Four Local Players Join Otters for 2020 Season
Historically, the Otters have always looked to local schools to fill out their roster. This year, four players from schools within an hour of Johnson City will wear the blue and green. ETSU, Tusculum, Milligan, and Lees-McRae will all be represented on the Otters this summer and Milligan Assistant Coach Kyle Findlay will join the coaching staff.
Forward Luke Murphy (Tusculum) boasts experience from several different levels. He began his career with Herkimer Community College where he captained them his sophomore year en route to a 32-goal, seven assist season. He was named an All-American and Player of the Year for Region III. Murphy then moved on to VCU where he made 12 appearances for the Rams during the 2018 season. Murphy’s final college season at Tusculum saw him appear in all 16 matches and added a goal and an assist. Murphy played last summer with the Rochester Lancers of the NPSL.
Another forward, Mohamed Jawara (ETSU) will be representing the Bucs on the Otters roster this season. After originally signing with the Otters last summer, an injury in the spring season forced him to miss the season as well as this past fall season at ETSU. During his first season with the Bucs in 2018, Jawara contributed a goal and an assist in just over 250 minutes.
Raphael Sefriou (Milligan) is a junior leftback from Montreal, Canada who made 12 starts and recorded two assists in his first season with the Buffaloes. Sefriou previously played at D-II Hawaii Pacific University and NAIA Bluefield College. With the Sharks in 2018, Sefriou played in all 16 games. At Bluefield in 2016, Sefriou scored two goals on 19 shots over 22 appearances. Sefriou was one of several players to earn his spot on the Otters through open tryouts.
The final player comes from Lees-McRae, where former assistant coach Richard Wall was head coach from 2015–2019 before accepting the assistant coach position at Ball State University. Defender/winger Harvey McMorrow (Lees-McRae) will also bring experience after finishing his senior season with the Bobcats last fall. McMorrow started all 51 matches he appeared in over his career, recording 23 assists in three seasons. The England native collected several honors over his career, making the All-Conference Carolinas Team all three seasons and being named to the All-NCCSIA Team and All-Region Team for his 2017 and 2018 seasons. In 2018, McMorrow played with USL League Two GPS Portland Phoenix in Maine and made nine appearances and added two assists.
All signings are pending league and federation approval.
All these local players will be in action in less than a month! You can find season tickets HERE and go to ottersoccer.com for information regarding camp, events, and other news. Be sure to follow the Otters on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram so you don’t miss any updates! #FearTheFur
