SMU men’s soccer aims to build off Top 10 finish with deep 2024 signing class
By Jennifer Streeter (SMU)
DALLAS — SMU men’s soccer head coach Kevin Hudson has announced the 2024 signing class, today. Eleven new players are set to join the Mustangs and fortify all thirds of the field.
“We are thrilled to welcome this talented group of student-athletes to SMU. They will make an immediate impact and help build our program for future ACC success,” said Hudson. “This diverse collection of players brings high level domestic, international and collegiate experience.”
SMU finished the 2023 season with a 14-3-2 overall record while being undefeated in conference play with a 7-0-1 record. The Mustangs will host Stanford, Wake Forest, Pitt and Virginia Tech at Washburne Stadium as part of the program’s inaugural ACC slate. The Mustangs concluded their 2023 season ranked in the top 10 nationally.
With the following 11 players, Hudson and his staff have a total of 14 signees in the 2024 class. Christian Chandler, Jordain Jaeger and Cesar Ruvalcaba were announced as Mustangs in February.
Dominic Bartoni – Forward, Freshman | St. Louis, Mo./Christian Brothers College
Bartoni is a two-time All-American from St. Louis, Mo. The 6’2″ forward scored 48 career goals and 10 career assists for the CBC Cadets. He had a total of 25 goal contributions (19 goals and six assists) in 13 matches during his senior year.
Throughout his high school career, he also earned two All-Region honors and two All-State honors. He was named the Christian Brothers College Senior Athlete of the Year along with being awarded the District Player of the Year while lettering all four years of his high school career.
Ryan Clanton-Pimentel – Midfielder, Freshman | Leander, Texas/Rouse High School
Clanton-Pimentel joins the Mustangs back line from Leander, Texas. A proven attacking threat, the defender as he posted 33 goals and 36 assists through 49 appearances during his time at Rouse High School. In his senior year of high school, he averaged 1.56 goal contributions per game by scoring 18 goals and adding 18 assists in 23 appearances.
He was named the District Midfielder Most Valuable Player and First Team All-State Team in the 2023 season. Clanton-Pimentel also led his team to be crowned area champions while simultaneously advancing to the state’s Regional Final. Prior to that, he was named Academic All-District, as well as the sole District Most Valuable Player in his junior year.
A key member of Lonestar SC U-19 ECNL finishing the season 13-2-2. He led Lonestar SC to a #11 seed in the 2024 ECNL National Playoffs.
Daniel Felipe Escorcia Celi- Midfielder, Junior | Bogota, Colombia/Dallas College Richland
Escorcia Celi strengthens the Mustang midfield from Bogota, Colombia by way of Dallas College Richland. Daniel spent his youth developing at the famed Columbian Club, Independiente Santa Fe. Escorcia posted 11 career goals and 27 assists in 32 matches. Last season, he had 20 assists and 8 goals to total 28 goal contributions in 16 matches.
He was named the Dallas Athletic Conference Newcomer of the Year during his freshman year at Richland. In his sophomore season, he was named an NJCAA All-American and the NJCAA Player of the Year.
Mason Grimm – Defender, Freshman | Southlake, Texas/Carroll Senior High School
Grimm joins SMU as a four-star recruit and 78th ranked national prospect by Top Drawer Soccer. The 6’0″ central defender from Southlake, Texas, was a member of 2023 North Texas SC in the MLS Next Pro. He captained FC Dallas U19 team during the 2023-24 season, leading the team to an MLS Next playoff berth. Grimm was a mainstay in the FC Dallas backline during his U17 season, leading the team in the MLS Generation Adidas Cup and the National Playoffs.
Charlie Isphording – Defender, Freshman | Cincinnati, Ohio/Indian Hill High School
An All-American, Isphording is the reigning Southwest Ohio Player of the Year and three-time All-State selection. He led the Indian Hill Braves to the Cincinnati Hills League championship with an 18-2-1 record in the 2023 season, contributing four goals and three assists.
The Ohio native was also named the Cincinnati Enquirer Player of the Year and one of the 2024 ECNL Players to Watch. Isphording, is also a National Honor Society member.
Oliver Knotek – Forward, Freshman | Palos Verdes, Ca./Palos Verdes High School
Another incoming freshman for the Mustangs, Knotek comes with international experience at both the Porto International Cup from 2022-23 and the Mic Cup in Spain 2023-24. A key member of the Pateadores Soccer Club U-19 ECNL, he led his team to the ECNL National Finals in 2024. He posted 41 goals in 61 games during his time at Palos Verdes High School.
The Palos Verdes, California native, was also a two-time varsity captain during his junior and senior years at Palos Verdes High School in addition to being the 2023 Offensive Player of the Year.
Hannes Ottosson – Midfielder, Freshman | Stockholm, Sweden/Nacka Gymnasium
Ottosson comes to the Hilltop from Stockholm, Sweden. The midfielder was recognized as the best U19 player for the 2022 season for IFK Stocksund. A key member of IFK Stocksund 1st team in the Swedish 3rd tier, Ettan Norra. He comes from a soccer family, with his father Mats playing in the highest division of Sweden soccer.
Brock Pope – Defender, Graduate Student | Corinth, Texas/Bellarmine University
Pope joins SMU after three years at Bellarmine. The 6’1″ defender contributed to 13 shutouts while providing seven goals and 11 assists in 44 appearances for the Knights. He led Bellarmine’s defensive line to four shutouts in the 2023 season and was named Atlantic Sun Conference Defensive Player of the Year.
The Corinth, Texas native earned the United Soccer Coaches Atlantic Region Second Team honors and is a three-time ASUN All-Tournament honoree.
Stephan Soghomonian – Forward, Freshman | Santa Clarita, Ca./International School of Dusseldorf
A former Bundesliga U17-19 member, Soghomonian played club soccer for Fortuna Dusseldorf. He arrives at the Hilltop from Germany, where he’s been playing since he was 17. He recorded four goals and four assists with Unterrath U17 in the 2021-22 season before transferring to Dusseldorf U19 where he scored three goals in the 2022-23 season. Recently, Soghomonian graduated from the International School of Dusseldorf under the distinguished academic curriculum track.
Yves Vaage – Defender, Freshman | Oslo, Norway/NTG Baerum
A 6’2″ central defender from Oslo, Norway. Vaage played at the highest level of Norwegian soccer with Strømsgodset Toppfotball in Eliteserien. A member of the first team throughout the 2024 season, Vaage regularly featured during the team preseason tour of Spain. A consistent starter on the backline for Strømsgodset II during the 2023 season. Vaage also won the U19 national tournament.
Cameron Victor – Goalkeeper, Graduate Student | Olmsted Falls, Ohio/Wofford College
Victor joins the Mustangs from Wofford where he started 34 matches in goal. The Olmsted Falls, Ohio native had 10 clean sheets at Wofford by posting 101 saves through in two seasons. He recorded seven clean sheets and 51 saves while only allowing 15 goals against in the 2023 season.
The 6’2″ goalkeeper was included in the 2023 Second-Team All-Southern Conference and to the Southern Conference Honor Roll. During his high school years, Victor was named the team captain with Internationals Academy in the United States Development Academy and was at one time ranked the No. 2 goalkeeper in the country.
