WHEELING, W.Va. (July 9) - The Wheeling University men's soccer program announced its recruiting class for the upcoming season on Thursday.

These individuals have either signed national letters of intent (NLIs) or institutional letters expressing their desire to play men's soccer at Wheeling. This year's class features talent from six different countries and 10 different states.

"After losing in the conference final two years ago we were hit heavy by graduation," said Head Coach James Regan, who will enter his 36th season on the sidelines for the Cardinals. "We have set our sights on returning the program to the upper echelon of the MEC, with the signing of a quality class for 2020."

"We needed to add a big class to give us the talent and depth needed to compete in one of the strongest Division II conferences in the country," he added. "This class also contains some junior college players which will give us that instant maturity and leadership needed to help the younger players in their development."

Currently, the Cardinals are slated to open the season on the road against Concord University on Sunday, September 13. A full updated 2020 schedule will be made public dependent upon the timing of the return of the regular academic and athletic calendar for the upcoming fall semester due to COVID-19.

The recruits are listed in alphabetical order:
 

Name	Pos.	Ht.	Wt.	Hometown / High School (Previous School)
Austin Aaron	GK	6-0	165	Prince George, Va. / Prince George
Tobi Afolayanka	F/MF	5-7	155	Uniondale, N.Y / Uniondale
Josue Arias-Rodriguez	F	5-4	110	Dumfries, Va. / Forest Park
Andrew Bell	D/MF	6-2	170	Toledo, Ohio / St. Francis de Sales
Santiago Calle	F/MF	5-7	135	Bogotá, Colombia / San Mateo Apostol
Sam Clark	MF	5-9	165	Henley-on-Thames, England / Gillotts Secondary
Cesar Coello	F/MF	5-9	145	Zaragoza, Spain / Colegio Aleman Zaragoza
Michael Dague	MF	6-2	180	Wheeling, W.Va. / Wheeling Park
Rapha Dawood	MF	5-10	175	Bothell, Wash. / Lynnwood (Edmonds C.C.)
Harry Firth	GK	6-0	145	Reading, England / Wellington College
Pacey Griffith	MF	6-0	170	Virginia Beach, Va. / Ocean Lakes
Keaton Hamilton	MF	5-9	165	St. Louis, Mo. / Rockwood Summit
Marvin Kapell	D/MF	6-1	160	Sondershausen, Germany / Seiler-Gymnasium Schlotheim
Gerardo Lopez	F	5-7	145	Rawlins, Wyo. / Rawlins (Northwest J.C.)
Harry Martin	F/MF	5-10	150	London, England / Mount Grace School
Simen Moksnes	D	5-11	165	Trondheim, Norway / Strinda
Carlos Molina	GK	5-8	140	Maturin, Venezuela / Alejandro de Humboldt
Declan Moloney	MF	5-8	150	Allen Park, Mich. / Cabrini
Alvaro Muñoz Lopez	D	5-10	155	Barcelona, Spain / European International School of Barcelona
Domenic Panday	D	5-11	155	Calgary, Alberta, Canada / Notre Dame
Landon Seiders	MF	5-9	155	McConnellsburg, Pa. / McConnellsburg

 
Austin Aaron | GK | 6-0 | 165 | Prince George, Va. | Prince George HS
HIGH SCHOOL
Played at Prince George for Head Coach David Moody … two-year captain, four-year letter winner, All-Star Preps, all-region

PERSONAL
Son of David and Melissa Aaron … has three siblings … played for Richmond Kickers … majoring in Nursing
 

Tobi Afolayanka | F/MF | 5-7 | 155 | Uniondale, N.Y | Uniondale HS
HIGH SCHOOL
Played at Uniondale for Head Coach Cohen Nelson … United Soccer Coaches All-State, Nassau County Soccer Coaches Association All-County … Principal Honor Roll, Merit Roll
 
