Otters Bring in Six from Big South
The Big South has featured some of the most successful mid-major schools in college soccer the last few years, including Campbell University that reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament this past season. The group joining the Otters come from Gardner-Webb, Radford, UNC Asheville, and the aforementioned Campbell University.
In goal, the Otters will turn to Samuel Lechuga (Campbell) to help the defense. Lechuga started all 22 games for the Camels this past season, compiling a 17–3–2 record between the pipes. The goalkeeper from Guadalajara, Mexico recorded nine shutouts and only allowed 17 goals, good for a 0.77 goals against average. He helped lead the Camels to a Big South conference championship and a first round upset of #15 James Madison in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Lechuga was named to the All-Big South Second Team.
Fellow Camel Alemu Mercer-Miko (Campbell) will also be joining the Otters this summer. The midfielder appeared in all 22 games for Campbell and started 19 of them. He tallied one goal and seven assists, including an assist in both the semifinal and championship games of the Big South Tournament. Mercer was named an All-Conference Honorable Mention for his season.
In Boiling Springs, North Carolina the Otters will be adding two from Gardner-Webb University. First is defensive midfielder Abdul Manaf Amadu from Kumasi, Ghana. Only appearing in eight games after a preseason injury caused him to miss the bulk of the season, Manaf played a key role down the stretch for the Bulldogs. His steadying presence while just a freshman helped Gardner-Webb only lose two of their final eight games he appeared in and make a run to the Big South semifinals before falling 3–2 to High Point.
At forward, Kharrel Medza (Gardner-Webb) brings high potential to Johnson City looking to continue the strong start to his college career after being granted eligibility halfway through the season. In just 250 minutes of action, Medza scored two goals and added an assist, putting 85% of his shots on goal.
Another winger, Baye Djibril Faye (Radford) also began to find his footing towards the end of his first college season. From the Diambars Institute in Senegal, Faye played in all 18 games for the Highlanders, starting ten. The versatile winger and forward recorded two goals and an assist and finished second on the team in shots (25) and shots on goal (13).
The final signing in this group is attacking midfielder Israel Garcia-Perez (UNC Asheville). The Asheville native spent his first two college seasons at Clemson University before transferring to UNC-Asheville this spring. After scoring 19 goals and adding 22 assists his senior year of high school, Garcia-Perez was rated as a two-star prospect by Top Drawer Soccer and earned an offer from Clemson.
All signings are pending league and federation approval.
It is almost time for the Otters to kickoff their 2020 season. 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
