EMMITSBURG, Md. (May 20, 2024) – In an overhaul of the roster, Mount St. Mary's men's soccer introduces 22 new members of the team for the 2024 season.
 
New student-athletes are from up and down the Western Hemisphere and Ireland while covering all parts of the field. This group is on top of the players who arrived for the past spring semester – Timofey Barlow, Graham Dougald, Ittetsu Harai, Jack Kehoe, Donghyun Kim, Julian Marcos, and Fabian Perez.
 
Altogether, the incoming team is comprised of 11 midfielders, eight forwards, eight defenders, and a pair of goalkeepers. 17 of them are stateside, with Maryland and Virginia garnering the most representation with four each. International signings make up the remaining 11, with four of them hailing from the Canadian province of Ontario.
 
Below is the full list of signees for the fall semester, with a quote from Coach Brett Teach. The newcomers pair up with the returners to begin play in August. A full schedule of games is set to be released in the coming weeks.
 
Jamie Benayon-Abraham | Toronto, Ontario | North Toronto Collegiate | Midfield
 
Teach on Benayon: "Jamie is a clever attacking player who has a knack for scoring goals.  He can play wide or as an attacking midfielder and is our 3^rd player from Ontario, Canada.  He has had success both at the club level and the U21 provincial league level scoring double digit goals in his first season."

Anthony Cano | Tinton Falls, N.J. | Monmouth Regional | Defense
 
Teach on Cano: "Another player who was committed to the Mount prior to my appointment, but like Ethan and James, I have been very impressed with him as I have gotten to know him.  He is a good central defender but will need to adjust to the technical demands of the MAAC!"
 
Gunnar Caswell | Lafayette, La. | Episcopal School of Acadiana | Defense/Midfield
 
Teach on Caswell: "Gunnar plays for a former player of mine Michael Ritch for Cajun Rush in Lafayette LA.  He is an outstanding defender who works very hard to get better each day."
 
Sherwin Chen | Hamilton, Ontario | Bishop Ryan | Forward/Midfield
 
Teach on Chen: "Sherwin is a very talented attacking player also from Vaughan SC.  He is big and very athletic with good technical ability. He has the ability to play in any of our attacking roles and is a rare combination of size, speed and technique."

Abou Cherif | Philadelphia, Pa. | Father Judge | Forward
 
Teach on Cherif: "Abou is a big athletic striker who plays for one of the top clubs in the country FC Delco.  He was Player of the Year for his high school, Father Judge and was selected for the United Soccer Coaches High School All-America game in which he scored a goal.  Abou's potential is unlimited and we look forward to watching him develop into a top college player during his career!"
 
Danny Chettri | Crofton, Md. | Crofton | Midifeld
 
Teach on Chettri: "Dynamic wide player.  Also has the ability to play in the interior of the team.  Danny is a very talented player.  We are very excited to see how quickly he is able to adapt to the speed of play."
 
Figo Cheuk | Westmeath, Ireland | St. Joseph's (Feather River) | Defense
 
Teach on Cheuk: "Figo was scouted by Coach O'Rourke in Ireland and really impressed with his energy and desire to compete.  He is very athletic and offers a constant presence on either flank as well as providing very consistent defending.  He is best at right back but is versatile and can play in several roles.  He is a transfer from Feather River who competes in the California Junior college league."
 
Rowen Choi | Burke, Va. | Lake Braddock | Midfield
 
Teach on Choi: "Rowan is another dynamic wide player who has the ability to beat a defender in a moment to create goal scoring opportunities.  He can play on either flank and has the ability to contribute early in his career."
 
Ethan Conway | Cherry Hill, N.J. | Cherry Hill East | Defense
 
Teach on Conway: "Ethan is a big strong central defender   He was committed prior to my appointment but as I have watched him and gotten to know him better, he is a great fit for us here at the Mount.  He is a fierce competitor that I have very high hopes for."
 