PERSONAL
Son of Gabriel and Elizabeth Afolayanka … has two siblings … full name is Richard Oluwatobi Afolayanka … played for FC Barcelona Academy Pro New York … majoring in Exercise Science
 

Josue Arias-Rodriguez | F | 5-4 | 110 | Dumfries, Va. | Forest Park HS
HIGH SCHOOL
Played at Forest Park for Head Coach David Cresswell … FCCLA, Key Club, Unified Sports, NSHS
 
PERSONAL
Son of Susana and Nector Arias… has two siblings … sister, Zolia, plays soccer at Mary Washington … played for Northern Virginia SC
 

Andrew Bell | D/MF | 6-2 | 170 | Toledo, Ohio | St. Francis de Sales
HIGH SCHOOL
Played at St. Francis de Sales for Head Coach Francis Stephens … member of district championship team, three-time all-academic … honor roll
 
PERSONAL
Son of Kelly and Chris Bell … has three siblings … cousin, Ricky Bell, played baseball at Wheeling … played club for Pacesetter… majoring in Nursing
 

Santiago Calle | F/MF | 5-7 | 135 | Bogotá, Colombia | San Mateo Apostol
HIGH SCHOOL / CLUB
Played at San Mateo Apostol for Head Coach Alejandro Martinez … played club for Dragon Force F.C. Porto … member of championship team in Copa ciudad de Cali, member of championship team of Copa Navidad with Porto, member of 3rd place team at UCB (2016), member of championship team at UCB (2020) … chess champion, GAIA Delegate
 
PERSONAL
Son of Luis Calle and Nohra Vargas


Sam Clark | MF | 5-9 | 165 | Henley-on-Thames, England | Gillotts Secondary
HIGH SCHOOL
Played at Gillotts Secondary for Head Coach Tom Guy … member of two-time Division 2 Championship team, top scorer
 
PERSONAL
Son of Rich and Eva Clark … has one sibling … played for AFC Henley Hurricanes
 

Cesar Coello | F/MF | 5-9 | 145 | Zaragoza, Spain | Colegio Aleman Zaragoza
HIGH SCHOOL
Played at Colegio Aleman Zaragoza
 
PERSONAL
Son of Alfonso Coello and Carmen Alentorn … played for Stadium Casablanca
 
 
Michael Dague | MF | 6-2 | 180 | Wheeling, W.Va. | Wheeling Park HS
HIGH SCHOOL
Played at Wheeling Park for Head Coach Mario Julian … member of four-time section championship team, regional championship team and state runner-up … National Honor Society
 
PERSONAL
Son of David and Melissa Dague … has one sibling … played for FC Alliance … majoring in Engineering Science
 
 
Rapha Dawood | MF | 5-10 | 175 | Bothell, Wash. | Lynnwood HS
PRIOR TO WHEELING
Played two seasons at Edmonds C.C. (Washington)
 
HIGH SCHOOL
Played at Lynnwood for Head Coach Pablo Mummy … member of 3A state qualifier, Most Inspirational Player Award, Academic Excellence Award
 
PERSONAL
Son of Ashraf Dawood and Mariam Hasway … has two siblings … played for Gala Pro Focus / Steelheads … majoring in Business
 
 
Harry Firth | GK | 6-0 | 145 | Reading, England | Wellington College
HIGH SCHOOL
Played at Wellington College in Berkshire … Real Madrid six-day tour, Reading FC Elite goalkeeper (2012-15)
 
PERSONAL
Son of Jonathan and Sarah Firth… has two siblings … played for Shinfield Rangers
 
 
Pacey Griffith | MF | 6-0 | 170 | Virginia Beach, Va. | Ocean Lakes HS
HIGH SCHOOL
Played at Ocean Lakes for Head Coach Devin Pierce … National Honors Society
 
PERSONAL
Son of Patrick Griffith and Heidi Calma … has three siblings … played for Virginia Beach City FC … majoring in Exercise Science
 
