Coastal Carolina men’s soccer adds 10 players to 2022 roster

CONWAY, S.C. – Coastal Carolina men’s soccer head coach Shaun Docking has announced the addition of 10 student-athletes to the Chanticleers roster, effective in the fall of 2022.

Christian Cook, Alex Excamilla, Blake Gilbert, Maurice Hauser, Eythor Kjartansson, Tom Meurer, Pablo Obrador, Iu Pentiant, Noe Santos, and Ian Turnbull have all signed a National Letter of Intent to play with the Chants.

“This is a very exciting class of student-athletes that we have coming in to play at Coastal Carolina this fall. This group of players will not only give us depth and strength in positions all over the field, but many of these guys will compete straight away for starting time in our quest to win the newly formed Sun Belt Conference Championship this fall,” coach Docking said. “Our goal is not only to get make our 19th appearance in the NCAA Division I Championship Tournament but to win the NCAA Division I Championship Tournament. Many of these student-athletes will not only provide a different dimension in how we want to play but will also bring the necessary experience and cultural elements to play for our elite national ranked top-25 men’s soccer program this fall.”

Christian Cook: Charlotte, N.C.

A winger from Charlotte, N.C., Cook attended Olympic High School where he was a member of the National Honor Society. Cook also was able to play soccer in Germany for four months.

Docking on Cook: “We are very excited about Christian and his attacking abilities. Christian comes from the Charlotte Independence Academy setup. He is very quick and is a natural goal scorer that will compete for starting time immediately.”

Alex Escamilla: Fuquay-Varina, N.C.

A native of Fuquay-Varina, N.C., Escamilla comes to Coastal Carolina having previously played at Wake Technical Community College in Raleigh, N.C. where he appeared in 24 matches and earned 23 starts as a midfielder. He recorded 14 shots with six on-goal and netted three goals and added three helpers. He also attended Fuquay-Varina High School where he was named MVP of his team and also earned a spot on the 2021 All-Region 10 Soccer second team.

Docking on Escamilla: “Alex will join our program this fall after being identified at our ID showcase this past Christmas.  He is a player with quick feet and technically very good, with a great soccer brain.  We expect Alex to compete right away for playing and starting time this fall after having spent two years at the junior college level.”

Blake Gilbert: Concord, N.C.

Gilbert, a forward from Concord, N.C., attended Cox Mill High School where he was a conference champion during the 2021 season and named North Carolina All-Region following the conclusion of the season. He was a member of the National Honor Society and honor roll and also the leading scorer for his club team at the U17 level.

Docking on Gilbert: “We are excited to add Blake to our group for this fall’s incoming class.  He is big and athletic and will create great attacking opportunities for himself and his teammates.  Blake is versatile in his play and we see him playing in the front half of the group predominantly.”

Maurice Hauser: Brüggen, Germany

Hauser, a native of Brüggen, Germany, attended Rhein-Mass-Berfuskolleg Willich and played for SV Straelen, 1. FC Mönchengladbach, Fortuna Düsseldorf, and most recently VfB Homberg. While with SV Straelen, Hauser won the division and was also the top scorer in the league. During his time with 1. FC Mönchengladbach, he was once again the top scorer in the league. He was a two-time captain and also a DFB selection in 2016-17.

Docking on Hauser: “We are excited that Maurice will be joining us as he has played at a good level in Germany prior to his arrival at Coastal this fall.  He is an exciting, wide attacking player, that will give our squad an extra dimension in how we play and attack teams this season.”

Eythor Kjartansson: Vestmannaeyjar, Iceland

Kjartansson, a midfielder, comes to Coastal Carolina from Vestmannaeyjar, Iceland where he attended Framhaldsskólinn í Vestmanneyjum. Kjartansson was a member of the IBV first team and captained the U19 IBV team where he was awarded Player of the Year for his efforts on the pitch.

Docking on Kjartansson: “Eythor is another very exciting and athletic player that is versatile and can play in a few different positions and different formations for us. He is comfortable in wide positions on the right or in the central midfield area. He is used to playing at a very high level which will suit him very well with our elite NCAA Division I top-25 schedule.”

Tom Meurer: Mönchengladbach, Germany

A center back from Mönchengladbach, Germany, Meurer attended Gymnasium Korschenbroich and played soccer for Borussia Mönchengladbach for 10 years before playing in the 4th German division.

Docking on Meurer: “Tom is another exciting left-footed player that can defend and attack for us.  He will make an immediate impact in the back half of our team and will help us build our game model very well this fall.”

Pablo Obrador: Talca, Chile

A native of Talca, Chile, Obrador attended High Mowing School and Northwood School. He also played for the youth professional teams Rangers De Talca (U12 – U15) where he was a captain for his final two years. Obrador also saw action with Universidad Catolica from U16-U18. He played one season as a midfielder for both Mowing School and Northwood School, while also playing club soccer for the Black Rock U19 team. In 2015 and 2016, he was the top scorer in the championship and was a two-time regional champion. During his time with the Rangers de Talca, he won the Youth Professional National Cup, serving as a team captain, and was the top scorer in both 2015 and 2016.

Docking on Obrador: “Pablo is a very creative and technical central holding midfielder that comes from the much-heralded Black Rock Academy out of New York. We expect Pablo to join us and have an immediate impact for playing time straight away.”

Iu Pentiant: Reus, Tarragona, Spain

Pentiant, a native of Reus, Tarragona, Spain, attended Northwood School in Lake Placid, N.Y. where he was a goalkeeper and a captain. He was also a two-time honor roll honoree. At 15, he was called to play for Catalunya.

Docking on Pentiant: “Iu is another player that comes from the elite Black Rock Academy program. Originally from Spain, he will compete right away for the starting goalkeeping position here at Coastal.  He has good size and quickness, and manages the game very well with a great presence in goal. We are very excited that Iu has agreed to join our elite program here at Coastal.”

Noe Santos: Kiel, Germany

Santos comes to Coastal Carolina after previously playing at the University of Northwestern Ohio where he appeared in seven matches, earning five starts, and recorded one goal on 10 shots. Prior to his time at the University of Northwestern Ohio, Santos played for Club Holstein Kiel in Germany, where he spent one year as a captain. He was named the best player at the Mr. Laminat Cup 2017 with SSV Hagen. Santos was also named to the Dean’s List and President’s List at the University of Northwestern Ohio.

Docking on Santos: “Noe joins us with a good season of college soccer already at the NAIA level. He will challenge immediately for starting time and playing time as a sophomore transfer. He gives us a dimension to our attacking play that we do not currently have, and we are very excited about his leadership and cultural qualities that he will provide this fall.”

Ian Turnbull: Geneva, Ill.

A goalkeeper from Geneva, Ill., Turnbull attended Geneva Community High School and YSC Academy in Pa., but played in both Shockers FC in Chicago, Ill., and most recently was a member of the Philadelphia Union Academy. During his freshman year, Turnbull was selected to train with Sporting Lisbon and spend time at their Academy in Portugal.

Docking on Turnbull: “Ian comes to Coastal after a strong few seasons at the Philadelphia Union Academy (MLS). We are really excited about Ian’s potential and his speed and size will be great attributes as he strives to continue his progress with coach Chris Fidler. Ian is an exciting prospect and we are thrilled that he has chosen Coastal Carolina to progress his soccer career.”

Coastal Carolina finished the 2021 season 6-5-4 overall and 3-1-4 in Conference USA. In April, the Sun Belt Conference announced that the league will sponsor men’s soccer starting in the fall of 2022.