NIU football wasn’t the only team to announce its 2009 recruiting class Wednesday afternoon.

Before NIU head football coach Jerry Kill took the podium, NIU men’s soccer head coach Steve Simmons sat inside the McCareins Auditorium at the Yordon Center and talked about the team’s 2009 recruiting class.

“I feel like the warm-up band at Bruce Springsteen,” Simmons said.

The Huskies will welcome four new players to a team that just competed for the MAC Championship in 2008. Those recruits are goalkeeper Jordan Godsey (Ocean Srings, Miss.), Mike Mascitti (Downers Grove, Ill.), Andrew Van Woesick (Allen, Tex.) and Stefan Veziri (Birmingham, Ala.).

Godsey was discovered through the Chicago Fire youth program and was the starting goalkeeper in the U-20 national team tournament, which also features college players.

“The Chicago Fire folks that we’ve talked to, they feel like he’s the best goalkeeper in the system,” Simmons said. “They’re happy he’s going to be close, because we’re able to keep that relationship open.”

Simmons was also very impressed by Van Woesick.

“He is probably one of the most skillful players we’re going to bring on in this particular class,” Simmons said. “Very skillful player.”

The only local player of this year’s recruiting class is Mascitti, who hails from suburban Downers Grove.

“He’s an All-State player, probably would have been an All-State player his junior year but he injured his knee,” Simmons said.

NIU went 11-6-4 in 2008, losing to Akron in the MAC Championship. The Huskies also spent time in the Top 25.

“Were excited about this class,” Simmons said. “These young men are going to be a complement to (last season’s) team.”