Head Coach Stephen Gorton
Men’s Soccer Introduces 18 New Mastodons For 2020 Campaign
5/20/2020 10:18:00 AM | Men's Soccer
FORT WAYNE, Ind. – First-year Purdue Fort Wayne men's soccer head coach Stephen Gorton has announced 18 new additions for the 2020 season.
"We are excited to welcome the 2020 recruiting class to the Mastodon Family," Gorton said. "It was important for our program that we brought in student-athletes that will represent us culturally, academically, athletically and socially. This class has hometown, in state, out of state and international talent. With a talented group of returners, it's important that we added strength and depth in all areas on the field. All of these players will have the opportunity to compete for minutes right away allowing for a high level of internal competition on our roster. To be able to bring in such a talented group of individuals in such a small amount of time says a lot about the direction of the university, athletic department, community and the energy around the men's soccer program."
Ali Nasser (Dearborn, Mich. / Edsel Ford HS / Marshall University)
Nasser (5-9, MF) played with Vardar Academy for three years. He recorded 20 goals over 76 matches. He was a starter for 50 of those matches. Individually, Nasser was invited to play in a USA national team camp and was also invited to Florida IMG for the Olympic Development Program. He attended Marshall University last season.
Brody Seaton (Peoria, Ill. / Peoria Notre Dame HS)
Seaton (5-10, MF/D) helped Peoria Notre Dame earn a No. 1 ranking in the nation his senior year. His performance on the field earned him a first team all-conference nod. He also helped lead the team to a state runner-up title in 2018. Overall, Seaton recorded seven goals and 20 assists for the Peoria Notre Dame soccer team. He also played club for Peoria FC and Central Illinois United.
Ryan Gray (Troy, Mich. / Troy Athens HS / Marshall University)
Gray (5-9, D) played club soccer for Vardar of the U.S. Development Academy for four years. He played 70 matches with 64 starts during his time with Vardar and scored two goals. He attended Marshall University last season.
Angel Arismendiz (Chicago, Ill. / George Washington HS)
Arismendiz (5-11, F) totaled 62 goals and 35 assists in his prep career. He was the top goal scorer all four years for his team earning all-city player and Chicagoland Soccer All-State. Arismendiz led his team all the way to a Super-Sectional Qualifier, City Champion title, Regional Champion, Sectional Champion, and Super-Sectional during his prep career. Aside from his success at George Washington, his Indiana Elite team won State Cup twice before he joined the Indiana Fire Academy in 2019.
Marco Navarro (Fort Wayne, Ind. / Homestead HS / Oakland University)
Navarro (5-10, D) totaled 20 goals and 12 assists throughout his four years at Homestead. He earned all-state honorable mention, team's best defender award twice, MVP, first team all-district three times, all-great lakes region, as well as earning first team all-state during his prep career. Navarro also won a State Cup Championship with Fort Wayne United and Midwest Regional League Championship with FC Pride. He spent one year at Oakland University after graduating high school where he played in two games for the men's soccer team.
Adam Hunt (New Palestine, Ind. / New Palestine HS)
Hunt (6-1, GK) made 170 saves his senior year. He earned all-conference and all-county twice in his career, as well as being named second team all-district. Hunt also played for FC Pride and Indiana Fire Academy.
Zain Akeel (Rochester Hills, Mich. / Detroit Country Day School)
Akeel (6-0, MF) played for Vardar Academy since the age of 11. He played in 37 games in his career for Vardar recording 11 goals. He also played football for Detroit Country Day.
Damon Almazan (Joilet, Ill. / Joliet West HS)
Almazan (5-5, MF) played for Joliet West High School in 2019 and earned all-conference. He was the team's top scorer and named Attacking MVP. Almazan played for Chicago Magic Soccer Club where he helped his team win a state championship.
Erik Josson (Bloomfield Hills, Mich. / Bloomfield Hills HS)
Josson (6-1, GK) started and played every match of his 2018 season at Bloomfield Hills. That year he was named all-state, all-region, all-district and all-academic. He rounded it off with a Team MVP honor after recording eight shutouts. Josson played club for the Michigan Wolves, Nationals Union, and finished his senior year off with Vardar Academy.
Romario Simpson (Vaughan, Ontario / Maple HS)
Simpson (6-1, D) was named to the Vaughan High Performance Team twice. He played for Vaughan Soccer Club for seven years. Simpson led his club team to York Region Athletic Association Soccer Championship, Danny Pellegrini Champions, and Central Soccer League Champions. In his final season for Vaughan Soccer Club, his team became the Ontario Cup Finalists, Central Soccer League and Central Soccer League Cup Champions, as well as Regional Tournament of Champions Winners.
