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Men's Soccer Athletic Communications

Hatters Announce Signing Class for 2021

Emmett Rutkowski adds 10 to the program

Stetson men's soccer head coach Emmett Rutkowski announced Monday the addition of 10 talented newcomers to the program for the upcoming 2021 season.

"I am really excited to complete our second recruiting class, ahead of what will hopefully be our first true season together as a staff at Stetson," Rutkowski said.  "This group exemplifies what it means to be a Stetson Hatter and embodies the definition of a student-athlete. Jack Roberts has been exceptional in identifying and evaluating this class and I look forward to coaching and developing the group with the rest of my staff."

The class includes players from three different states and four different countries. It also includes four transfers and six true freshmen.
 
The signees are: Charles Ahl (Winter Park, Fla.), Connor Bates (Canton, Mich.), Alvaro Gabancho (Gijon, Spain), Alessandro Gabbani (Rome, Italy), Jayden Gonsalves (Dumfries, Va.), Luis Lara Delgado (Mexico City, Mexico), Brendan Murray (Alexandria, Va.), Nelson Pereira (Silveira, Portugal), Ben Peterson (Naples, Fla.), and Gabriel Toro (Sanford, Fla.).
 
Charles Ahl - Winter Park, Fla. (Trinity Prep)
Ahl is a highly-rated Floridian from Winter Park. He is a talented, creative midfielder who can play in numerous different roles. Prior to joining Stetson, Ahl was an instrumental part of the Orlando City MLS Next Academy team and a standout performer throughout his time with the club.
 
Coach Rutkowski: "Charles is one of the top players in the state of Florida out of Orlando City's Academy. He was our first signee in the class and was identified early on as a perfect fit for our style of play. He has a great combination of creativity and grit in the midfield that we feel will make an immediate impact to our program."

Connor Bates - Canton, Mich. (Missouri State)
Bates joins the Hatters after two years at Missouri State University, where he was part of an undefeated season and a second round NCAA Tournament appearance with the Bears. A former four-year member of the Development Academy at Shattuck St. Mary's in Minnesota, the box-to-box midfielder will add energy and dynamism in midfield. 
 
Coach Rutkowski: "Connor comes from one of the top programs in the country in Missouri State and will compete for us right away in the midfield. He has the experience and maturity of playing two seasons already at the college level and will bring an excellent work rate on both sides of the ball."

Alvaro Gabancho - Gijon, Spain (Cowley College)
Gabanco is a 6-3 central defender from Gijon, Spain. He joins Stetson following two successful years at junior college powerhouse Cowley College (Kan.). Alvaro was named Jayhawks West Conference Defender of the Year for the 2021 spring season.

Coach Rutkowski: "Alvaro has developed from a top youth level in Spain and a highly-rated junior college in Cowley College. He will immediately help us in the air and can distribute the ball at a high level from the back."

Alessandro Gabbani - Rome, Italy (International Telematic University)
Gabbani is an experienced midfielder from Rome, Italy.  He has spent time with some of the elite teams in his home country, most notably, U.C. Sampdoria. Alessandro has spent the last year combining high level play with university education in Europe, and he will continue his pursuit of excellence in both at Stetson.
 
Coach Rutkowski: "Alessandro comes to us from the highest youth level in Italy and is a playmaker in the middle of the field. He has great vision, maturity and a speed of play that will impact us immediately."

Jayden Gonsalves - Dumfries, Va. (Radford)
Gonsalves transfers to Stetson following two years at Radford. The 6-2 defender from Dumfries, Va., is an imposing physical presence and a strong defender. He played in all nine matches for the Highlanders this past spring.
 
Coach Rutkowski: "I have watched Jayden develop over the past four years when he was playing club and was always very high on him as a player and as a person. He is very athletic, he brings size to our defensive unit, and he is a great fit for our culture."

