We have a brand new updated website! Click here to check it out!

FHSU men’s soccer announces 2018 signing class

HAYS, Kan. – After winning the first conference championship in program history and reaching the NCAA Division II championship tournament for the sixth-straight season, the Fort Hays State men’s soccer team has bolstered its roster with a 16-man 2018 signing class.

“This 2018 recruiting class is our largest group since the program began, and we couldn’t be more excited to welcome this group of student-athletes to FHSU,” said head coach Brett Parker. “This class not only addresses some immediate needs for the upcoming season but also gives us a wealth of talent that we look forward to developing for the future.”

The 2018 group of incoming Tigers includes 11 freshman and five transfers. Brief information and coaches comments on all 16 players can be found below.

Name Position Hometown Previous School
Miguel Baca D Dodge City, Kan. Dodge City HS
Mariano Benitez D Dallas, Texas Richland College
Alec Bevis D Wichita, Kan. Bishop Carroll HS
Mariano Escobedo D Mesquite, Texas Northeastern JC
Babila Fomune MF Oklahoma City, Okla. Putnam City North
Agustin Meza F Asuncion, Paraguay
Rogelio Lopez MF Katy, Texas Cypress Lake HS
Hugo Miguez GK Pontevedra, Spain
Sergio Morgado D Dallas, Texas Skyline HS
Alonso Rodriguez MF/F Salamanca, Spain
Sami Sabrah MF/F Wichita, Kan. Allen County CC
Omar Salmon GK El Paso, Texas Univ. of the Incarnate Word
Franklin Solorio MF Houston, Texas Mayde Creek HS
Ethan Stroyan GK Bloomington, Ill. Normal Community West HS
Zach Wagner F Hays, Kan. Hays HS
Moritz Walther MF/D Wiesloch, Germany Metro State

Miguel Baca: Four-year letter winner for Coach Saul Hernandez at Dodge City High School. 2016 and 2017 6A First-Team All-State Selection.  2016 Kansas 6A Co-Defensive Player of the Year. 2016 Kansas Gatorade Player of the Year and 2016-17 USA Today First Team All-America selection. Led Dodge City High School to the 2016 Kansas 6A State Championship. Finished second in the 2017 Kansas State Cup with Kansas Rush Wichita and Coach Mario Felix.
Coach Parker’s comments: “Miguel is one of the most decorated and accomplished student-athletes in the state of Kansas. He has had an incredible high school career at Dodge City winning a state championship as well as being named Gatorade Player of the Year as a junior and playing in the high school All-American game this past December. We expect Baca to come in and compete for a significant role as a freshman.”

Mariano Benitez: Transfer from Richland College. Played in 22 games with eight starts in two seasons at Richland, contributing two assists. Helped lead the Thunderducks to the 2016 NJCAA National Championship and a runner-up finish in 2017. Played for the Dallas Texans USSDA for Coach David Hudgell.
Coach Parker’s comments: “Mariano brings a winning pedigree to our program and will give be a big addition to our depth and quality with our backline. He has played at a very high level for a number of years which will make the transition to our program an easy one.”

Alec Bevis: Earned four letters for Coach Mike Skaggs at Bishop Carroll Catholic High School. three-time first Team All-State and All-City selection. Captained Bishop Carroll to 5A State runner-up place as a senior. Played club soccer for the Wichita Cyclones and Coach Terry Arndt, winning the 2013 Kansas State Cup and finishing second in 2016 and 2017.
Coach Parker’s comments: “Alec is a player that we’ve wanted to be a part of our program for a long time. Physically and athletically he is ready for the college game and has the potential to be a dominant player at FHSU.”

Mariano Escobedo: Transfer from Northeastern (Colo.) Junior College where he played two seasons for Coach David Groves. Made 29 starts in 37 career appearances at NJC, helping the Plainsmen to an NJCAA Region IX runner-up finish. Named All-Region IX Honorable Mention.
Coach Parker’s comments: “Mariano is a very versatile defender that we expect to fill a number of roles for us the next two seasons. He has had a lot of success at the collegiate level already and we expect a smooth transition for him to the Division II level.”

Babila Fomune: Four-year letter winner for Coach Tom Pecore at Putnam City North High School. Two-time All-District and All-Conference selection at PC North. Won five Oklahoma state championships with OKC Energy ’99 club team for Coach Jesse Faily.
Coach Parker’s comments: “Bobi is yet another quality player to join us from Coach Pecore’s PC North program. We have had the opportunity to watch him develop for the past few years and Bobi has become a dominant player in Oklahoma. He has the potential to be a big-time player at our level.”

