USC Salkehatchie 2011 Men’s Soccer Preview
(Note:We will feature the 2011 women's soccer preview on Wednesday)
With the start of the 2011 soccer season coming on like a freight train, things are heating up at USC Salkehatchie, and we are not just talking about the weather. Coach Glass has been in the midst of feverish activity ordering supplies and equipment, getting the uniforms ready, and working on the field. Soon the players will be coming in and two-a-day practices will begin. “So how does it look for this year?” is the question that keeps coming up. “Ask the players,” says Coach Glass.
So I asked a player. “We are going to win a trophy,” according to returning striker Papy Fall (8 goals, 8 assists last season).
“With the players we got, we have to win something!”
Aside from Papy Fall returning players for 2011 will include midfielders Rene Beteta of Aiken, Daniel Velasquez of Jacksonville, and Jason King of Montego Bay, Jamaica, along with defenders David Johnson of North Lauderdale, FL, and Jack Jemison of Queensland, Australia. Velmir Vejzovic of Jacksonville, FL returns to vie for the starting goalkeeper position and Admir Vakufac also of Jacksonville will join Fall, who hails from Dakar, Senegal, up top. They will be joined by several impressive players who came in as students for the spring semester and participated in spring training activities with the team. This group includes midfielder Mike Phinn of Barnwell, defender Noe Guerrier of Orange Park, FL and forward Estaban Cobo of Jacksonville. “All-in-all, we have 11 students returning who have experience playing together,” according to USC Salkehatchie Head Soccer Coach Bill Glass. “These guys will bring continuity to the team.”
The Indians have also received commitments from 25 recruits who will be joining the 10 returning players to make up the 2011 squad. “We really did not set out to have such a large recruiting class,” said Glass. “It just seemed every time I thought we were done recruiting, another guy came along with an impressive soccer background and asked to participate.” With the large number of capable soccer players being produced by the soccer clubs of the region, and the passion players have for the game, most colleges are carrying large numbers of players on the roster.
The 2011 recruiting class will feature forwards Robbie Bacon of Hinesville, GA, Tavoy Rose of Gaston, Ibrahima Seck of College Park, GA, Raul Gallegos of Aiken, and Jarrel Smalls of Mount Pleasant. Midfielders coming in new for 2011 include Aizaz Choudhry of Centennial, CO, Elijah Dominic of Cheverly, MD, Darius Holmes of Denmark, Brandon Farley, Corey Baynard and JD Crance of Summerville, Brantley Wiggins of Walterboro and Samuel Tucker of Charleston. Coming in to shore up the back line will be Gino Lucarelli of Goose Creek, Hubert Appiah-Kubi of Riverdale, GA, Danial Hernandez of Johns Island, Nassir Mugozi of Coventry, England, Sheldon Grimes of Bamberg, and Wayne Preddie of Baton Rouge, LA. Joining the keeper corps are Brandon Ashdown of Hinesville, GA, and Kane Pierce of Queensland, Australia.
A look at the list of 2011 recruits shows that the new players come from diverse backgrounds. Some are home grown talent, others are from out-of-state and some honed their soccer skills on far distant shores. The state of South Carolina is well represented. For example state champion Wando High School is sending all-state striker Jarrel Smalls. Tavoy Rose who grew up in Jamaica was a prolific goal scorer for Airport High School. Gino Lucarelli graduated from soccer stronghold Stratford High School. Summerville High School is providing the Indians with several players who come with valuable club experience as well as high school varsity experience in Brandon Farley, Corey Baynard and JD Crance. Soccer powerhouse James Island High School has contributed left back Daniel Hernandez and center mid Tucker Hamilton, and former Colleton County High School star midfielder Brantley Wiggins joins the Indians by way of NCAA D-II Erskine College. “It is very gratifying to have players of this caliber who have been developed right here in South Carolina joining the Indians,” said Glass. “I want to see these players make their mark in the NJCAA and then go on to continue their soccer and academic careers at NCAA and NAIA institutions.”
Over the years, Glass has had many soccer players come from out of state.
This year is no exception with Ibrahima Seck and Hubert Appiah-Kubi coming to the team from the Atlanta area. Seck is originally from Senegal and Appiah-Kubi moved to the U.S. from Ghana. Liberty County High School in the Savannah area graduated Robbie Bacon, a striker with explosive speed, and Brandon Ashdown, their varsity goalkeeper. Wayne Preddie comes to the Indians from Baton Rouge, his family is
originally from Jamaica, and Aizaz Choudhry is coming to the low country from mile
high Centennial Colorado where he was a standout player for Grandview High School. New players coming in from overseas include Kane Pierce of Queensland, Australia, who played high level club soccer down under; Nassir Mugozi comes to Salk by way of England where he benefited from the high level of competition in that football
loving country.
Aside from Papy Fall returning players for 2011 will include midfielders Rene Beteta of Aiken, Daniel Velasquez of Jacksonville, and Jason King of Montego Bay, Jamaica, along with defenders David Johnson of North Lauderdale, FL, and Jack Jemison of Queensland, Australia. Velmir Vejzovic of Jacksonville, FL returns to vie for the starting goalkeeper position and Admir Vakufac also of Jacksonville will join Fall, who hails from Dakar, Senegal, up top. They will be joined by several impressive players who came in as students for the spring semester and participated in spring training activities with the team. This group includes midfielder Mike Phinn of Barnwell, defender Noe Guerrier of Orange Park, FL and forward Estaban Cobo of Jacksonville. “All-in-all, we have 11 students returning who have experience playing together,” according to USC Salkehatchie Head Soccer Coach Bill Glass. “These guys will bring continuity to the team.”
