Men's Soccer | August 30, 2023

MORROW, Ga. – The Clayton State University men's soccer team opens its 2023 season on Thursday evening hosting the Indians of Catawba College at 7 p.m. The Lakers are trying to replicate the success they had in the 2022 season to this season. 
 
15^th ANNUAL LAKER CLASSIC SCHEDULE (All Matches are at Laker Field)
Thursday, August 31^st

• 5 p.m. | Emmanuel vs. Montevallo
• 7 p.m. | Catawba vs. Clayton State

Saturday, September 2^nd

• 5 p.m. | Emmanuel vs. Catawba
• 7 p.m. | Montevallo vs. Clayton State

 
CATAWBA PROFILE

• Conference: South Atlantic Conference (SAC)
• 2022 season record: 9-6-2
• Head Coach: Ken Hassler (11^th Season)
• Leading returning scorer from 2022: Sebastian Cerda-Tous (6)
• Leading returning assist leader from 2022: Joe Bennett (4)
• Leading returning saves leader from 2022: Zak Stiffler (59)

MONTEVALLO PROFILE

• Conference: Gulf South Conference (GSC)
• 2022 season record: 8-5-3
• Head Coach: Bruce Dietterle (11^th Season)
• Leading returning scorer from 2022: Julio Rojo (3)
• Leading returning assist leader from 2022: Otger Vendrell (4)
• Leading returning saves leader from 2022: Tomas Valles (5)

 
2023 SCHEDULE
The 2023 schedule features six non-conference matchups, nine home matches, and seven matches on the road.  Coach Pete Petersen's squad will play a pair of teams that qualified for the 2022 NCAA Tournament in Lander and the University of Tampa.  After opening at home for a pair of matches, the Lakers will hit the road for three matches including taking trips to Tampa, Saint Leo, and Georgia Southwestern.  Clayton State then will stay home for a four-match homestand as they host Flagler, North Greenville, Lander, and North Georgia. 
 
After a four-match road trip, the Lakers close the regular season hosting the final three matches.  CSU will play host to Young Harris, USC Aiken, and conclude the regular season with Georgia Southwestern.  This season, the Lakers were picked by the PBC coaches to win the PBC for the first time since 2011.
 
LAKER IMPACT PERFORMERS
The Lakers return a plethora of talent from last year's 10-win team including four-time All-Peach Belt selection and D2CCA All-American Geo Rios.  Rios, a native of Lawrenceville, Ga. returns for his fifth season after placing second in the nation with .79 assists a match and was fourth in total assists with 15.  Rios also added six goals on 51 shots.  Last season was full of accolades for Geo which includes getting D2CCA All-America, D2CCA Southeast Player of the Year, and PBC Offensive Player of the Year nods.  In addition, Rios earned College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-America and United Soccer Coaches Scholar Athlete All-America honors.  Rios is trying to be the first PBC men's soccer athlete to receive All-Conference honors for five years.  
 
Also returning for the Lakers is Vic Delgado Miller.  Delgado Miller, who joins Rios as being a Preseason All-Conference selection, knocked in six goals on 27 shots.  In addition, Vic earned his first, first-team All-PBC nod last season.  Also returning for the Lakers is leadership in the backline with Christian Ransome, Lewis Green, and Ian Gomez.  Ransome and Gomez played in all 19 matches last season while Green suited up for 17.  The Laker duo was a part of a defensive unit that gave up the fourth fewest goals last season and only allowed 1.53 goals a match.  Coach Petersen also welcomes Isami Takeuchi, John Michael Torres, and Hector Fuentes.  The three Lakers combined for four goals, nine assists, and 17 points. 
 
In addition to the plethora of returning talent, Petersen also added 12 exceptional newcomers.  The newcomers that are expected to make an immediate impact include 2021 PBC second-team all-conference selections Mauricio Uribe and Mahomed Mahrous.  Uribe and Mahrous are expected to make a great impact on the backline for the Lakers this season. In addition, Petersen also added Robbie Christie to bolster that defensive unit as well.  On the attacking side, Petersen added the likes of Emmanuel Alerte, Gonzalo LaChica, Wilfried Kamden, Adrian Lopez, Carlos Garcia, and Aaron Diaz. 
 
THE COACHING STAFF
 Head coach Pete Petersen is heading into his 20^th season at the helm of the Lakers.  Coach Petersen is tied with Greg Hooks of USC Upstate for second place all-time in wins with 183. Last season, Petersen won PBC Coach of the Year for the fifth time.  There has been a lot of shake up in the coaching staff this season bringing on Jonathan Mercado, Ludvig Rhodin, and Joel McIlroy.  Mercado brings a lot of club and high school experience to the position while Rhodin brings a lot of collegiate coaching experience with previous stops at Davis & Elkins, Western Illinois, and the University of Incarnate Word.  Joel, who played for Clayton State in the 2021 season, was previously at Southern Nazarene for a season as an assistant.  Coach Petersen believes these staff additions will be an important step to winning their first PBC title since 2010. 
 
FOLLOW YOUR LAKERS AND PURCHASE TICKETS
Fans can follow your Lakers throughout the season with the links below:

• Live Stats: https://claytonstatesports.com/sidearmstats/msoc/summary
• Watch Live: https://pbcsportsnetwork.com/claytonstate/
• Tickets (On Sale 48 hours prior): https://secure.touchnet.com/C20568_ustores/web/store_cat.jsp?STOREID=11&CATID=100
• Clayton State Men's Soccer Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/csu_menssoccer/