Nathaniel Edwards (Brampton, Ontario / St. Edmund Campion)
Edwards (5-9, D) was a teammate of Simpson at Vaughan. They helped lead the team to the 2019 U17 Ontario Cup Finals and Central Soccer League Cup Champions, as well as the 2019 Regional Tournament of Champions Winners. Edwards was also the MVP for his high school team.
Luke Benford (Canton, Mich. / Salem HS)
Benford (6-0, F) had 13 goals and eight assists as a senior at Salem High School. He was named first team all-state, all-region, and Michigan all-state Dream Team. Benford helped his team advance to the semifinals. He also played club with the Michigan Jaguars.
Seth Russ (Mason, Mich. / Mason HS)
Russ (5-8, D) played for Vardar Academy where he made 16 appearances scoring 3 goals. He was named all-state in 2018. He also played for Chill Soccer where he was the Offensive Player of the Year in 2016-17.
Alejandro Lopez (Hammond, Ind. / George Rogers Clark HS / Prairie State College)
Lopez (5-11, MF) comes to Purdue Fort Wayne after two seasons at Prairie State College. In 2019 he helped Prairie State win the league and regional for the first time. He had 23 goals and 8 assists in his two seasons earning two all-region recognitions.
Andy Lomeli (Dyer, Ind. / Lake Central HS / Valparaiso)
Lomeli (5-5, MF) was named to the Missouri Valley All-Freshman Team last season. He played in 15 games for the Crusaders. He had two goals on the season including a score in a 3-1 league win over Drake.
Vukasin Bulatovic (Elmwood Park, Ill. / Elmwood HS / Valparaiso)
Bulatovic (6-1, D) played in 17 games for the Crusaders last season. He took 11 shots with five on goal. He finished with two assists on the season.
Danny Salazar (East Chicago, Ind. / Bishop Noll HS / Valparaiso)
Salazar (5-9, GK) saw time in one game last season, making one save for the Crusaders.
Josue Fernandez (South Holland, Ill. / Thornwood HS / Valparaiso
Fernandez (5-9, MF) is the fourth of the Crusaders that will join the Mastodon men's soccer team next season. As a Crusader, he played in two games and had two shots on goal.
~ Feel the Rumble ~
"We are excited to welcome the 2020 recruiting class to the Mastodon Family," Gorton said. "It was important for our program that we brought in student-athletes that will represent us culturally, academically, athletically and socially. This class has hometown, in state, out of state and international talent. With a talented group of returners, it's important that we added strength and depth in all areas on the field. All of these players will have the opportunity to compete for minutes right away allowing for a high level of internal competition on our roster. To be able to bring in such a talented group of individuals in such a small amount of time says a lot about the direction of the university, athletic department, community and the energy around the men's soccer program."
Ali Nasser (Dearborn, Mich. / Edsel Ford HS / Marshall University)
Nasser (5-9, MF) played with Vardar Academy for three years. He recorded 20 goals over 76 matches. He was a starter for 50 of those matches. Individually, Nasser was invited to play in a USA national team camp and was also invited to Florida IMG for the Olympic Development Program. He attended Marshall University last season.
Brody Seaton (Peoria, Ill. / Peoria Notre Dame HS)
Seaton (5-10, MF/D) helped Peoria Notre Dame earn a No. 1 ranking in the nation his senior year. His performance on the field earned him a first team all-conference nod. He also helped lead the team to a state runner-up title in 2018. Overall, Seaton recorded seven goals and 20 assists for the Peoria Notre Dame soccer team. He also played club for Peoria FC and Central Illinois United.
Ryan Gray (Troy, Mich. / Troy Athens HS / Marshall University)
Gray (5-9, D) played club soccer for Vardar of the U.S. Development Academy for four years. He played 70 matches with 64 starts during his time with Vardar and scored two goals. He attended Marshall University last season.
Angel Arismendiz (Chicago, Ill. / George Washington HS)
Arismendiz (5-11, F) totaled 62 goals and 35 assists in his prep career. He was the top goal scorer all four years for his team earning all-city player and Chicagoland Soccer All-State. Arismendiz led his team all the way to a Super-Sectional Qualifier, City Champion title, Regional Champion, Sectional Champion, and Super-Sectional during his prep career. Aside from his success at George Washington, his Indiana Elite team won State Cup twice before he joined the Indiana Fire Academy in 2019.
