CHICAGO - The 2015 recruiting class for the Loyola University Chicago men's soccer team has been recognized by College Soccer News. The eight-member class received a 3.5-star rating out of a possible five stars. This marks the second consecutive year that a Loyola recruiting class has received recognition from the website.

Head Coach Neil Jones, who will begin his third season at the helm in Rogers Park when the 2015 campaign begins, will welcome a talented mix of players in the fall that will look to immediately contribute for the Maroon & Gold. The class features three forwards, two midfielders, two defenders and a goalkeeper.

Alec Lasinski and Connor Stevenson arrive as a venerable scoring duo. Lasinski, out of Ann Arbor, Mich., was named the state of Michigan's Gatorade Player of the Year in 2013. He racked up 32 goals and eight assists during a season that saw him tabbed as Michigan's Mr. Soccer to go along with First Team All-State accolades. Stevenson, a native of Woodbury, Minn., was a two-time All-Suburban East Conference honoree during a successful career at East Ridge High School, where he slotted home 62 goals and dished out 25 assists. His play also gained him national attention when he was selected to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America's (NSCAA) High School All-American Team as a senior.

Matthieu Braem and Jimmy Keefe will look to provide depth to what was a much-improved Loyola backline in 2014. Braem joins the Ramblers after a standout two-year stint at Iowa Western Community College. The La Pradet, France native was part of a program that did not suffer a defeat during his time at the school. Braem helped lead the Reivers to a National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) National Championship as a freshman before being recognized as a NJCAA First Team All-American during his final season in the Hawkeye State. Keefe, out of nearby Libertyville, Ill., played exclusively on the club level during his high school career. He was one of the founding members of the Greater Libertyville Soccer Association's (GLSA) FC 1974 program. Keefe captained the team for four years and played a major role in the side capturing the 2014 Illinois State Cup.

A full rundown of the 2015 recruiting class from College Soccer News can be found here. Jones is set to welcome back 22 letterwinners from last season's squad, highlighted by 2014 First Team All-Missouri Valley Conference selections Tim Dobrowolski and Eric Schoendorf and 2014 Missouri Valley Conference Freshman of the Year Kyle Thomson. The Ramblers closed 2014 with the program's first winning record since 2008, finishing the year at 8-6-5 overall.