11 Players to Join the Lancers

MORENO VALLEY>> After adding a midyear transfer earlier this year, California Baptist University has once again added to its arsenal for the upcoming 2017 season with 11 new recruits. The new players will not only add to the level of play the Lancers exhibit on the field, but also to the level of excellence expected in the classroom, with the group boasting over a 3.5 combined GPA. "With this group, we had both a short term and a long-term mindset," said Coach Coe Michaelson. "With so much returning quality and a large group of talented seniors, we wanted players who could help push us over the edge and compete to win championships in 2017, our final year at Division II. "We also needed a group of young, talented players who can carry us into this new era with the move to the WAC and Division I looming," Michaelson added. "We have a great mix of young talent and immediate impact that will help us to achieve these goals on the field, while we also have a group of guys with the character and academic excellence that we want in our program." Lancer fans might recognize the last name of one of Michaelson's incoming players: Andrew Antoun. Antoun's brother Nathan played baseball at CBU until 2015. The younger Antoun will look to provide an offensive spark, like his brother did, but on the soccer field. Antoun is a four-year varsity player at Crean Lutheran High School, earning three all-league first team recognitions. He currently holds career records in both goals and assists at CLHS, at which he captained the team last year. Antoun also played club for West Coast FC, helping take the team to the 2016 Far West Regional. "Andrew is a fantastic fit here at CBU and an exceptional student," Michaelson said. "His older brother was a good baseball player for us and Andrew understands the culture we want here. He is a very athletic attacking player who I think can fight for time up top right away, but I also expect him to grow in his role every season here given the work ethic and character he has." The other incoming players are, Brian Gonzalez, Caleb Jobert, David Van Hoose, Edgar Benitez, Noah Oyler, Jacob De Leon, Matthew Schumacher, Preston Judd, Tristyn Bailey, Uriel Mosqueda, and Victor Aquirre. CBU will look to build upon last year's 12-6 record. The 2017 season kicks off in the fall, with the Lancers reporting to preseason camp in July before their international trip to Mexico.