NEWBERRY, S.C. - With the beginning of the 2007 soccer season at hand, Newberry College men’s soccer coach Sam Okpodu has announced his incoming freshman class.
Ten freshmen join this year’s squad, making up the largest recruiting class in Okpodu’s tenure at Newberry.
“I am excited because this is going to give us a lot of depth and the opportunity to try some different combinations of players on the field,” said Okpodu. “We won’t need to rely on just a few players, instead now we have a lot of players to call upon when the need arises.”
Trent Bagley is a defender from Chester High School in Chester, S.C. “We are looking for Trent to come in and add depth to the defensive line,” said Okpodu.
Joe Begley is another local prospect, coming in as a forward from Summerville High School in Summerville, S.C. “Joe is a crafty and very deceptive forward,” said Okpodu. “He has a good shot and he can really hit the ball.”
Michael Bibbo is a forward from Florence, S.C., where he went to South Florence High School. “Mike has good potential,” said Okpodu. “He can step is as either a forward or in the midfield.”
David Contee is a midfielder from Dalzell, S.C., who played at Crestwood High in Sumter. “We expect David to come in at the halfback position,” said Okpodu. “We need him to learn the college game fast so he can make a contribution.”
Bernard Gilbert is a forward from Ridge View High School in nearby Columbia, S.C. “Bernard is a strong, fast kid,” said Okpodu. “He needs to learn the outside midfielder position so he can provide support to the forwards.”
Lawrence Kelley comes to Newberry from Branchville, S.C., where he played forward for Branchville High School. “Lawrence has fantastic height,” said Okpodu. “We are hoping he can use that height to help on the forward line.”
David Kinard is a midfielder from Mid-Carolina High School in Chapin, S.C. “David is coming in as a support player for defenders,” said Okpodu. “He may see some playing time in the middle depending on how fast he learns the game.”
Phillippe Millogo is a forward from Oakton High School in Vienna, Va. “He is a big man up front that can generate a lot of excitement for us,” said Okpodu. “We are expecting him to generate more in the front and push for a starting position this fall.”
Lucas Noboa is a defender who comes from Deltona, Fla., where he played for Deltona High School. “We are looking for Lucas to fill a void,” said Okpodu. “He can play in the back or in the middle.”
James Woods is the final member of the class. Woods is a goalkeeper from Summerville High School in Summerville, S.C. “We are looking for James to come and compete right away,” said Okpodu. “If he does that, he could see some minutes in goal this year.”
The incoming freshman class is full of talent which Okpodu is hoping will get them on the field to contribute quickly. But he warns that the biggest thing to determine whether or not that will happen is how quickly his players learn about the speed and strength of the college game.
Overall, Okpodu is excited about his latest freshman class and the upcoming season.
“It should be a lot of fun this year,” said Okpodu. “All the players I have talked to are excited about coming down and competing this season.”
The Indians begin the 2007 season on August 23 when they host Anderson University. Kickoff for the opener is at 4 p.m.
Article written by Joe Arancio, Sports Information Assistant