 
Keaton Hamilton | MF | 5-9 | 165 | St. Louis, Mo. | Rockwood Summit HS
HIGH SCHOOL
Played at Rockwood Summit for Head Coaches Tomas Wade and Mario Cacioppo … member of state championship team (2019)
 
PERSONAL
Son of James and Jennifer Hamilton … has one sibling … played for Sporting St. Louis … majoring in Business
 
 
Marvin Kapell | D/MF | 6-1 | 160 | Sondershausen, Germany | Seiler-Gymnasium Schlotheim
HIGH SCHOOL
Attended Seiler-Gymnasium Schlotheim … member of third-place U15 Thuringia regional team
 
PERSONAL
Son of Diana and Sven Kapell… has one sibling … majoring in Engineering Science
 
 
Gerardo Lopez | F | 5-7 | 145 | Rawlins, Wyo. | Rawlins HS
PRIOR TO WHEELING
Played two seasons at Northwest Junior College (Wyoming)
 
HIGH SCHOOL
Played at Rawlins for Head Coach Erly Cornejo … all-conference, all-state, member of state semifinalist team … wrestling, football
 
PERSONAL
Son of Gerardo and Mireya Lopez … has two siblings
 
 
Harry Martin | F/MF | 5-10 | 150 | London, England | Mount Grace School
HIGH SCHOOL
Played at Mount Grace School … handball, table tennis, cricket, rugby, cycling, rock climbing, basketball
 
PERSONAL
Son of Ian and Amanda Martin … has two siblings … played for Cockfosters FC
 
 
Simen Moksnes | D | 5-11 | 165 | Trondheim, Norway | Strinda HS
HIGH SCHOOL
Played at Strinda
 
PERSONAL
Son of Stein Ola Moksnes and Grethe Viken … has two siblings … played for FK Kvik
 

Carlos Molina | GK | 5-8 | 140 | Maturin, Venezuela | Alejandro de Humboldt
HIGH SCHOOL / CLUB
Attended Alejandro de Humboldt … Played for Monagas SC … Best goalkeeper in nationals Sub-14, Maturín, Venezuela … Best goalkeeper in Thuir Tournament (France) 2017 … Member of three-time regional league championship team
 
PERSONAL
Son of Giancarlos Molina and Angelica Curiel … has two siblings … majoring in Exercise Science
 
 
Declan Moloney | MF | 5-8 | 150 | Allen Park, Mich. | Cabrini HS
HIGH SCHOOL
Played at Cabrini for Head Coach Taleb Karaouni … two-time All-Catholic, two-time all-district, all-region, all-state, two-time First-Team All-News Herald, three-year letter winner
 
PERSONAL
Son of Michael and Eileen Moloney… has three siblings … played for Michigan Jaguars FC … majoring in Business
 
 
Alvaro Muñoz Lopez | D | 5-10 | 155 | Barcelona, Spain | European International School of Barcelona
HIGH SCHOOL
Played at European International School of Barcelona
 
PERSONAL
Son of Juan Manuael and Bienve Muñoz Lopez … has one sibling … majoring in business
 
 
Domenic Panday | D | 5-11 | 155 | Calgary, Alberta | Notre Dame HS
HIGH SCHOOL
Played at Notre Dame for Head Coach Celeste Bazinet … member of Provincial Championship and Runner-up teams … member of U-15 National Quarterfinalist … honor roll
 
PERSONAL
Son of Krystal and Ron Panday… has one sibling … played for Eastside Memorial Football Club … majoring in Exercise Science
 
 
Landon Seiders | MF | 5-9 | 155 | McConnellsburg, Pa. | McConnellsburg HS
HIGH SCHOOL
Played at McConnellsburg for Head Coach Cory Houck … three-time all-conference, three-year captain, McConnelsburg HS all-time leading scorer (105 goals), led team to first district championship in 18 years, member of ODP East Region Championship team, four-year letter winner … 4-H Club
 
PERSONAL
Son of David and Kimberly Seiders … has one sibling … played for Penn FC … majoring in Business