BUIES CREEK, N.C. – The first four members of the 2022 Campbell men's soccer recruiting class have enrolled and are already preparing for the upcoming season.
Transfers Angel Bacho (UNCG), Tiago Lopes (Tennessee Southern), Sondre Olsen (Young Harris) enrolled last month as did 2021 high school graduate Ethan Roberts (Dripping Springs, Texas). They join a Fighting Camel team that has won five Big South trophies and competed in the NCAA College Cup three times in the last four seasons (2018, 2019, 2021).
Campbell (15-4-2, 7-0-1) won the 2021 Big South Conference regular season and tournament titles and advanced to the NCAA tournament, where it fell 2-1 at No. 27 Virginia Tech in the opening round. The Camels return the Big South offensive (
Tyler Young) and defensive (
Bissafi Dotte) players of the year, in addition to All-South performers Young,
Moses Mensah and
Kemy Amiche, who also earned freshman All-America honors.
"The 2022 recruiting class is off to a great start with four mid-year enrollees," said head coach
Dustin Fonder. "The four young men possess great soccer abilities and high character. We hope to blend them into the team during the spring developmental season. We are also working hard to round out the 2022 class with additional outstanding student-athletes joining us in August."
Angel Bacho | Midfielder | Senior | San Antonio, Texas | Central Catholic (UNCG)
Has two seasons of eligibility remaining due to COVID-19 waiver… Played three seasons at UNC Greensboro, where he helped lead the Spartans to a Southern Conference tournament title and NCAA College Cup berth ('20-21), league regular season championship (2021) and conference tourney runner-up finish (2019)… Played in 46 matches with 28 starts while scoring four goals and assisting on 5 others in his UNCG career… SoCon Honor Roll student (2021)… Career-high 3 goals and 3 assists (9 points) in 2021 for UNCG team that finished as national leader in goals per game (2.89)… Was an all-state and all-conference performer at Central Catholic High School in San Antonio… Played for Classics Elite club… Kinesiology major…
Coach Fonder on Bacho: "Angel is a ball moving midfielder. He is capable with both feet and can provide dangerous set piece deliveries. His experience in the college game should help his transition to our group."
Tiago Lopes | Midfielder | Junior | Porto, Portugal | BBZW Sursee (UT Southern)
Has three seasons of eligibility remaining due to COVID-19 waiver… Played two seasons at Tennessee Southern (NAIA)… Named to 2021 NAIA Academic All-District 2 team by CoSIDA… Honorable mention Mid-South Conference… Played in 31 games with 30 starts over two seasons with UT Southern… Started all 19 matches in 2021 with 5 goals and 5 assists… Played in 12 matches with 11 starts (0G, 1A) in '20-21 season… Graduated from BBZW Sursee (Switzerland) HS in 2020… Exercise science major…
Coach Fonder on Lopes: "Tiago is a great addition to our program. He is a mature person and excellent student. On the field, he will bring a strong presence to the midfield. He is able to cover ground and really disrupt the opponent."
Sondre Olsen | Forward | Graduate | Tromso, Norway | Norges Toppidrettsgymnas (Young Harris)
Has one season of eligibility remaining as graduate transfer due to COVID-19 waiver… Three-time All-Peach Belt (NCAA II) Conference performer, including two first-team honors, in his four seasons at Young Harris College… Helped lead Mountain Lions to a No. 1 national ranking and third round of 2021 NCAA Division II Championship… Played in 61 games for YHC, scoring 21 goals with 11 assists (63 points)… Tallied 19 points (7G, 5A) as senior in 2021… Provided 6 goals and 3 assists (15 points) in 9 matches during '20-21 season… Scored career-high 12 goals with 2 assists (26 points) in 2019… Had one goal and one assist in 17 matches during 2018… Also played with Flint City Bucks of USL League 2… Graduated from Norges Toppidrettsgymnas Tromso… Sport management major…
Coach Fonder on Olsen: "Sondre is a proven attacking threat. We hope his experience and crafty left foot will add new dimensions to our attack. We look forward to working with him this spring."
Ethan Roberts | Freshman | Forward-Midfielder | Dripping Springs, Texas | Dripping Springs HS
Scored 24 times and assisted on 24 others as a senior for Dripping Springs, which won district and regional titles… Named district forward of the year after setting school record for assists in a season… Won 3-straight district championships and two regional crowns at Dripping Springs… Also played for Lonestar SC… Scored 10 goals with 7 assists in 2021 club season… Plans an electrical engineering major…
Coach Fonder on Roberts: "Ethan is yet another standout recruit from Texas to play for Campbell. He is a versatile player who can help us in multiple positions. Enrolling at CU now will only enhance his opportunity to contribute to the team."