Marco Navarro (Fort Wayne, Ind. / Homestead HS / Oakland University)
Navarro (5-10, D) totaled 20 goals and 12 assists throughout his four years at Homestead. He earned all-state honorable mention, team's best defender award twice, MVP, first team all-district three times, all-great lakes region, as well as earning first team all-state during his prep career. Navarro also won a State Cup Championship with Fort Wayne United and Midwest Regional League Championship with FC Pride. He spent one year at Oakland University after graduating high school where he played in two games for the men's soccer team.
Adam Hunt (New Palestine, Ind. / New Palestine HS)
Hunt (6-1, GK) made 170 saves his senior year. He earned all-conference and all-county twice in his career, as well as being named second team all-district. Hunt also played for FC Pride and Indiana Fire Academy.
Zain Akeel (Rochester Hills, Mich. / Detroit Country Day School)
Akeel (6-0, MF) played for Vardar Academy since the age of 11. He played in 37 games in his career for Vardar recording 11 goals. He also played football for Detroit Country Day.
Damon Almazan (Joilet, Ill. / Joliet West HS)
Almazan (5-5, MF) played for Joliet West High School in 2019 and earned all-conference. He was the team's top scorer and named Attacking MVP. Almazan played for Chicago Magic Soccer Club where he helped his team win a state championship.
Erik Josson (Bloomfield Hills, Mich. / Bloomfield Hills HS)
Josson (6-1, GK) started and played every match of his 2018 season at Bloomfield Hills. That year he was named all-state, all-region, all-district and all-academic. He rounded it off with a Team MVP honor after recording eight shutouts. Josson played club for the Michigan Wolves, Nationals Union, and finished his senior year off with Vardar Academy.
Romario Simpson (Vaughan, Ontario / Maple HS)
Simpson (6-1, D) was named to the Vaughan High Performance Team twice. He played for Vaughan Soccer Club for seven years. Simpson led his club team to York Region Athletic Association Soccer Championship, Danny Pellegrini Champions, and Central Soccer League Champions. In his final season for Vaughan Soccer Club, his team became the Ontario Cup Finalists, Central Soccer League and Central Soccer League Cup Champions, as well as Regional Tournament of Champions Winners.
Nathaniel Edwards (Brampton, Ontario / St. Edmund Campion)
Edwards (5-9, D) was a teammate of Simpson at Vaughan. They helped lead the team to the 2019 U17 Ontario Cup Finals and Central Soccer League Cup Champions, as well as the 2019 Regional Tournament of Champions Winners. Edwards was also the MVP for his high school team.
Luke Benford (Canton, Mich. / Salem HS)
Benford (6-0, F) had 13 goals and eight assists as a senior at Salem High School. He was named first team all-state, all-region, and Michigan all-state Dream Team. Benford helped his team advance to the semifinals. He also played club with the Michigan Jaguars.
Seth Russ (Mason, Mich. / Mason HS)
Russ (5-8, D) played for Vardar Academy where he made 16 appearances scoring 3 goals. He was named all-state in 2018. He also played for Chill Soccer where he was the Offensive Player of the Year in 2016-17.
Alejandro Lopez (Hammond, Ind. / George Rogers Clark HS / Prairie State College)
Lopez (5-11, MF) comes to Purdue Fort Wayne after two seasons at Prairie State College. In 2019 he helped Prairie State win the league and regional for the first time. He had 23 goals and 8 assists in his two seasons earning two all-region recognitions.
Andy Lomeli (Dyer, Ind. / Lake Central HS / Valparaiso)
Lomeli (5-5, MF) was named to the Missouri Valley All-Freshman Team last season. He played in 15 games for the Crusaders. He had two goals on the season including a score in a 3-1 league win over Drake.
Vukasin Bulatovic (Elmwood Park, Ill. / Elmwood HS / Valparaiso)
Bulatovic (6-1, D) played in 17 games for the Crusaders last season. He took 11 shots with five on goal. He finished with two assists on the season.
Danny Salazar (East Chicago, Ind. / Bishop Noll HS / Valparaiso)
Salazar (5-9, GK) saw time in one game last season, making one save for the Crusaders.
Josue Fernandez (South Holland, Ill. / Thornwood HS / Valparaiso
Fernandez (5-9, MF) is the fourth of the Crusaders that will join the Mastodon men's soccer team next season. As a Crusader, he played in two games and had two shots on goal.
~ Feel the Rumble ~
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