Goshen, IN — Following the most successful season in recent history and the program’s first Mid-Central Conference Championship in 14 years, the Goshen College men’s soccer program announced it was re-loading for 2006 on Wednesday, signing local standout and 2006 Bethany Christian High School (Goshen, IN) graduate Kyle Stiffney to a letter of intent.

Stiffney, a four-year starter at Bethany, brings a wealth of skills and talents to Goshen, giving Leafs’ head coach Tavi Mounsithiraj yet another versatile defender and midfielder to add to the mix.

“This is an exciting time for Goshen College soccer,” Mounsithiraj said Wednesday. “To have Kyle Stiffney coming to Goshen and play soccer on the men’s side is very promising. Kyle is such a great all-around player with good instinct for the game. He will help us anywhere on the field with his quickness, and he has the ability to play great defense. He’s a very good passer and has the ability to go forward and score goals.”

Stiffney’s talents were well-noted at Bethany Christian, as the four-year starter was both a two-year all-conference and All-District 21 selection, becoming the first player in the history of Bethany Christian soccer to garner the latter award. A co-captain for the Bruins in both his junior and senior seasons, Stiffney’s District 21 team went undefeated in the 2005 Indiana All-Star Games. Mounsithiraj first noticed Stiffney as a member of an under-16 travel team that finished runner up at the Indiana State Snicker’s Cup Tournament.

“Perhaps the best part about Kyle is that he plays hard every single minute that he is on the field,” Mounsithiraj said. “You can never have too much of that quality on your team.”

Planning to major in business once at Goshen, Stiffney brings a strong academic background to the institution, maintaining status in the top half of his class at Bethany Christian while serving on a multitude of clubs and activity boards.

“Kyle is a great leader on and off the field,” said Myron Bontreger, Bethany Christian High School boys’ varsity soccer coach. “As a player, Kyle is very good as a one v. one defender and can play anywhere on the field. He has an ability to join in an attack and scored some of the finest goals for Bethany Christian High School. He will be a very good player at Goshen College.”

Stiffney follows in his parents’ footsteps, as both Kirt and Susan graduated from Goshen College.

“We are very pleased that Kyle will continue his family’s tradition,” Mounsithiraj said. “I think that Kyle will do good things for our soccer program and, more than anything else, will represent Goshen College very well. This is a great signing for our program.”

Check back to this website throughout the spring and summer months for recruiting news and team information. To contact Tavi Mounsithiraj, call him at (574) 535-7235 or click here to send him an email.