MORROW, Ga. – Clayton State head men's soccer coach Pete Petersen has announced an impressive 11 person signing class as the Lakers enter the 2017 season. Among them are six transfers, three members from the same successful junior college team, a regional scoring machine and a reigning national champion.
 
CHEVAUN BLAKE: 5-8, Kingston, Jamaica (Georgia Perimeter College)
Blake begins his first season with the soccer program but has already competed as a Laker as a member of the indoor and outdoor track & field programs this past spring. He returns to soccer after last playing for Georgia Perimeter in 2014.
 
That season he notched five goals and three assists for 13 points as part of a team that went 14-0-1. He also delivered a hat trick against Andrew (10/4) and had a goal in back-to-back games against NCAA Division III Oglethorpe's junior varsity.
 
As a member of the Clayton State track & field teams he ran primarily in the 60- and 100-meters, along with the 4x100-meter relay.
 
Head Coach Pete  Petersen on Blake
"Blake brings experience to the left said of the squad, lightning quick and tenacious tackler."
 
KWAKU DWAMENA: 5-11, Richmond, Va. (Spartanburg Methodist College)
One of three Spartanburg Methodist transfers on this year's squad, Dwamena brings a wealth of talent to the Lakers.
 
He was twice named to the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) All-Region X Team (First-Team as a sophomore, Honorable Mention as a freshman) and guided the club to a 15-4-1 record in 2016.
 
That season he eight goals and seven assists to finish with 23 points. He was second on the team in goals and assists and third in points and would open the year with five goals in the first two games. As a freshman he led the team with seven assists and added seven goals for 21 points.
 
Prior to his collegiate career, Dwamena played both football and soccer for Hayfield Secondary High School. He would finish with 35 career goals, 19 assists and 89 points and as the program's all-time leading scorer.
 
Head Coach Pete  Petersen on Dwamena
"Explosive left back that can score goals by the bushel."
 
DEAN FOSTER: 6-0, Johannesburg, South Africa (Dalton State College)
An in-state product, Foster comes in from Dalton State after two years, but only one in which he saw the field. That came this past season as he played in 14 games and logged 381 minutes, finishing with three goals and four assists.
 
He helped lead the Roadrunners to a 13-3-1 overall record and runner-up finish in the Southern States Athletic Conference Tournament and regular season standings. Foster has also competed extensively at the club level since the age of four.
 
Head Coach Pete  Petersen on Foster
"Always lurking and probing in the box trying to find the chink in the armor. Two very good feet."
 
HECTOR GUTIERREZ: 5-10, Asheville, N.C. (Spartanburg Methodist College)
Another SMC transfer, Gutierrez played one season for the Pioneers, seeing the field in 2015 and redshirting last season.
 
As a freshman he played in 14 games, starting all but one, and was named to the NJCAA All-Region X Second-Team. That year he finished with five goals and four assists for 14 points while helping the club to an impressive 13-5-1 record and berth in the Region X Tournament Semifinals.
 
Playing at A.C. Reynolds High School, Gutierrez was a three-time All-State and four-time All-Region and All-Conference selection. He also delivered a program record 86 goals and led the team in scoring all four years. He was named the Western North Carolina Player of the Year as a junior and senior.
 
Head Coach Pete  Petersen on Gutierrez
"A tireless right back and the fittest player on the squad. Right up there with current and former teammate Kwaku Dwamena."
 
DIONYSIUS HARMON: 6-2, Loganville, Ga. (South Gwinnett High School)
A true freshman, Harmon brings size to Clayton State following four years playing for the Comets of South Gwinnett. As a senior he led the team in scoring and was presented with the Coaches Award following his junior season. Additionally, he has played with the Atlanta Silverbacks at the club level.
 
Head Coach Pete  Petersen on Harmon
"DZ" is a versatile player who can play just about anywhere. He has a monstrous presence wherever he is."
 
THOMAS MITCHINSON: 6-1, Middlesbrough, England (Spartanburg Methodist College)
The Lakers have already brought in one of Spartanburg Methodist's top point producers from the past two seasons in Dwamena. Now they have the Pioneers' top table setter in Mitchinson, who dished out an impressive 13 assists, with six goals, a year ago.
 
That performance helped SMC to a 15-4-1 record and runner-up finish in the Region X Tournament. Nationally, his assist total tied for 12^th in the country and he had multiple assists on four occasions. Among those were a total of five assists in the team's first two games. Topping his individual performances was a three assist, one goal outing USC Salkehatchie.
 
Prior to Spartanburg Methodist, Mitchinson play a year at the University of Northwestern Ohio (2015) where he saw action in nine games with five starts. That team went 16-5 overall and 9-2 in conference play.
 
