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Men's Recruiting Aug 09, 2021

Duke men’s soccer signs six 2021 recruits and one graduate transfer

DURHAM – Duke men’s soccer head coach John Kerr and his staff are excited to welcome seven newcomers to the Blue Devil program. The group hails from five different states and two countries with six coming in as freshmen and one as a fifth-year graduate transfer.

All seven have outstanding athletic and academic backgrounds and bring with them great skill and excitement for the 2021 campaign. The Blue Devils open practice August 11 with the first preseason training session. Duke will host its lone home preseason scrimmage, August 20 at 7 p.m., against NC State.

The 2021 season gets underway August 27 versus Liberty at 7:30 p.m.

Meet the newest Blue Devils

Felix Barajas

Forward
CA

Before Duke: Most recently has spent the past year training with the LA Galaxy II in the USL Championship … Called into play in a preseason match against MLS’s New England Revolution on March 30, 2021 … Made his senior debut in the match and scored the equalizing goal for the Galaxy … He also made his first LA Galaxy II appearance in 2021 against Real Monarchs … Has trained with the LA Galaxy first team … Joined the LA Galaxy Academy program as a U14 during the 2017-18 season … In 2018-19, U15 squad was the top-ranked club team in the nation … Finished that season as the top goal scorer with 18 … Played in the Istria Cup tournament in Croatia with the U16 LA Galaxy Academy … Has been a part of the ODP (Olympic Development) program during his youth career … Has played in various tournaments with ODP teams.

Personal: Son of Hilda and Felix Barajas … Born January 24, 2003 in Van Nuys, California … Has two older sisters.

Jai Bean

Forward
MA

Before Duke: A member of Black Rock FC … Currently on the roster in USL League 2 … Played in eight games for the club and registered a goal and an assist for three points … Represented South Kent School on the East squad in the High School All-America game presented by Bimbo in 2021 … Named the New England Soccer Journal Player of the Year after leading South Kent to a 19-0 season and a Prep Top No. 1 ranking in 2019 … Registered 16 goals and 18 assists for 50 points to lead South Kent to a Class B Championship as a junior … A youth international for Bermuda U20 National Team.

Mateo Cornejo

Midfielder
NC

Before Duke: Comes to Duke as a fifth-year graduate student transfer … Enrolled in the Duke Fuqua School of Business Master of Management Studies program … Was a member of the University of North Carolina club men’s soccer team … UNC went 11-1 in 2019, earning Region II No. 1 seed and advanced to nationals … Squad also won the 2019 Hokie Classic … Played high school soccer at St. David’s … Garnered NCISAA All-State honors in 2017 … A four-time all-conference pick … Captured Academic All-America recognition his senior season … Team Captain … NCISAA senior leadership award winner in 2017.

Personal: Son of José and Tamela Foraker-Cornejo … Born May 17, 1999 in Cary, N.C. … His godfather was the late George Tarantini who served as the head coach of the NC State men’s soccer team from 1986-2010 … Father is the current head boys and girls soccer coach at St. David’s and previously served as the head coach at Meredith College and as an assistant for NC State.

Sebastian Docters

Midfielder
NY

Before Duke: Played most recently with New York SC U19 MLS Next team … A part of the New York SC Academy for the past two seasons … Played attacking midfield and on the wing with NYCFC the prior two years … A two-year captain for New York SC … Helped NYCFC win the Northeast Division in the USSDA in 2018 … Voted Hackley School Student Council President as a senior.

Personal: Son of Maria and Fernando Docters … Born Nov. 28, 2002 in New York City … Brother, Fernando, plays soccer at Harvard … Sister, Francesca, plays soccer at Northwestern.

Grant Farley

Goalkeeper
MD

Before Duke: Played for Baltimore Armour Academy as a goalkeeper for four seasons … Helped Baltimore Armour to the USSDA playoffs all four years … Also played for Gilman Academy … A High School All-American, representing the East squad in goal in the High School All-America game presented by Bimbo in 2021 … Garnered second team All-America recognition as a junior … A two-time all-state selection, earning second team honors as a junior and first team accolades as a senior … Also voted All-Metro his junior and senior seasons … First player in Gilman history to earn all-conference honors … A three-time all-conference pick … Won two state cups with Baltimore Celtic before joining Baltimore Armour … Won the Golden Glove award as the best goalkeeper at nationals.

Personal: Son of Diana and Wayne Farley … Born December 27, 2001 in Baltimore … Has two sisters … Grandfather is Brooks Robinson, Hall of Fame baseball player for the Baltimore Orioles.

Ruben Mesalles

Midfielder
FL

Before Duke: A standout for IMG Academy … Captained the U19 IMG Academy squad this past year … Led the team as the top goal scorer with over 20 goals as a midfielder … Helped lead the squad to the MLS Next playoffs … Went on a trial with Bournemouth of the Championship League in England … Led IMG in goals and assists and had the club in playoff position in 2019-20 prior to the COVID-19 pandemic … Top goal scorer for both the U15 and U17 sides as well during his youth career … Voted the IMG Academy MVP during the 2017-18 season … Led the developmental academy in goals as a U17 player … Has played for IMG Academy since age 12 … Also has played for FC Wisconsin and Gimnastic de Tarragona in Spain … National Honor Society .

Personal: Son of Jaume and Mapi Mesalles … Born November 11, 2002 in Sheboygan, Wis. … Has one sister, Anna … Father played for the Spanish Futsal National Team … Grandfather played in La Liga as a goalkeeper for Levantine and Oviedo.

Shakur Mohammed

Midfielder
INT

Before Duke: Most recently played with Black Rock FC for club soccer … A graduate of the Right to Dream program … Also played high school soccer for Millbrook School … Helped lead Millbrook to the Class C New England Championship in 2018 … Dorm leader at Millbrook School as a senior.

Personal: Son of Awal and Anatu … Born August 27, 2003 in Kumasi, Ghana.

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