Career - One of the BIG EAST’s top defenders during his rookie campaign, who has tremendous leaping abilities on headers ... Started in every match for USF from 2005-2006 and provides exemplary experience to the Bulls’ backline... Claessens has added 11 points during his career, including seven during BIG EAST play... Tallied three goals during his first season with the Bulls, and one each in 2006 and 2007... Consistantly one of the team’s best defenders... Has started 56 of 58 games during his career with USF.
2007 ? Played in 18 of 22 matches ... Scored game-winning-goal over Stetson (9/2) ... Had one assist in BIG EAST 3-1 win over Providence (9/23)... Added three points, while remaining one of the team’s strongest defenders... A major contributor to the team’s nine shutouts... Claessens had a .125 shot percentage during the 2007 campaign... Had three shots on goal, giving him a shot on goal percentage of .375.
2006 - Started every match on the USF back line during the season ... Scored the game-winning goal with a 23rd-minute strike at FIU, during USF’s 1-0 win over the Golden Panthers (8/25) ... Notched two shots on goal in the BIG EAST Championship quarterfinal match against West Virginia (10/28).
2005 - Started all 21 games for the Bulls during his freshman campaign ... Helped anchor a defense which registered five shutouts ... One of eight USF players to register at least one game-winning goal ... Named to Soccer America Team of the Week for the week ending Sept. 18 for his performance versus No. 16 Seton Hall and No. 21 Georgetown (Sept. 16-18) ... Registered two goals, including the game-winner, in USF’s 3-1 win over No. 21 Georgetown (Sept. 18) ... Scored first-career goal at SMU (Sept. 11) - the equalizer in the 89th minute, sending the game to overtime ... Made first-career start in season opener vs. FIU (Sept. 2) ... One of six USF men’s soccer players to be named to the 2005-06 BIG EAST All-Academic List (3.0 GPA or better).
Prep - Earned three varsity letters at Lake Mary High School ... As a defender he helped lead his team to the state finals in 2002-03 ... Was on the honor roll throughout his time at Lake Mary High ... Named Student of the Year 2002-03 ... A member of the AJAX Orlando (PDL) Team ... Also played with the OHL U-18 Team in Belgium.
Personal - Full name is Joris Frank Claessens ... Born March 14, 1987 in Herentals, Belgium ... Son of Jan Claessens and Martine Derveaux ... Has three sisters, Astrid, 24, Judith, 23 and Britt, 16.
