MIAMI (February 6, 2018) – The FIU men's soccer team added two players to its rosters at the beginning of the second semester, two players that should make significant contributions during the 2018 season. Left back Nicholas O'Callaghan (Winter Springs, Fla./Orlando City Pro Development Academy) and midfielder Caleb Franke (Orlando, Florida/Olympia) enrolled in January and have been training with the Panthers during their spring workouts.

"We are very excited for Caleb and Nick to join our program this spring," said FIU Head coach Kevin Nylen. "Individually, they both possess great characteristics to continue to grow as players. We are very happy that they are here this spring as we move forward with their development."

O'Callaghan, who will have one-year eligibility left, comes to FIU after playing three seasons at Elon University in North Carolina, where he scored nine points (2g, 5a) during his time with the Phoenix, playing 49 games and getting 44 starts. He helped Elon to an NCAA Championship at-large bid, including a first-round win during his freshman season. During that year, O'Callaghan helped the Phoenix backline to a Colonial Athletics Association best nine shutouts on the season. This past year, O'Callaghan recorded two assists, with both coming against Northeastern on Oct. 14.

Prior to Elon, O'Callaghan played his prep soccer at Winter Springs High School and club soccer with the Orlando City Pro Development Academy. While with Orlando City, they advanced to the Academy Playoffs in 2014, were the two-time Disney Showcase championships (2011-12) and two-time Atlanta Cup Championships (2008, 2010).

Franke, currently a freshman at FIU, scored 76 points (23g, 30 a) during his junior and senior years at Olympia High school in Orlando, and helped guide the Titans to the District title as a junior and District runner-up as a senior. During his final scholastic season, Olympia posted an impressive 19-3-4, including 4-0-2 slate in conference play.

Like O'Callaghan, Franke was part of the Orlando City Development Academy, helping the program to the 2014 and 2015 Southeast Region Championship. He also helped guide the Florida Rush to back-to-back state titles in 2012-13. In addition, Franke, who played for Orlando City for all four years during high school, led them to the Academy quarterfinals in 2017.
 
Coming from a soccer family, Franke's brother, Noah, was a four-year standout at Creighton University and was recently drafted in the fourth round by FC Dallas in the 2018 Major League Soccer SuperDraft.

This past season the Panthers posted a 12-2-4 record and a 6-0-2 mark in conference USA, earning their first ever C-USA regular season title. The Blue and Gold finished the regular season with a 11-0-4 record, the first time in school history that the Panthers recorded an undefeated regular season. FIU was also one of only two teams in Division I men's soccer to accomplish a feat, joining Indiana.

The Panthers advanced to their 19th NCAA Championship, and their 11th at Division I, winning their first-round game against Omaha.

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