Otters Sign Six With USL League Two Experience

Despite returning a nearly entirely new roster, the Otters will still feature plenty of experience all over the field. This first round of signings has gained their USL experience outside of the Tri-Cities and features three goalkeepers and three attacking players. Season tickets for the 2021 season are now on sale, get yours to see the Otters return after almost 700 days away from the pitch!

Mars Gohier, GK, Florida Southern

Leading off the group is goalkeeper Marcellin Gohier from Division II Florida Southern College. The Frenchman began his USL League Two career in 2018 with the Treasure Coast Tritons, making four appearances and recording 13 saves. In 2019, Gohier played with the New York Red Bulls U-23s, starting six games between the pipes, securing two clean sheets and a 1.20 GAA. Collegiately, Gohier began at Manhattan College, where he set several records. He was named MAAC Goalkeeper of the Year in 2017 after having a GAA of 0.62 and a save percentage over 85%, both in the top-25 of the NCAA that year. He followed that up in 2018 with a GAA of 0.71 and a save percentage of 81%, again good for top-25 in the NCAA on both marks. For his career, Gohier recorded 17 shutouts at Manhattan, five more than the previous school record. Gohier trialed with New York Red Bulls II in 2020 before the season was shut down for COVID-19, and transferred to Florida Southern to conclude his college career.

Patrick Timmer, GK, Fresno Pacific

Patrick Timmer comes to the Otters from Fresno Pacific University in California. Timmer’s first season in USL 2 was with local side Fresno FC. Logging over 1,000 minutes, Timmer recorded 33 saves, including an 11-save performance in a 1–0 win over the Ventura County Fusion. Timmer finished with a 1.17 GAA. The 2019 season saw the Dutch keeper move to Florida Elite SA, where he made 42 saves and lowered his GAA to just 1.12 over 13 appearances. With the Sunbirds in college, Timmer has been the number one keeper since he stepped foot on campus. In his career he has made 55 appearances and 200 saves, sitting sixth all-time in career wins. Timmer saved his best statistical season for the shortened spring season this year, posting a sub-1.00 GAA (0.82) and a 82% save percentage, and was named to the All-Conference Team.

Collin Parsons, GK, King

The first locally-based player to join the Otters in 2021, Collin Parsons just completed his first season with the Tornado. Beginning his career at Pfeiffer University, Parsons transferred to his native-Florida, to play at NJCAA powerhouse Daytona State College. In 2019, he played with USL 2 side Daytona SC in the Southeast Division, making one appearance in goal for a side that finished 7–3–4 and in third place. In 2020 at King, Parsons recorded a 1.33 GAA and 80% save percentage. In his start against Southern Wesleyan, Parsons recorded seven saves in the 12–1 win.

Danilo Seglio, MF/F, Loyola (Maryland)

Another player from the Southeast Division in 2019 and the first 2020 Otter commit to return for 2021, is attacker Danilo Seglio. With Villages SC, the Brazilian made nine appearances and finished second on the team in assists with three. He also started in Villages’ U.S. Open Cup match against the Lakeland Tropics, scoring the lone goal for Villages before their eventual penalty kick win. Seglio began his career at Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, TN where he started 27 matches over two seasons and scored five goals and added three assists and was named Second Team All-SAC in 2019 for the Railsplitters. Seglio transferred to Loyola (MD), and in his first season this spring for the Greyhounds, started four of their six games, generating five shots with two on target.

Agustin Ortiz, AMF, Anderson

Another attacking-minded player, Agustin Ortiz comes to the Otters by way of Argentina and Anderson University in South Carolina. Ortiz first played USL 2 during the 2019 season with the Charlotte Eagles. In 11 games, Ortiz scored two goals and added 19 shots, both good for third on the team. The midfielder began his collegiate career at nearby Lees-McRae College, under former Otters assistant coach Rich Wall. For the Bobcats, Ortiz appeared in 49 matches and finished with eleven goals, eight assists, and 116 shots. In his standout 2018 campaign, he amassed seven goals and five assists and was named to the All-Conference First Team and the D2CCA All-Region Second Team. In his first season with the Spartans this spring he tallied two goals and two assists and led the team in shots with fifteen, and was named an SAC Honorable Mention.

Brandon Smalley, MF, Florida Tech

English midfielder Brandon Smalley is the first Panther to join the Otters this summer. Smalley played in New Jersey with the Ocean City Nor’easters in both the 2018 and 2019 seasons. After having to sit out the 2018 season with injury, Smalley returned and led the team in assists with four and was named the Creative Player of the Year for the Nor’easters. He also was selected to the TopDrawerSoccer Eastern Conference Team of the Week for Week 4. At Florida Tech, Smalley appeared in 40 matches, scoring ten goals and thirteen assists in three seasons. In 2017, Smalley was named First Team All-SSC, as well as a First Team All-Region by the United Soccer Coaches and Second Team All-Region by the D2CCA. In his senior season, Smalley recorded assists in back-to-back NCAA Tournament games, before falling 2–1 to conference rival Lynn University in the third round.

All signings are pending league and federation approval.

This is just the first set of players set to be announced, so tune in every day as another group of signings is revealed! Get your season tickets here to see the whole squad in action for their first league match June 4th against Lionsbridge FC in TVA Credit Union Ballpark. Be sure to follow the Otters on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to not miss any updates regarding the 2021 season! #FearTheFur #NewYearNewOtters