The Indians have also received commitments from 25 recruits who will be joining the 10 returning players to make up the 2011 squad. “We really did not set out to have such a large recruiting class,” said Glass. “It just seemed every time I thought we were done recruiting, another guy came along with an impressive soccer background and asked to participate.” With the large number of capable soccer players being produced by the soccer clubs of the region, and the passion players have for the game, most colleges are carrying large numbers of players on the roster.
The 2011 recruiting class will feature forwards Robbie Bacon of Hinesville, GA, Tavoy Rose of Gaston, Ibrahima Seck of College Park, GA, Raul Gallegos of Aiken, and Jarrel Smalls of Mount Pleasant. Midfielders coming in new for 2011 include Aizaz Choudhry of Centennial, CO, Elijah Dominic of Cheverly, MD, Darius Holmes of Denmark, Brandon Farley, Corey Baynard and JD Crance of Summerville, Brantley Wiggins of Walterboro and Samuel Tucker of Charleston. Coming in to shore up the back line will be Gino Lucarelli of Goose Creek, Hubert Appiah-Kubi of Riverdale, GA, Danial Hernandez of Johns Island, Nassir Mugozi of Coventry, England, Sheldon Grimes of Bamberg, and Wayne Preddie of Baton Rouge, LA. Joining the keeper corps are Brandon Ashdown of Hinesville, GA, and Kane Pierce of Queensland, Australia.
A look at the list of 2011 recruits shows that the new players come from diverse backgrounds. Some are home grown talent, others are from out-of-state and some honed their soccer skills on far distant shores. The state of South Carolina is well represented. For example state champion Wando High School is sending all-state striker Jarrel Smalls. Tavoy Rose who grew up in Jamaica was a prolific goal scorer for Airport High School. Gino Lucarelli graduated from soccer stronghold Stratford High School. Summerville High School is providing the Indians with several players who come with valuable club experience as well as high school varsity experience in Brandon Farley, Corey Baynard and JD Crance. Soccer powerhouse James Island High School has contributed left back Daniel Hernandez and center mid Tucker Hamilton, and former Colleton County High School star midfielder Brantley Wiggins joins the Indians by way of NCAA D-II Erskine College. “It is very gratifying to have players of this caliber who have been developed right here in South Carolina joining the Indians,” said Glass. “I want to see these players make their mark in the NJCAA and then go on to continue their soccer and academic careers at NCAA and NAIA institutions.”
Over the years, Glass has had many soccer players come from out of state.
This year is no exception with Ibrahima Seck and Hubert Appiah-Kubi coming to the team from the Atlanta area. Seck is originally from Senegal and Appiah-Kubi moved to the U.S. from Ghana. Liberty County High School in the Savannah area graduated Robbie Bacon, a striker with explosive speed, and Brandon Ashdown, their varsity goalkeeper. Wayne Preddie comes to the Indians from Baton Rouge, his family is
originally from Jamaica, and Aizaz Choudhry is coming to the low country from mile
high Centennial Colorado where he was a standout player for Grandview High School. New players coming in from overseas include Kane Pierce of Queensland, Australia, who played high level club soccer down under; Nassir Mugozi comes to Salk by way of England where he benefited from the high level of competition in that football
loving country.
“It is a solid recruiting class and they all have the skills to be successful in the NJCAA and ultimately move on to the NAIA or NCAA,” according to Coach Glass.
“The question is: can they adjust to the discipline required of players within a college soccer program and can they perform in the classroom?”
Coach Glass frequently gets calls from coaches at four year colleges seeking his recommendations for players who are graduating after two years at USC Salkehatchie. Sadly, many players who have the skills that would qualify them for attractive scholarships to NAIA and NCAA colleges, do not have the grades required or cannot be recommended due to failure to abide by team rules. “The first thing coaches ask me about a player regards character,” according to Glass, “next is grades, and then finally if still interested they will ask about students playing ability.”
On August 1, the new players and returning players will have a fitness test to kick off preseason training. Following almost two weeks of practice, the Indians will travel to Mount Vernon, GA, to play a scrimmage versus Brewton-Parker College
at 3 pm on August 12. Next the Indians travel to Aiken for a friendly with the USC Aiken Pacers at 6pm. The team will wrap up the preseason with an exhibition versus the Newberry College Wolves at Newberry on August 22nd at 5pm. The Indians will then kick off the regular season with a match at home on August 27th at 3pm versus NJCAA Region X rival Tri-County Technical College.
“At this point everyone is excited about the upcoming season, everyone sees that there will be no shortage of talent on the Indians this year,” according to Glass. “Now we just need to put all that talent together to form a winning combination.”
On August 1, the new players and returning players will have a fitness test to kick off preseason training. Following almost two weeks of practice, the Indians will travel to Mount Vernon, GA, to play a scrimmage versus Brewton-Parker College
at 3 pm on August 12. Next the Indians travel to Aiken for a friendly with the USC Aiken Pacers at 6pm. The team will wrap up the preseason with an exhibition versus the Newberry College Wolves at Newberry on August 22nd at 5pm. The Indians will then kick off the regular season with a match at home on August 27th at 3pm versus NJCAA Region X rival Tri-County Technical College.
“At this point everyone is excited about the upcoming season, everyone sees that there will be no shortage of talent on the Indians this year,” according to Glass. “Now we just need to put all that talent together to form a winning combination.”
