Men’s Soccer Introduces New Mastodons for 2022
6/7/2022 11:41:00 AM | Men's Soccer
FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Purdue Fort Wayne men's soccer head coach Stephen Gorton has introduced 13 new Mastodons for the 2022 campaign.
"We are excited to welcome the 2022 recruiting class to the Mastodon Family," Gorton said. "It was important for our program to bring in student-athletes that will represent us culturally, academically, athletically and socially. This class has a variety of incoming freshmen, junior college transfers, grad transfers and plenty of high level experience. With these additions and development we have made with our returners it is exciting to see what this group will do in 2022 and beyond."
Marco Valencia (Chicago, Ill. / Mount Carmel HS), a 5-foot-9 forward, recorded 37 goals and seven assists during his senior season in 2021. He was named first team all-state. Valencia owns club experience with Raiders FC and Chicago Fire Academy.
Abraham Arellano (Holland, Mich. / Holland HS), a 5-foot-7 midfielder, recorded 60 goals and 30 assists in three years of high school soccer. In 2020 as a junior he was named first team all-state. He was also named the Player of the Year by the Holland Sentinel. He helped his team to a district and conference championship. In the classroom, he was a member of the National Honor Society and was named to the Honor Roll. He has club experience with Midwest United FC MLS Next Academy and the Holland Rovers.
Temesgen Vreeman (Holland, Mich. / Holland HS), a 5-foot-10 defender, owns club experience with Costa FC, Rovers FC, Midwest United Premier and Midwest United MLS Next. In high school he was a three-time all-region performer. In 2020 he was an all-state honorable mention selection. He was an honor roll student in the classroom.
Alex Frank (Hamilton, New Zealand / Hamilton Boys HS / UTRGV), a 6-foot-1 forward, returns to the Mastodons after two seasons at UTRGV. He played in seven games and recorded one assist in the spring 2021 season but didn't play last fall. Prior to joining the Vaqueros, he played in 2018 and 2019 for the 'Dons. In 2019 he was named to the All-Summit League Second Team after a team-high five goals.
Cesar Cosio (Chicago, Ill. / Mount Carmel HS / Western Illinois), a 6-foot-1 midfielder, is a grad transfer from Western Illinois. In 2019 he was an All-Summit League Second Team selection with a goal and an assist, helping WIU to a share of the regular season title. He compiled 37 starts in 40 games for the Leathernecks, finishing with two goals and two assists. He missed last fall due to injury. At Mount Carmel, he was named all-state, all-area, offensive player of the year and to the all-american watch list as a senior.
Nic Diana (Grayslake, Ill. / Warren Township HS), a 6-foot-1 goalkeeper, helped Warren Township to a 15-0 record as a senior. His 0.38 goals against average was the best in school history. He was a 2021 Chicagoland All-State and IHSSA All-State selection. He owns club experience with FC 1974 Libertyville and ICPFC/IGPFC.
Aidan Antcliff (Okemos, Mich. / Okemos HS), a 5-foot-11 midfielder, scored the game winning goal Okemos' MHSAA DI State Championship in 2021. His team went 20-0-4 on their way to the state title. He was one of three Lansing State Journal Player of the Year finalists in 2021. His team went 20-0-4. He helped his team set a program record for fewest goals allowed and most shutouts in a season. Antcliff owns club experience with the Michigan Jags and Okemos Soccer Club. In 2019 and 2021 he was a Michigan Pro Prospect Combine participant.
Stefan Iricanin (Harwood Heights, Ill. / Maine South HS), a 6-foot-5 forward, scored 30 goals over four years for Maine South. He was the top goal scorer of the Central Suburban League during the 2020-21 season. He was a two-time all-sectional pick. As a senior, he was voted team MVP. Iricanin also played for the Chicago Magic, where he was the team's leading goal scorer in the 2021 spring season. He helped his team win the U-15 Midwest Regional in 2018 and advanced to play at nationals in Texas with FC United.
Eliam Mier (Lindenhurst, Ill. / Lakes Community HS), a 5-foot-10 forward, was first team all-conference in 2021. He scored four goals with seven assists in a shortened 11-game season. He helped his team to regional championships in 2017 and 2019 and a conference title in 2021. Mier has club experience with Mundelein Soccer Club, Roadrunners SC and FC1974. In 2021 his Roadrunners' team was the 2021 NISL Champions and advanced to the 2021 US Club Soccer NPL Finals.
Daniel Tareke (Toronto, Ontario / Harbord Collegiate / Salt Lake CC), a 5-foot-10 defender, played in 19 games with 17 starts for Salt Lake Community College in the fall of 2021. He helped the team go 19-1-0 and give up just eight goals on the season for an 0.40 goals against average. He started 10 games in the spring season of 2021, scoring two goals. The spring 2021 squad won the NJCAA national title and the fall team advanced to the national semifinals.
Joel Opoku (Brampton, Ontario / St. Marguerite d'Youville / Virginia Tech), a 5-foot-10 left back comes to the 'Dons after spending last season in the Virginia Tech program. Prior to Tech, he played at junior college Casper College in Casper, Wyoming. He started 12 games for the Thunderbirds in the 2021 spring season and earned one assist. He owns club experience with Vaughan SC.
Ameer Shetiah (East Lansing, Mich. / East Lansing HS), a 5-foot-10 defender, helped his high school team to a district championship. He owns four years of experience with Wolves Academy as well as a year with Vardar Academy. Off the field in high school he was a member of the National Honor Society and Muslim Student Association.
Nathan Bessinger (Edwardsburg, Mich. / Edwardsburg HS), a 6-foor-3 defender, was a starter for two seasons at Edwardsburg High School before spending his final two seasons playing for the Developmental Academy of the Indiana Fire in Indianapolis. He was an all-district and all-conference performer in his two years of high school. He also owns experience with Michiana Echo (2016-17), Elkhart County United (2017-19), ABK Futsal (2015-20) SWAP futsal (2010-15) and Midwest United FC (2019-20).
~ Feel The Rumble ~