Head Coach Pete  Petersen on Mitchinson
"A strong defensive center mid who links up play and has incredible passing range. Also ferocious attitude when challenging."
 
JUUSO OLLILA: 5-9, Helsinki, Finland (Pohjois-Haagan Upper Secondary School)
An import from Finland, Juuso helped lead Pohjois-Haagan to consecutive All-Finland High School National Championships as a freshman and sophomore. The club also made the national tournament both of those years, finishing second during his sophomore campaign.
 
Known at the national level in his native land, Ollila was a member of the Finland National Team from 2011-15 and saw action in five games during that time. He was also invited to participate with the All-Helsinki Region Team and was a member of Kapylan Pallo that won Finland's U16 national championship in 2012.
 
Head Coach Pete  Petersen on Ollila
"A very quick winger with a dynamite left foot."
 
ISAAC PIMENTA: 6-1, Kennesaw, Ga. (North Cobb High School)
A local product, Pimenta was a member of the Warriors soccer program and has played extensively at the club level. The latter came with the Alpharetta Ambush (2009-13), North Atlanta Soccer Association (2014, 2016), Georgia United Development Academy (2015-16) and Concorde Fire Development Academy (2016-17).
 
Head Coach Pete  Petersen on Pimenta
"A local Concorde product who is a nifty and creative midfielder."
 
TRISTAN SHYTLE: 6-0, Columbus, Ga. (Columbus High School)
A standout player and four-year member of the Columbus High School soccer program, Shytle finished his career with an incredible 67 goals and 28 assists for 162 points. That performance is made all the more impressive by the fact that he did it in just three years as he missed his junior season due to injury.
 
Fully recovered, he dominated the competition as a senior, registering 33 goals and 17 assists for 83 points. That effort earned him 4A Georgia State Player of the Year, All-Bi-City Player of the Year, All-Bi-City First-Team a and berth in the Georgia State All-Star Game. He was also a three-time All-Bi-City First-Team selection and was named Team Attacker of the Year all three seasons he played.
 
At the club level he competed with Red Star and helped guide the team to the Alabama State Championship and Region 3 Quarterfinals in 2017. He is also a member of National Beta Club, National Honors Society, National English Honors Society and National Social Studies Honors Society.
 
Head Coach Pete  Petersen on Shytle
"Big, fast committed front runner who also can handle midfield roles."
 
PJ SMITH: 5-9, Kidderminster, England (Tyler Junior College)
A top notch defender, Smith anchored the defense for a Tyler Junior College program that went 43-4 the past two seasons and claimed the program's fifth NJCAA National Championship a year ago.
 
They accomplished the latter with a perfect 24-0 record, which included an outstanding 18 shutouts. The Apaches allowed more than one goal on only two occasions, a true testament to a top defense. The last of those was a 2-0 decision over Monroe College in the national championship.
 
Smith was named to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) All-South Region Second-Team that season and was the Region XIIII Player of the Year. As a freshman, he started all 22 games he played in and helped the club to a 19-4 overall record and a berth in the national championship. In that game, they just barely fell by a 1-0 score in double overtime.
 
On the year, TJC delivered 12 shutouts among their 19 wins, including five straight from October 10-22. Known for some occasional offense, Smith finished his career with two goals and six assists.
 
Head Coach Pete  Petersen on Smith
"PJ covers a lot of acreage as a No. 10 or a winger. Huge motor and loves to score."
 
MITRO TURUNEN: 5-9, Vantaa, Finland (Sotunki Upper Secondary HS)
Turunen played at the high school level both in his native Finland and in the United States. As a junior, he took advantage of his exchange year and played for Rock Ridge High School in Virginia.
 
That year he scored 11 goals and was named All-Conference First-Team. As a senior he played for Sotunki Upper Secondary High School, helping the team to a Silver Medal in the National High School Championship Tournament. He was also named Team Most Valuable Player.
 
Additionally, he played for U16 club Kapylan Pallo, earning a national championship in 2012 and was invited to participate with the Helsinki All-Region Team,
 
Head Coach Pete  Petersen on Turunen
"One of the most intelligent midfielders I have had the pleasure to have on board … deep lying or attacking."
 
Transactions
Clayton State Athletics has announced that Chevaun Blake, Kwaku Dwamena, Dean Foster, Hector Gutierrez, Dionysius Harmon, Thomas Mitchinson, Juuso Ollila, Isaac Pimenta, Tristan Shytle, PJ Smith and Mitro Turunen have accepted offers to play for the Lakers men's soccer program beginning in 2017.