MIAMI (Aug. 28, 2019) – With the new season just around the corner, we take a look at some incoming Panthers that will be donning the Blue & Gold for the first time in 2019.
The FIU men's soccer team will feature eight talented newcomers, with seven being true freshmen and one joining as a transfer.
"We are very excited about this new class of players," said men's soccer head coach Kevin Nylen. "They have all done well this summer and preseason and have immersed themselves within the culture of our program."
The young group of Panthers include: Andoni Garrogerricaechebarria, Anthony Cousins, Jr., Francesco Montali, Andrew Donley, David Garcia, Stephen Afrifa, and Ronaldo Marshall. The lone transfer is represented by Alban Rousselet, who joins FIU as a senior.
The 2019 class features four international recruits. Marshall and Afrifa join FIU from Canada, where they shared the pitch together as members of the same youth club team. Rousselet comes by way of France, and Garcia hails from Spain. Additionally, Garrogerricaechebarria and Montali are local South Florida products who arrive from Doral and Davie, respectively. Donley is a native of Columbus, Ohio, while Cousins, Jr. spent his most recent time playing in Pennsylvania.
More information on the players is listed below.
FIU kicks off the 2019 season on their home pitch on Friday, Aug. 30 at 7 p.m. ET versus St. Bonaventure, before closing out the weekend against James Madison on Sunday, Sep. 1 at 7 p.m. ET. The Panthers travel for their first road match against Jacksonville on Friday, Sep. 6.
As a reminder, season tickets for the 2019 FIU men's soccer season are now on sale. For more information, or to order your tickets by phone, please call (305) FIU-GAME.
Click Here To Purchase Season Tickets
SOCIAL MEDIA
Fans are encouraged to follow the Panthers on Twitter (@FIUMensSoccer) and become a fan on Facebook (Facebook.com/FIUMensSoccer) for all the latest Men's Soccer news. Follow all of FIU's 18 athletic teams on Twitter (@FIUAthletics), Facebook (Facebook.com/FIUSports), YouTube (FIUPanthers), and Instagram (FIUAthletics).
PLAYER BIOS
6 - David Garcia
6-0, Defender, Freshman
Palma de Mallorca / Colegio San José Obrero
PREP/CLUB CAREER: Played with Real Club Deportivo Mallorca in his hometown of Palma in the Balearic Islands... Was the captain of RCD Mallorca's U19 team for three seasons... During his time with the club, Garcia played in more than 95 percent of the games for the U19 club, against teams like FC Barcelona, Espanyol, and Girona.
PERSONAL: Son of Marisol and Marcos... His favorite aspect of soccer is the element of teamwork... Garcia uses the words "humility, ambition, and honesty" to describe himself... He is an adept ping-pong player and loves the show Prison Break... Favorite soccer club is Real Madrid and his favorite player is Sergio Ramos.
ACADEMICS/ COMMUNITY SERVICE: Majoring in Mechanical Engineering at FIU.
7 - Ronaldo Marshall
6-1, Forward, Freshman
Mississauga, Ontario, Canada / St. Martin Catholic Secondary School
PREP/CLUB CAREER: Played with the Woodbridge SC Strikers of League1 Ontario... Was on the same squad as fellow FIU soccer player Stephen Afrifa... Won the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations (OFSAA) Boys' AAA Championships while playing with St. Martin Secondary School and earned the 2019 MVP... Was a member of the team that became Canada Summer Games U18 Champions in 2017... Was a member of the Canadian U15 National Team roster in 2016... Also was a member of the Ontario Provincial U15 official roster in 2016.
PERSONAL: Marshall was born in Toronto before moving to the neighboring city of Mississauga prior to the age of one... Has been playing soccer since the age of three when he became a member of the SC Falcons of Mississauga.
ACADEMICS/ COMMUNITY SERVICE: Majoring in Global & Social Sciences at FIU.
9 - Andoni Garrogerricaechebarria
5-10, Forward, Freshman
Doral, Florida / Doral Academy
PREP/CLUB CAREER: Attended and played prep soccer at Doral Academy Preparatory School... Played club soccer with the Davie United Soccer Club where he helped the Davie Sharks become Region III (Southern Regional) Champions in 2018 and saw the club advance to the US Youth Soccer National Championships... Was the top goal scorer of Region III, as he netted 11 of the teams' 28 goals in the US Youth Soccer Southern Regional Championship tournament... Also earned Region III Championships MVP... Received Miami Herald All-Dade First Team honors in two consecutive years following his junior and senior seasons.
PERSONAL: Son of Aitor Garrogerricaechebarria and Miren Begoña Ruiz de Azua... Has a 15-year-old sister named Leire... His father — who he describes as his biggest influence — played professional Jai Alai... Describes himself as "calm, chill, and quiet"... Plays ping-pong well and loves music... Always steps on the field with his right foot due to superstition... His biggest pet peeve is not being on time... Favorite foods are steak and Mexican food.