Antoine DeCoteau | Toronto, Ontario | Bishop Allen | Defense
 
Teach on DeCoteau: "Antoine is a talented and versatile player from the prestigious Vaughan SC  in Ontario Canada.  He can play anywhere along the back line and can move into the center of midfield if we need him to.  He is athletic and very good on the ball and we expect him to make an immediate impact on Mount Soccer!"
 
Dylan Ellingston | Menoken, N.D. | Leagcy | Defense/Midfield
 
Teach on Ellingston: "Solid midfield player who is coming in with significant experience at Lake Erie College.  I look forward to seeing how he is able to adapt to the demands of Division I."
 
Matias Espinar | Santa Cruz, Costa Rica | St. Jude School | Defense/Midfield
 
Teach on Espinar: "Matias is from Costa Rica where he plays for second division Futbol Consultants.  Despite being one of the youngest players on the team, Matias saw significant time at left back and on both wings.  He is a member of the Costa Rica U-20 National pool.  He has very good technique and will be a force on the left flank."
 
Jestej Gill | Brampton, Ontario | North Park Secondary | Midfield
 
Teach on Gill: "Our final Ontario native to commit is Jastej Gill.  Predominately a right back, Jastej has a skill set that will allow him to compete for time immediately.  He is clean technically and is a solid defender.  We look forward to working with him every day to see how good he can be."
 
Evan Gaines | Moseley, Va. | Crosby | Midfield
 
Teach on Gaines: "Evan is another player I have seen for several years through the Richmond Strikers and FC Richmond.  He is a player who has the potential to be very influential in the future.  Will need to adjust to the pace of play."
 
James Knowlton | Ijamsville, Md. | Urbana | Midfield/Forward
 
Teach on Knowlton: "James is a big target type forward who plays for Potomac's ECNL program.  He has shown rapid growth as a goal scorer over the past year and a half or so.  He gives us a big strong forward to play into and can be a threat in set piece moments."
 
Simon Lugo | Palm Coast, Fla. | Southlands Christian Schools | Forward
 
Teach on Lugo: "Simon is a late addition that we are very excited to add to our roster.  He plays for a very good Jacksonville Armada MLS next team and has experience with their NPSL semiprofessional team.  He is an intriguing blend of size and technique."
 
Eliot O'Neal | Columbia, Md. | Hammond | Midfield
 
Teach on O'Neal: "I am really excited that Eliot has chosen to join us.  I think he has vast potential to control the center of the field.  He is a very good ball winner but will need to grow technically to continue to be successful."
 
Garrett Potts | Towson, Md. | Park School of Baltimore (Alfred State) | Forward
 
Teach on Potts:  "Garrett is an interesting combination of pace and goal scoring ability.  He was player of the year in his D3 conference.  The athletic ability in the MAAC will offer Garrett a chance to really improve."
 
Faqir Raza | Port St. Lucie, Fla. | Rush Academy | Midfield/Forward
 
Teach on Raza: "Faqir is a uniquely talented attacking player from Florida Rush Academy.  His coach there, Tom Durken, is a former US youth national coach and has produced several outstanding players.  We were very impressed with Faqir's ability to change direction with the ball and eliminate defenders.  He is also very good in possession which fits our style of play."
 
Kai Reece | Kitty Hawk, N.C. | First Flight | Midfield
 
Teach on Reece: "Kai is a player I have watched develop over. the past several years.  He played for a very strong Beach FC team and has been coached by one of the best coaching staffs in the ECNL.  He is a versatile player who can play both in midfield or in the back.  He is tough is a great leader."
 
Christian Rodriguez | Burke, Va. | Robinson Secondary | Midfield
 
Teach on Rodriguez: "Christian is a player that I have watched develop over the past 3 seasons at the Virginia Development Academy.  He is very clean technically and has the ability to control the pace of the game from his central midfield role."
 
Luciano Schiaffini | Buenos Aires, Argentina | Instituto Juan Mantovani
 
Teach on Schiaffini: "Luciano is an exciting midfield player.  He will bring craft and guile to our midfield and will fit perectly into our syle of play.  He has played at a very high level in one of the most competitive leagues in the world.  We expect him to make an immediate contribution to our porgram."
 
The 2024 schedule will be released at some point in the summer.