UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State men's soccer announces the addition of five transfers in Jack Bonas, Kojo Dadzie, Christian Dionne, Michael Hewes and Chase Oliver.
"We are very excited to add these five talented players to our roster," said head coach Jeff Cook. "All bring significant collegiate experience to Happy Valley, and we are eager to get to work with them!"
Bonas played three seasons at Villanova as a defender. The Newton, Pa. native has started 44 matches in his career and was named captain his senior season. He was a part of the 2021 Cats team who beat Vermont in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
Bonas is not the first member of his family to attend Penn State. His mother, Laura and his brother, Grant both attended Penn State.
Dadzie played the last four seasons at Brown where he started in 49 matches in his career. In 2023, the forward scored seven goals and 18 shots on goal, three of his goals were game winners. Dadzie also helped the Bears to an undefeated conference season and advance to the Ivy League Championship.
The Redmond, Wash. native was named first-team All-Ivy and earned a spot on the United Soccer Coaches All-Northeast third team for his performance in 2023.
Dionne is a midfielder from Hartford, Conn. He is a transfer from UConn where he appeared in 14 matches throughout his two seasons with the Huskies. Dionne collected two assists and 13 shots.
Hewes is a midfielder from West Chester, Pa. He is a transfer from Penn where he appeared in 50 games and started 30 in his career. Throughout his three seasons with the Quakers, he scored 15 goals and notched four assists.
He was named 2023 first team All-Ivy and second team All-Region. He was also Penn's team captain in his last season.
Hewes' father, Bryan attended Penn State in the late 80s. His sister, Carly currently plays field hockey at Quinnipiac.
Oliver played the last four seasons at Wake Forest where he appeared in 64 matches in his career. He registered six goals and notched six assists with the Demon Deacons.
The Atlanta, Ga. native was named to the ACC Academic Honor Roll on three occasions and selected to the All-ACC Academic Team twice.
Oliver was ranked by TopDrawerSoccer as the No. 104 prospect in the nation and the No. 45 midfielder as a youth player. He was a part of the Atlanta United FC Academy national title runner-up team in 2018 where he was named to the National Best XI.
COOK ON JACK
Jack is a highly experienced defender who has been a consistent presence and team leader at Villanova. We were impressed with his mentality, work ethic and defensive instincts – important attributes that will be a huge asset to our Nittany Lions men's soccer program. Jack is a fantastic addition to our 2024 recruiting class and we can't wait to get him to Happy Valley!
JACK ON WHY PENN STATE
I chose Penn State because I grew up a PSU fan and the facilities were simply amazing.
COOK ON KOJO
Kojo joins us after a stellar career at Brown where he was a proven goal scorer for the Bears program. We are thrilled he is bringing his talents to the Nittany Lions and look forward to seeing the positive impact he will make on our program. Kojo has demonstrated impressive game intelligence as well as the ability to make key plays in big moments of games.
KOJO ON WHY PENN STATE
I chose Penn State because I want to compete for every trophy possible with an amazing staff and group of players. I feel like I could be a part of something special here and it was the perfect fit for me both on and off the pitch.
COOK ON CHRISTIAN
Christian is attack-minded midfielder who can both create and finish scoring opportunities. We feel confident that his best soccer is still ahead of him and are pleased that he has decided to join us at Penn State. Christian is an explosive athlete who will be a big asset to the offensive options that we have in our squad.
CHRISTIAN ON WHY PENN STATE
I chose Penn State because it's a fantastic school with so many different possible career paths to pursue. Most of all it's an excellent soccer program and opportunity.
COOK ON MICHAEL
Michael will be a great addition to our team for the fall of 2024. He is a proven attacking threat and has been an important part of a program that has enjoyed impressive competitive success over the last few seasons. We are delighted that Michael has chosen to play for the Nittany Lions for his final year of NCAA eligibility and can't wait to see the impact he will make on our program.
MICHAEL ON PENN STATE
The combination of athletics support and the team's potential for the 2024 season made it an easy choice.
COOK ON CHASE
We are delighted to welcome Chase to the Nittany Lions. He has been a consistent performer during his career as a student-athlete and has demonstrated the ability to dominate games with his dynamic skill set. Chase's experience, maturity and soccer quality will be a huge plus for us as we get ready for the 2024 season.
CHASE ON WHY PENN STATE
I selected Penn State for its renowned coaching staff, potential for personal growth and the vibrant campus community. Every aspect aligns perfectly with my educational and personal goals.
