ROCHESTER, Mich. – Owen Smith and Finn Jurak have joined the Oakland men's soccer team as mid-year additions, announced Associate Head Coach and Recruiting Coordinator, Andrew Wagstaff.
 
OWEN SMITH – MF
R-Freshman
New Plymouth, New Zealand
New Plymouth Boys High School
Scots College (Wellington)
Wellington Phoenix (ISPS National League)/Wellington United (Central League)
 
Highlights:
• 2018 Central League Club MVP at midfield the Wellington Phoenix and Wellington United
• 2018 New Zealand HS National Team selection after leading the team in goals and assists
 
Coach Wagstaff on Smith:
"Owen is a very technically gifted player with a strong left foot, very good balance and game awareness. We expect him to be crafty, creative and intelligent who can unlock defenses with his one-on-one ability and intelligent range of passing," said Wagstaff. He is a player that we have brought over from New Zealand's esteemed Wellington Phoenix Academy, courtesy of U-17 New Zealand Assistant National Team Coach and Academy Director, Paul Temple," added Wagstaff. "Paul does an amazing job of developing young talent for the Phoenix which is the only professional club in New Zealand that plays in the Australian 'A' League which is Australia's top Division due to the fact that there is no domestic pro league in the country."
 
FINN JURAK– GK
R-Sophomore
Canberra, Australia
Campbell High School
Dickson College, University of Canberra
Belconnen United Blue Devils (National First Grade Premier League)
 
Highlights:
• 2017 First Grade Players Award, Coach's Players Award and Club Goalkeeper of the Year Award selection for Belconnen
• Four-time Athlete of the Year at Campbell and two-time Athlete of the Year section at Dickson College
• Helped the Canberra United Academy to Kanga Cup Championship (2012, 13', 15')
 
Coach Wagstaff on Jurak:
"Finn is a talented, technically strong and extremely hard-working goalkeeper who we expect to make a strong contribution to the program under the guidance of Coach Pogue who is arguably the country's top goalkeeper coach," said Wagstaff. "He recently played his third season as a starting goalkeeper for Belconnen United, a semi-professional men's team from Northern Canberra who plays in the National Premier League Capital Division."
 
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