Lancers Welcome 11 Newcomers for 2016
7/21/2016 4:05:00 PM | Men's Soccer
RIVERSIDE, Calif. — Heading into a new era under first-year head coach Coe Michaelson, California Baptist University's men's soccer team welcomes a good mix of returners and newcomers.
Fourteen Lancers return for the 2016 season and will look to provide leadership for 11 new players. Michaelson and his staff looked for key elements when constructing their team for the fall, including players who would fit into the culture at CBU -- both in terms of their character and their winning mentality. The coaches also wanted guys who fit their style of play, which Michaelson says "requires intelligence and technique." Last, the coaching staff wanted a group that can make an immediate impact, as well as set the Lancers up for a bright future.
"We are very excited about this group of players," said Michaelson. "We feel great about how these guys will mix with our returners and anticipate that together the group will help steer the program toward a bright future."
A familiar face to Michaelson, who previously coached at Northwest Nazarene, joins the Lancer program in Abraham Placito. The Perris, Calif., native spent the last season with Michaelson at NNU, but wanted to return back home. He spent his first two collegiate seasons at Mt. SAC where he was a first team All-American junior college player.
At NNU, Placito anchored the backline in the center and started all 16 games he played. Even though he was one of the centerbacks, Placito still scored four goals and was a unanimous first team All-Great Northwest Athletic Conference selection, going on to earn All-West Region honors as well.
"Abe is a player we know well having had him with us at NNU," said Michaelson. "He will be not only one of the top players in the PacWest, but one of the top players in the West Region. He has great feet and, with his size and strength, he is also very good in the air."
Also bringing some size to the Lancers is sophomore transfer Baptiste Marec from Cadiz, Spain. The six-foot-four defender finished studying and playing soccer in Cadiz in the highest amateur division in Spain. Despite his height, Marec is a top-tier technical player who will look to make his presence known for CBU.
"Baptiste is a high-impact guy who helps us out in a few key regards," said Michaelson. "With his good feet and ball-playing ability, he will suit our style well, but he will also add more height and aerial presence to our team for both attacking and defending set pieces."
Caley Powers transfers in from NCAA Division I Grand Canyon where he redshirted two seasons — one medical — and will look to have an impactful collegiate debut with CBU. Michaelson knows Powers is a hard worker who can play multiple positions, making him a versatile asset.
"Caley is a great fit for our program and university culture," said Michaelson. "His college career hasn't gone exactly how he would have hoped so far, but with some injuries behind him he is finally ready to compete. I'm confident he will make a positive contribution."
Hugo Gutierrez flew under the radar at Yavapai College in Arizona, before Michaelson snatched him up. Gutierrez transfers in as a junior and was a starter for the LA Galaxy Academy team that went to the Development Academy Final Four. Last year, Gutierez captained Yavapai and scored eight goals and assisted four others.
"Hugo has a great pedigree in the game with his experience at Yavapai and with the Galaxy," said Michaelson. "He has great intelligence, technique, an incredible engine, and he never misses a pass. He will slot right into our midfield and make a significant impact."
Making his collegiate debut, Joey Scotti comes to CBU after captaining the No. 24-ranked U18 Sacramento United club team. While Scotti enters in as a true freshman, Michaelson believes he will provide depth and help develop the Lancers for the future.
"Joey is a good young player with great character and drive," said Michaelson. "He has a good club background that will serve him well as he transitions into the college game. He will provide competition across the backline and can also play as a defensive midfielder."
After redshirting a year at Cal State Dominguez Hills, Joseph Renteria will look to debut in an impactful way. The Murrieta, Calif., native will look to add to the Lancer offense as an attacking midfielder or striker. Renteria played club soccer with Murrieta Surf and Arsenal FC and scored two goals in the Riverside vs. San Bernardino Senior All-Star Game in 2015.
"Joseph is a good fit at CBU," said Michaelson. "Athletically, he is a good fit for our style of play as his strengths are his technique and IQ. He also offers us versatility in that he is able to play as a wide attacker or in the center of the midfield."
Krishna Pandit will take a long journey to Riverside from Chandigarh, India, hoping to break onto the scene in his collegiate debut. He was the first youth national team member from his part of India and spent several years as the captain of the U17 Indian National Team.
"Krishna is a very committed young man, both athletically and in the classroom," said Michaelson. "He has great pace and technique and will find a key role in our attack, as he is capable both centrally and wide."
Kyle Pizano transfers in from Santiago Canyon Community College where he was a captain and first team all-conference selection after scoring seven goals and assisting nine others in 20 games. As a youth player, Pizano played for the Pateadores and helped the team finish fifth in the country in the Academy Playoffs.
"Kyle is a player we have been tracking since he was with Pateadores Academy back in high school," said Michaelson. "We love his ability to run a game from central midfield. He has a great sense of the game and a very high intelligence level, along with exceptional passing ability."
Dual German-Georgian citizen Luca Tschaidse joins CBU as a junior, hailing from Munich, Germany, where he grew up playing for the academy team of German Bundesliga side 1860 Munich. Tschaidse also was a starter for the U17 Georgian national team that was the first team in the history of the country to qualify for the European Championships, beating a Spain team that is now full of famous professionals.
"One of our priorities in recruiting was finding someone who has the ability to step in and score goals from day one," said Michaelson. "Luca has scored goals at every level he has played, including internationally with the Georgian Youth National Teams. He is also an excellent one-on-one attacker."
True freshman Riley Mayne makes the transition from Gold Coast, Australia, to Riverside and will look to help keep goals out of the net for the Lancers. The six-foot-four goalkeeper will also add to CBU's academic success after finishing in the top 20-percent academically of his class.
"With two experienced returning goalkeepers [Noah Oyler and Logan Deeney], finding a good young goalkeeper was a priority for us," said Michaelson. "Riley ticks all the boxes in what we wanted: reliable, good feet and exceptionally athletic, all in a very big frame. He's only 17-years old, so we are very excited by his potential."
Rounding out the huge class of newcomers is freshman Sebastian Wiesbock from Munich, Germany. He joins his teammate Tschaidse from the 1860 Munich team after finishing up his play at the highest amateur level in Germany.
"Sebastian will be a special player at our level," said Michaelson. "He has the ability to play a number of positions, but ultimately he will fit in either as a box-to-box midfielder or an attacking midfielder. His technical ability, intelligence and athleticism will serve him well at CBU."
The Lancers kick off the 2016 campaign on September 3 at home, hosting Saint Martin's at 2:30 p.m.
