Men's Soccer

Hurricanes Add Firepower For Another PBC Tournament Run

Hurricanes Add Firepower For Another PBC Tournament Run
Posted: Aug 15, 2023

AMERICUS, Ga. -- Georgia Southwestern State University head men's soccer coach Eric Crawford has signed 10 players to his 2023 class after a record-breaking season that tied for most wins in program history and made it to the Peach Belt Conference Tournament semifinals. Georgia Southwestern's 2023 class is loaded with talent from multiple different states and countries, featuring four players players from the state. The class also features two NCAA Division I transfers and three international players and adds to a roster that kept its core from the 2022 season.

GSW returns two players who were named to the 2022-23 Peach Belt All-Conference Team, Lucas Bedleg and Chris Salamatou.

Last season Bedleg started all 18 matches in 2022 and logged 1110 minutes (61.6 per match average). He led the team with eight goals and 18 points that included a pair of assists.

The sophomore from Andelarrot, France, turned in a hat trick on Aug. 31 when he scored three goals against Middle Georgia State University. He added a second game-winning goal on Oct. 28 in the 2-0 Peach Belt Conference Tournament quarterfinal victory over Young Harris College. Bedleg ranked fifth in the PBC in goals scored.

Salamatou started all 18 matches for the Hurricanes and logged a team-high 1289 minutes (71.6 per match average). He scored five goals and added three assists.

The senior from Niort, France, led a defense that posted six shutouts last season. Salamatou was a weapon on offense down the stretch with four goals over the Hurricanes final seven matches. He had a season-best two scores on Oct. 12 against Young Harris and added an insurance goal in the postseason victory over Young Harris on Oct. 28. Salamatou is the only repeat all-conference award winner from GSW he was named to the second team in 2021.

 

 Dagoberto Romero

  • Dagoberto comes to GSW as a transfer from NCAA Division I Georgia Southern
  • Played for Atlanta United Academy coached by Matt Lawrey
  • Played two years at Central Gwinnett High School under coach Mike McLean
  • Won the 7A Region 8 championship in 2022
  • Dagoberto also played in the Atlanta United Academy under coach Lewis Sharpe
  • Appeared in 12 matches for the Eagles, starting 11 at goalkeeper
  • Made his first collegiate start against Presbyterian on Aug. 25
  • Saved a career-high eight shots twice against Kentucky and James Madison
  • Romero played all 90 minutes in all but two matches
  • Dagoberto is a sophomore from Lawrenceville, Ga.

 Samuel Bruns

  • Bruns played 12 games on the junior varsity squad and did not allow a single goal
  • As a sophomore he made varsity played every game lost in the semifinals for the state championship
  • Bruns played for Hoover Vestavia Soccer Club coached by Justus Griffin 
  • HVSC would go on to make the Maryland Qualifiers 
  • Bruns is a freshman from Hoover, Ala.

 Christyan Fevier Sildor

  • Named team captain twice
  • Graduated Summa Cum Laude
  • Sildor is a freshman from Fort Myers, Fla.

  Alex Cobzaru

  • Scored 30 goals and had 20 assists in his high school career
  • Cobzaru was named to All-Region first team
  • He was named Forward of the Year
  • He was named All-Region Player of the Year
  • Cobzaru is a Golden Boot Award winner (awarded to the player who scored the most goals)
  • Cobzaru is a freshman from Lawrenceville, Ga. 

 Alex Wiktorek 

  • Wiktorek was named team MVP
  • He was on the honor roll for three years
  • Wiktorek is OFSAA gold medalist
  • He played for Scrosoppi and were the U21 champs
  • Wiktorek is an international player from Oakville, Ontario.

 Dante Johnson

  • Johnson played Alabama FC of the ECNL coached by Matt Bellamy
  • Johnson is a freshman from Columbus, Ga.

 Jonathan Bedard

  • Bedard was named to the honor roll 
  • Bedard is an international freshman from Lévis,Canada.

 Axel-Ambroise Gravel

  • High school honors/awards: BAC All-Mention 
  • Axel is a freshman form Dion, France

 

 Stephen Linton

  • Stephen comes to GSW as a transfer from NCAA Division I Florida Gulf Coast University
  • He was named All-Conference
  • Stephen was named All-State First Team
  • He was named Defensive of Player of the Year in high school
  • Stephen is a senior midfielder from Miami, Fla.

 Brayden Wood

  • Wood joins GSW as a transfer from NCAA Division II University of Montevallo
  • Wood played in 17 games for the Falcons he scored three goals and recorded four assists
  • He was named to the All-Region Team three times in high school
  • He was named to the All-Area Team three times
  • Wood was awarded All-Bi City player of the Year twice
  • He was Named Offensive MVP twice
  • Wood played for CFC Red Star coached by Seyo Gruda
  • Played for the Georgia Storm coached by Josh Bivens
  • Wood was named team captain four times
  • He was the leading conference goal scorer two consecutive seasons
  • Wood is a senior forward from Columbus, Ga.