By James Jackson, Graduate Assistant for Sports Communication
JACKSON, Tenn. – The Union University men’s soccer team announced its signing class for the 2023-24 season. Will Weingart (Murfreesboro, Tenn.), Pierre Van Tilburg (Oirschot, Netherlands), Niklas Bindewald (Nidderau, Germany), Ashanie Kennedy (Tivoli Gardens, Jamaica), Tucker Cowles (Murfreesboro, Tenn.), Jamie Chamberlain (Herne Bay, England), Thad McCanse (Palm Harbor, Fla.), Zeph Key (Pike Road, Ala.), James Baker (San Antonio, Texas), and Brody Thompson (Nashville, Tenn.) will join Union this fall.
Weingart, a 5-foot-11 freshman, prepped at Providence Christian Academy in Murfreesboro, Tennessee where he played four years of both basketball and soccer. He also played 10 years of club soccer, where his team won State and Midsouth Region Championships. On his high school soccer team, Weingart was named All-Area. Off the field, Weingart was on the Honor Roll.
Van Tilburg, a 5-foot-11 freshman, prepped at Jacob-Roelands Lyceum in Boxtel, Netherlands, where he played soccer. He accumulated 14 years of soccer experience in total before joining Union this fall.
Bindewald, a 5-foot-9 freshman, prepped at Berufliche Schulen am Gradierwerk in Bad Nauheim, Germany, where he played soccer. He has played on three club teams, including 1. FC 1906 Erlensee, where he won a Verbandsliga Championship. Most recently, Bindewald was part of Karbener SV 1890. He was tracked as the fastest player on the club, reaching a top speed of 21.3 mph. Off the field, Bindewald served as Class President from 2020-2022, following a stint as Deputy Class President from 2019-2020
Cowles, a 5-foot-9 freshman, prepped at Blackman High School in Murfreesboro, Tennessee where he played four seasons of soccer. He was named to the ENCL-Regional League Southeast All-Region Team and was First Team All-District. Off the field, Cowles was honored with Blackman Collegiate Academy recognition.
Chamberlain, a 6-foot-3 junior, spent his 2022 season at Southwest Mississippi Community College after beginning his college career in 2021 at Pearl River Community College. He prepped at Dover Athletic Academy in Kent, England, where he played two years of soccer on the u19 team. Chamberlain played on Herne Bay FC for 13 years growing up. He has won several individual recognitions, including All-State First Team, All-State Second Team, and MACCC Offensive Player of the Week.
Key, a 5-foot-8 freshman, prepped at Pike Road High School in Pike Road, Alabama, where he played four years of soccer and ran two years of cross country. He was named team MVP in 2020, 2021, and 2023. In 2021, he also was honored as All-Metro Player of the Year. Every year from 2021-2023, Key was recognized on the Montgomery Metro Team of the Year. In 2022, he was named All-State. Key holds the records for goals and assists at both his high school team and club team, Alabama FC South.
Thompson, a 5-foot-10 freshman, prepped at Greenbrier High School in Nashville, Tennessee, where he played soccer. During this time, he helped his team to a District Championship. Thompson won a number of individual awards, including District Defensive MVP (3x), County Defensive MVP (2x), and an All-Region Team selection.
Baker, a 6-foot-2 junior, prepped at Emmaus Bible College where he played two years of colligate soccer. He led his team in goals his freshman season and assists as a sophomore with seven each season. He was named to the Second Team All-Conference.
Kennedy, a 5-foot-7 freshman, prepped at Kingston College in Kingston, Jamaica, where he played five years of soccer. During this time, his team won an ISSA Manning Cup.
McCanse, a 6-foot freshman, prepped at Palm Harbor University High School in Palm Harbor, Fla., where he played soccer. In total, McCanse brings 13 years of soccer experience to the Bulldog roster.
