Cusu Welcomes Six to Men's Soccer Class of 2021

BROOKLYN, N.Y. — Building off a 2016 campaign that matched the program record for wins in a season, St. Joseph's College (Brooklyn) Head Men's Soccer College Ovid Cusu announces the addition of Matthews Avendaño, Miles Barron, Joshua De La Cruz, Kenneth Garcia, Christian Guaraca, and Joseph Sepulveda for the upcoming season. 

In his first season at the helm of the Bears last season, Cusu guided a young class that featured eight freshmen to a seven-win improvement finishing at 7-11 overall and in ninth place in the Skyline Conference after being picked to finish last in the 12-team league.

The Bears will open their second season under Cusu on September 2 against New Jersey City University at the College of Staten Island Tournament.

Matthews Avendaño

Hometown: Queens, N.Y.
High School: Monsignor McClancy High School

Matthews Avendaño played soccer for all his life and attended Monsignor McClancy High School in Queens, New York where he played on the boys varsity soccer team for three years and was a part of a couple CHSAA A Championships under coach Adam Brunegro. 

Miles Barron

Hometown: East Lansing, Michigan
High School: Parkmont School (Washington, D.C.)

Miles began playing soccer at the age of five in East Lansing, Michigan. He started his career in Crofton, Maryland, playing with the Crofton Vikings and Anne Arundel Bulldogs. After moving to Washington D.C. Miles played with DC Stoddert and Bethesda Soccer Academy. Winter break 2016 he trained at IMG Academy and over the last summer break, he trained with Detroit City FC.   

Joshua De La Cruz

Hometown: Queens, N.Y.
High School: Bayside High School

De La Cruz began his soccer career playing in a small team in Flushing Meadow Park called the Millennium Soccer Kids and later moved to Albertson Academy and FA Euro soccer clubs. As he transitioned from the role of center-back to right-back, he helped FA Euro reach nationals three years in a row. De La Cruz also played all four years of his high school at Bayside High School, alongside fellow incoming SJC freshmen, Kenneth Garcia and Joseph Sepulveda. After playing just a few games his freshman year, he started every game from sophomore year through his senior year where he was named captain, helping the squad reach the semifinals all three three years.

Kenneth Garcia

Hometown: Queens, N.Y.
High School: Bayside High School
Club Team: Met Oval Academy and Albertson Academy

Garcia comes from playing at the top level in American youth soccer playing in the two USSF academies, Met Oval Academy and Albertson Academy. At the same time, he played varsity for four years at Bayside High School and led the team to three straight semifinal appearances. Captain and leading goal-scorer, he finished last season with 11 goals and five assists for Bayside.

Christian Guaraca

Hometown: Queens, N.Y.
High School: W.C. Bryant
Club Team:  Blue Weiss Gottschee

Christian grew up playing in small clubs located in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park but was then brought to tryout at the well-known soccer club, BW Gottschee. After joining the team, he transitioned to forward.  "I remember scoring my first goal for Gottschee the rush of excitement filled me," remarked Guaraca. "I felt comfortable in the position but in one game our team was missing our center back and I offered to play in the position. I did great and felt much more comfortable there than I did in other positions." He played for W.C. Bryant High School and was given the privilege to lead the team as captain in his senior year.

Joseph Sepulveda

Hometown: Queens, N.Y.
High School: Bayside High School
Club Team: Blue Weiss Gottschee

Sepulveda started playing soccer at the age of four coming from a strong soccer tradition with his Colombian family. He won "sueño mls" and participated in national competition in Los Angeles.  Playing academy with Blue Weiss Gottschee, Sepulveda had a chance to compete against the top clubs in the U.S. He played for Bayside High School leading the team to the playoffs twice in the top PSAL division.  As a Met Oval player, Joseph won nationals at IMG Stadium for Super Y League. His goal is to lead St. Joseph's to their first Skyline Conference Championship.