the biggest loss, as he appeared to be a considerable talent in his freshman season. His pace and hunger will better fit into West Virginia’s system as a true winger rather than being shoehorned in as a striker or wingback at SU.
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