Goshen, IN — As a former soccer player at Goshen College, Leafs’ head coach Tavi Mounsithiraj was aware of the program’s storied tradition.

As a head coach, Mounsithiraj has tapped into it.

The Goshen College men’s soccer program announced the signing of Goshen High School senior midfielder Andrew Landis to its 2005-2006 recruiting class on Tuesday, giving the current Leafs’ squad even stronger ties to the program’s past: Landis’ father, Geoff, was Goshen’s starting goalkeeper on the Leafs’ 1973 team that advanced to the NAIA National Tournament, finishing fifth overall. Andrew Landis is now the fourth player on the current Goshen roster whose father donned the purple and white, as sophomores Reuben Yoder (Rick) and Jesse Woodworth (Todd) and freshman Matt Yoder (Tom) have also followed in their fathers’ footsteps en route to the Goshen College Soccer Complex.

“I am quite excited to have Andrew Landis joining our soccer program this coming season,” Mounsithiraj said. “I have known Andrew for a long time, and he is an outstanding young man. To be able to have four players whose fathers once played here is outstanding for our program. It says a lot not only about the quality of our past teams, but about the loyalty and passion those people have for Goshen College.”

Mounsithiraj did his best to make GC alums proud in the fall of 2004, guiding his team to the program’s most successful season since 1998 (a 14-4-4 overall record) while reaching NAIA Region VIII post-season play for the first time in four years. The Leafs’ leader said he believes that Landis — who served as a ball boy during Goshen home matches in the early 1990’s — can help next year’s squad in a multitude of ways. A three-year varsity performer and two-year starter on the Goshen High School squad, Landis helped his team to a sectional runner-up finish as a junior while being named an academic all-state selection following both his junior and senior seasons.

“Andrew will bring a lot of intensity to our program because he is such a hard worker on and off the pitch,” Mounsithiraj said. “He has a good sense of the game and will give 100 percent in training and match play.”

Landis’ skills go well beyond the field, however, as he will graduate from Goshen High School with a 3.70 GPA this spring. Landis said he plans to major in music once at Goshen College, as his lead roles in several musicals at GHS have given him a firm starting point.

“Goshen is a good academic school, and that was important to me,” Landis said. “Coming to play for Tavi seemed right. Both of my parents came here, and it just felt like the right place for me to be as well. I think it will be a lot of fun playing with college guys on the field — they’ve been very inviting. Hopefully we can be competitive and continue to win some games.”

Geoff Landis graduated from Goshen College in 1976, and was a four-year starter for the Leafs in goal. His 1.378 career goals-against-average is 10th in the program’s career records. Andrew’s mother, Elizabeth Gunden, is also a Goshen College graduate.

“The most exciting thing about having Andrew on the team is that he is such a good fit with Goshen College and will contribute to it with his personality,” Mounsithiraj said. “He is very talented in drama and musical areas, and I know he will continue to explore those areas once here at Goshen. I am so pleased that we will continue the Landis tradition. Andrew will do good things for our soccer program and our school.”

Landis is Mounsithiraj’s second recruit signing of the spring, joining Evanston Township (Illinois) High School senior Peter Miller, who also boasts family connections to Goshen College (click here for Miller article). Check back to this website for the most up-to-date recruiting information as the spring signing period continues.