Rogelio Lopez: Competed for Coach Frank Cartagena at Cypress Lakes High School.  Helped Cypress Lakes to the 2017 District Championship. Named Texas 6A first Team All-District 17 in 2018 and VYPE Player of the Year. Played club soccer for Chivas Houston and Coach Angel Estrada.
Coach Parker’s comments: “Rogelio is a very exciting attacking player that our staff feels can develop into a player similar to 2017 All-American Derick Gonzalez. He is a very technical, dynamic and quick player that we look forward to watching develop over the next four years.”

Agustin Meza: Played for the youth teams at Sol de America in Asuncion, Paraguay.
Coach Parker’s comments: “Agustin is very skilled, left-footed attacking player that we expect to continue our long tradition of Paraguayan players at FHSU. His experience with Sol de America competing against the top teams in South America will make the transition to the DII level much easier.”

Hugo Miguez: Competed with Pontevedra FC in the Division De Honor league in Spain.
Coach Parker’s comments: “Hugo is a very important addition to the squad as goalkeeper was a very important position in this recruiting class. He has competed at the highest level of youth soccer in Spain against some of the top teams in the world. His distribution and shot stopping are outstanding and we expect him to come in and compete for the goalkeeping position this season.”

Sergio Morgado: Competed for the USSDA Dallas Texans for the past three seasons. Started 12 of 21 games played this season for the U18/19 squad. Made 25 appearances with 18 starts for the Texans U15/16 team last season.
Coach Parker’s comments: “Sergio is a very technical and versatile player that will be able to fill a number of roles at the next level. He has competed for several years at the highest level of youth soccer with the Texans DA which will significantly help his transition to the college game.”

Alonso Rodriguez: Played in the Spanish First Division De Honor for club U.D. Santa Marta and coach Sergio Hernandez. Won the 2015-16 Castilla Y Leon State Championship and Liga Nacional Championship in 2016-17.
Coach Parker’s comments: “Alonso is a crafty attacking player that we expect to make a major impact in our squad from day one. His experience playing in the Division De Honor against some of the best youth teams in the world has prepared him very well for the level of NCAA Division II soccer.”

Sami Sabrah: Transfer from Allen County Community College and Coach Doug Desmarteu. Scored five goals and added two assists his sophomore year, earning second team All-Jayhawk honors.  Played for Cloud County CC as a freshman after graduating from Wichita North HS.
Coach Parker’s comments: “Sami is another attacking player that can make an impact at a number of different positions and areas on the field. He has great pace and 1v1 ability that will complement our other players very well. We are excited to finally get him in an FHSU uniform!”

Omar Salmon: Transfer after redshirting in 2017 at NCAA Division I University of the Incarnate Word. Four-year letter winner at El Dorado High School and Coach Pedro Espinoza where he was a two time All-District performer. Played club soccer for FC Dallas El Paso and Coach David Medina.
Coach Parker’s comments: “Omar is a very important signing for us to solidify our goalkeeping position for years to come. We’ve been very fortunate to have some excellent goalkeepers in our program and we look for Omar to continue this trend for the next four years.”

Franklin Solorio: Four-year letter winner for Coach Van Daniels and Mayde Creek High School where he was captain as a senior. Competed for Coach Steven Grave with the USSDA Houston Dynamo Youth (Formerly Texas Rush) where he started 11 games during the 2016-17 season.
Coach Parker’s comments: “Franklin is a player that we are very excited about and feel that he can make an immediate impact on our midfield. He is a very composed box-to-box type midfield that will thrive in our system at FHSU.”

Ethan Stroyan: Played for Coach Valentine Walker at both Normal Community West HS and for Central Illinois United club. Honorable Mention All-Conference as a senior in 2017.
Coach Parker’s comments: “Ethan has the potential to be an excellent goalkeeper at our level. His size and frame are outstanding and we are thrilled to watch him develop at FHSU.”

Zach Wagner: Four-year letter winner and three-time captain at Hays High School for Coach Silas Hibbs. Named first team All-WAC and first team All-State as a senior. Finished his career at HHS as the school’s career assist leader. Played club soccer for the Kansas Rush Academy Gray 99/00 for Coach Dauda Kante. Was a three-year captain, leading Rush to the 2018 Kansas State Cup championship.
Coach Parker’s comments: “Zach is a player that I’ve known since he was 11 years old and I’ve watched him develop into a top quality student-athlete. The commitment level he has shown over the years travelling to Kansas City to compete with his Rush team is rare. It is very exciting to add a local player and we expect Zach to have an excellent career as a Tiger.”

Moritz Walther: Played one season at Metro State University of Denver. Played in 20 games with 18 starts for the Roadrunners in 2017. Scored three goals and added an assist in 1378 minutes played.
Coach Parker’s comments: “Mo is a big time addition for us and gives us a rare combination of size and technical ability that we haven’t had in the past. He is very familiar with DII soccer and what it takes to compete at this level. We expect Mo to make an instant impact in a number of areas this season.”

Copyright Eagle Radio | FCC Public Files | EEO Public File