Cusu Welcomes Seven to Join Men's Soccer This Fall

BROOKLYN, N.Y. — First-year head men's soccer coach Ovid Cusu is proud to announce the addition of seven incoming freshmen to join the St. Joseph's College (Brooklyn) men's soccer team this fall.

Kelvin Garcia, Mateusz Georges, Daniel Goncalves, Kaipele Obrero-Jackson, Julian Rodriguez, Juan C. Sandoval and Antonio Vidal have all recently signed their NCAA Division III Celebratory Signing Form with the intent to join the SJCNY Class of 2020 and play on the Bears Soccer Team.

"The incoming freshman are the future of our soccer program," remarked Cusu, who was named the program's second head coach in March. "I am very happy that some played soccer at a very high level and will be an immediate impact to our team."

Six of the newcomers hail from Brooklyn or Queens and are products of the catholic (CHSAA) and public (PSAL) high school leagues, including three All-CHSAA selections. Obrero-Jackson joins the squad from California, the first player from the Golden State.

"I am hoping that there will be more students who will decide to join us as well. With the work in the spring season plus the addition of our new freshman, we will be a different team in the Skyline this year."

Under Cusu's guidance, the Bears will begin their second season in the Skyline Conference this fall, opening a 19-match slate on September 1st. Prospective student-athletes interested in joining the team can contact Coach Cusu at ocusu@sjcny.edu.

Kelvin Garcia

High school: Cathedral Prep High School
Hometown: Queens, N.Y.

Garcia was the top scorer for the Cathedral Prep, helping the Crusaders to the CHSAA runner-up in 2015. Named to the All-CHSAA Team, he tallied 12 goals with five assists.  Garcia also had the game-winning goal in the semifinal game and a goal in the championship game.

Mateusz Georges

High school: New Utrecht High School
Club team: FA Euro
Hometown: Brooklyn, N.Y.

Georges started as a right wing for Brooklyn Juniors, for a small academy, which later evolved into FA Euro. He was named Player of the Year for FA Euro U16 for the 2015-16 season and played in the Super Youth nationals helping the team reach the semifinals. As a senior at New Utrecht, Georges was their captain and leading scorer with eight goals and nine assists. 

Daniel Goncalves

High school: Cathedral Prep High School
Hometown: Queens, N.Y.

Goncalves joins the Bears after serving as the three-year captain at Cathredal Prep. He had a tremendous 2015 season, scoring altogether 12 goals in for the Crusaders and being named to the All-CHSAA Team. Out of the 12 goals, two were in the playoff games, including one in the championship game. Goncalves scored over 30 goals for Cathedral Prep over his high school career.

Kaipele Obrero-Jackson

High school: JSerra Catholic High School
Club team: West Cost F.C.
Hometown: San Clemente, Calif.

Obrero-Jackson is the first Bear to hail from the Golden State. The left defender was part of the West Coast F.C. squad that won the under 16 California championship. Obrero-Jackson played varsity soccer all four years at JSerra Catholic High School and tallied five goals his senior season.

Julian Rodriguez

High school: Bayside High School
Club team: Auburndale SC/Bayside Aston Villa
Hometown: Queens, N.Y.

Rodriguez joins as one of the top goalkeepers in the Public School Athletic League (PSAL) playing for Bayside High School, named team MVP in 2015 and selected to the PSAL Exceptional Senior All-Star Game. An All-County award winner in 2014 and 2015, Rodriguez had great performances playing for the Auburndale SC/Bayside Aston Villa in one of the top leagues in the New York east region. Last season he gave up one goal in the entire Champions League competition.

Juan C. Sandoval

High school: Christ the King High School
Hometown: Queens, N.Y.

Sandoval joins as a goalkeeper for the upcoming season. A late bloomer that started to play soccer later in his life, coaches were pleasantly surprised to see how quick he developed into a solid goalkeeper.  Sandoval started most of the games in his senior year for the Royals.

Antonio Vidal

High school: Christ the King High School
Club team: Woodhaven F.C.
Hometown: Queens, N.Y.

Vidal played three years at varsity at Christ the King and was named the Most Valuable Player and to the CHSAA All-League Team in 2015, scoring 10 goals for the Royals in his senior season. As a sophomore, Vidal was part of the team that made it to the final four in the CHSAA "AA" division.