Luis Lara Delgado - Mexico City, Mexico (Pitt)
The Mexico City native joins the Hatters from the University of Pittsburgh, where he was a part of their Spring 2021 NCAA DI Final Four team. Before coming to the U.S., Delgado played for the PUMAS Academy in Mexico and made an appearance for their senior team.
 
Coach Rutkowski: "Luis comes from one of the top clubs in Mexico, PUMAS, and from Pitt, a final four team this past spring. He presses extremely well, and his hunger for finding the back of the net fits with the attacking style we want to play."

Brendan Murray - Alexandria, Va. (West Potomac HS)
Murray is a humble, hard-working defender from Alexandria, Va.. He attended West Potomac High School where he was a standout student and athlete. 

Coach Rutkowski: "Brendan did extremely well at our ID Camp and has lots of potential. He is from Virginia and has kept improving every time we have seen him. His size, athleticism and strong work ethic will help improve our group."

Nelson Pereira - Silveira, Portugal (Alcochete Secondary School)
Pereira is a goal-scoring center forward from Lisbon, Portugal. He spent the past 12 years at the world-famous academy of Sporting CP, notorious for producing world class players such as Cristiano Ronaldo.
 
Coach Rutkowski: "Nelson hails from one of the most renowned youth academies in the world, Sporting CP, and has a knack for scoring goals. He is a true number "9" with an elite mentality and tireless work ethic."

Ben Peterson - Naples, Fla. (Barron Collier HS)
Peterson is an attacking forward from Barron Collier High School in Naples, Fla.  He joins the Hatters having played his club soccer for Azzurri Storm SC. Peterson is another local talent who brings strong character, perseverance and a contagious enthusiasm for the game. 
 
Coach Rutkowski: "We identified Ben at our ID Camp and really liked his tenacity and versatility. His mentality and desire to improve are top notch, and he will continue to keep getting better because of his coachability."

Gabriel Toro - Sanford, Fla. (Seminole HS)
Another product of the Orlando City MLS Next Academy team, Toro is a Sanford, Fla. native. He is a versatile attacker who excels in one vs. one attacking situations and is an exciting local talent.
 
Coach Rutkowski: "I have watched Gabe since his sophomore year in high school with Orlando City and he has the ability to develop into a very good player. He is a dynamic attacker in space and is aggressive going to goal."

The Hatters begin exhibition play at 6 p.m. Saturday at UCF.
 
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Players Mentioned

Charles Ahl

#21 Charles Ahl

M
5' 9"
Freshman
Connor Bates

#19 Connor Bates

M
5' 9"
Redshirt Freshman
Alvaro Gabancho

#2 Alvaro Gabancho

D
6' 2"
Sophomore
Alessandro Gabbani

#29 Alessandro Gabbani

M
6' 2"
Freshman
Jayden Gonsalves

#31 Jayden Gonsalves

D
6' 2"
Freshman+
Luis Lara

#23 Luis Lara

F
5' 9"
Freshman+
Nelson Pereira

#9 Nelson Pereira

F
5' 9"
Freshman
Ben Peterson

#35 Ben Peterson

F
5' 8"
Freshman
Gabriel Toro

#27 Gabriel Toro

M
5' 8"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Charles Ahl

#21 Charles Ahl

5' 9"
Freshman
M
Connor Bates

#19 Connor Bates

5' 9"
Redshirt Freshman
M
Alvaro Gabancho

#2 Alvaro Gabancho

6' 2"
Sophomore
D
Alessandro Gabbani

#29 Alessandro Gabbani

6' 2"
Freshman
M
Jayden Gonsalves

#31 Jayden Gonsalves

6' 2"
Freshman+
D
Luis Lara

#23 Luis Lara

5' 9"
Freshman+
F
Nelson Pereira

#9 Nelson Pereira

5' 9"
Freshman
F
Ben Peterson

#35 Ben Peterson

5' 8"
Freshman
F
Gabriel Toro

#27 Gabriel Toro

5' 8"
Freshman
M