BROOKLYN, N.Y. - LIU Brooklyn men's soccer alums Jakeem Johnson & Nathan Stockie have signed to play for PEPO Lappeenranta, a professional football team in Finland. Both Stockie & Johnson played for Jippo Joensuu last season, which is also in Finland.
Johnson has been with Jippo Joensuu since January of this year, scoring 10 league goals in 21 starts, including a hat trick against FC Myllypuro on September 6. Before signing with Jippo, Johnson played for Brooklyn Italians Soccer Club. As a Blackbird, the Montclair, New Jersey native was a four-year letterwinner, playing in 71 games and is tied for 24th on the all-time goal scoring leaders list with 23 career goals, alongside George Touros (1978-81) and Gerry Klivecka (1963-65).
Stockie was offered a contract with Jippo in December 2013 and also previously played for the Brooklyn Italians SC. He made 32 appearances with Jippo, recording seven shutouts. As a goalkeeper for the Blackbirds, Stockie played in 15 matches in 2012, and recorded 92 saves. He also averaged 6.20 saves per game, to rank fourth among NCAA Division I keepers. The Beaumont, Texas native boasted the most saves in one contest in the Northeast Conference in 2012, stopping 15 shots versus Quinnipiac.
PEPO Lappeenranta is a football club from Lappeenranta in Finland. The club was formed in 1958 and their home ground is at the Kimpinen Sports Centre. The men's first team currently plays in the Kolmonen (Third Division).