ACADEMICS/ COMMUNITY SERVICE: Majoring in International Business at FIU.
11 - Stephen Afrifa
5-10, Midfielder, Freshman
Toronto, Ontario, Canada / West Humber Collegiate Institute
PREP/CLUB CAREER: Played with the Woodbridge SC Strikers of League1 Ontario... Was on the same squad as fellow FIU soccer player Ronaldo Marshall.
ACADEMICS/ COMMUNITY SERVICE: Majoring in Health Science at FIU.
12 - Andrew Donley
6-4, Forward, Freshman
Pickerington, Ohio / St. Charles Preparatory
PREP/CLUB CAREER: Played with the Ohio Premier of the US Youth Soccer National League... Helped guide the club to a Boys U-19 Midwest Regional Championship in 2019 and advanced to the US Youth Soccer National Championships as a National League qualifier... Was the third leading score for St. Charles Preparatory in his sophomore year with 12 goals.
PERSONAL: Son of Stephanie and Mike Donley... Father was a track athlete at Miami (OH) University... Mother was a standout swimmer at the University of Florida and was later inducted into the UF Athletic Hall of Fame after winning seven NCAA titles to go along with twenty All-America honors... Has a twin sister named Alicia who plays soccer for the University of Tennessee... Alicia was a two-time United Soccer Coaches All-American in high school, and also lettered in swimming and track while earning state titles in both sports... Andrew also has a 20-year-old sister named Miranda, who earned three high school state titles in the 50 meter freestyle and was a former Ohio High School Swimmer of the Year... His favorite childhood memory is going to London to see an English Premier League match... Describes himself as funny, caring, and outgoing... Enjoys hunting and riding dirt bikes.
ACADEMICS/ COMMUNITY SERVICE: Majoring in Construction Management at FIU... Earned Academic Honor Roll and Merrit Roll during every quarter in all four years of high school... Was the President of the Environmental Club in high school and would help clean local communities on weekends.
20 - Alban Rousselet
5-8, Midfielder, Freshman
Laval, France
PREP/CLUB CAREER: Played with the development academy of Stade Lavallois Mayenne Football Club in his hometown of Laval France from 2011-17... For the 2019 season, was a member of Reading United A.C. of the USL League Two developmental soccer league... Appeared in five games with Reading United for a total of 372 minutes, while logging one goal and three assists.
ACADEMICS/ COMMUNITY SERVICE: Majoring in International Business at FIU... Earned Academic Honor Roll and Merrit Roll during every quarter in all four years of high school... Was the President of the Environmental Club in high school and would help clean local communities on weekends.
23 - Anthony Cousins, Jr.
5-9, Defender, Freshman
Honolulu, Hawaii / YSC Academy
PREP/CLUB CAREER: Played with the Philadelphia Union U-19 squad of the U.S. Soccer Development Academy... Also attended YSC academy, a private high school affiliated with the Philadelphia Union of Major League Soccer and Division II club Bethlehem Steel F.C. of the USL Championship league... Earned a roster spot with Bethlehem Steel F.C. while attending YSC academy.
PERSONAL: Born in Chicago, Illinois and grew up in Honolulu, Hawaii... Son of Jasmine and Anthony Cousins... Has a five-year-old brother named Jace, and a three-year-old sister named Jozie... Describes himself as a "chill, fun guy"... Enjoys surfing and playing water polo... Favorite food is Chinese... Other interests include fashion, music, and art.
ACADEMICS/ COMMUNITY SERVICE: Majoring in Marketing at FIU.
29 - Francesco Montali
6-3, Goalkeeper, Freshman
Davie, Florida / St. Thomas Aquinas High School
PREP/CLUB CAREER: Last played club ball with the New York Red Bulls U-18/19 squad... Prior to that was with Orlando City SC U-18/19... Became a US Youth Soccer Region III Champion while playing with the Davie Sharks in 2016, and earned the Golden Glove award given to the tournament's top goalkeeper... Helped the Sharks advance to the US Youth Soccer National Championships that season... Was also a Florida U-15 State Cup Champion in 2016 as a member of the Sharks.
PERSONAL: Son of Larry and Veronica Montali... Mother is Peruvian and father is American... Has two brothers named Lorenzo and Stefano, and a sister named Chiari... Attended St. Thomas Aquinas HS and was a member of the National Honor Society... Describes himself as "dedicated, intelligent, and fearless"... Plays the guitar, enjoys reading, and studying history... Favorite food is Peruvian.
ACADEMICS/ COMMUNITY SERVICE: Majoring in Psychology at FIU.
