Men's Soccer

Men's Soccer Players to Watch

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Below are the Southern States Athletic Conference Players to Watch for the 2026 men's soccer season.

The 2026 SSAC Men's Soccer Championship takes place begins on October 30-31 on campus sites before the final four teams convene in Montgomery at the Emory Folmar YMCA Complex November 5 and 7.

  		• Santiago Cerezo Padilla
    Fr., OM/AM, TBD
    • Brings experience from time played in Mexico
    • Positive attitude something every soccer player should have
    		Petar Gromiko
    TBD, CB/LOB, TBD
    • Brings leadership qualities
    • Winning mentality is something to admire
  		• Murilo Andrade
    So., CM, Paranå, Brazil
    • Played and started in 14 matches a year ago
    • Will play even bigger role leading the team this year
    		Pedro Pina
    Sr., CB, Madrid, Spain
    • 2025 Champions of Character Team member
    • Leader of the back line for BMCU
  		• Ilyas Nazih
    Sr., W, Casablanca, Morocco
    • Played in six matches last year for the Barons
    • Can stretch opponents, making him tough to defend
    		Djordje Radelic
    Fr., CB, Cacak, Serbia
    • Good experience playing in Serbia
    • Central defender who reads the game well
  		• Bernardo Manzano
    Sr., GK, Palmas, Brazil
    • Appeared in 10 matches, starting six
    • Made 18 saves, earning four wins and a draw in his seven qualifying matches
    		Fabio Barbosa
    Sr., CM, Braga, Portugal
    • Played in 14 matches, starting 11
    • Controls and dictates the game
  		• Gabriel Reis
    Fr., F, Betim, Brazil
    • Joined Faulkner in Spring 2026
    • Immediately impressed against D2 competition in scrimmages
    		Santo Aguek
    So., GK, Melbourne, Australia
    • Transfer from Indian Hills CC, where he won the NJCAA National Championship and was undefeated in his starts
    • Tallied 37 saves in seven matches with USL2 Montgomery United this summer
  		• Devin Koorn
    Jr., D, Texel, Netherlands
    • First Team All-American and All-Conference last season
    • Named SSAC Tournament MVP
    		Andrei Apostu
    So., F, Onesti Bacau, Romania
    • SSAC Player of the Year, Freshman of the Year, Golden Boot Winner and First Team All-American and All-Conference
    • 18 goals last season, including three game winners
  		• Restin Kabambala
    Jr., CM, Tallahassee, Fla.
    • Dynamic player who can cover every blade of grass
    • Excellent in possession and extremely competitive
    		Jireh Oyebamiji
    Sr., F, London, England
    • Transfer from Houston Christian
    • Scored three goals and two assists in 47 matches with HCU
  		• Jaime Martin
    Jr., CM, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
    • Transfer from Carl Sandburg College
    • Scored five goals in two seasons with 11 assists
    		Nicolas Diaz
    Fr., RB, San Miguel, Argentina
    • Brings loads of experience from time in Argentina
    • Plays with pace and has desire to get forward while providing tenacious defending
  		• Damien Fortin
    Jr., GK, Shippagan, NB, Canada
    • Second Team All-Conference last year
    • Totaled 46 saves over 11 matches, accumulating a 4-4-3 record with three shutouts
    		Daniel Mauldin
    So., MID, Tallahassee, Fla.
    • Saw action in 11 matches, scoring four goals
    • Had one game winner and an assist
  		• Filippo Fregoli
    So., MID, Montenero D'orcia, Italy
    • Member of All-Freshman Team and Second Team All-Conference last season
    • Second on the squad in total points with five goals and seven assists
    		Ben Chretien
    Jr., D, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
    • All-Freshman Team honoree in 2024 and Second Team All-Conference last season
    • Scored four goals and added an assist
  		• Daniel Mulero
    Sr., MID, Asturias, Spain
    • Second Team All-American and First Team All-Conference last season
    • Eight goals and 13 assists in 2025, including three game winners
    		Fabian Arroyo
    Jr., MID, Ciudad Quesada, Costa Rica
    • Transfer from Indian Hills CC, where he won the NJCAA D1 National Championship
    • Named NJCAA First Team All-American and played for the Costa Rica U-20 National Team
  		• Diego Pacheco
    Jr., D, Salvador, Brazil
    • Named to RRAC Second Team All-Conferece and the All-Tournament Team
    • Three goals and four assists in his career
    		Antonio Merola
    Jr., MID, Liege, Belgium
    • RRAC Tournament MVP and Second Team All-Conference
    • Scored five goals and eight assists, leading the Gold in assists