2025 Men’s Soccer Preview

MCKENZIE, Tenn. - The 2025 season marks a new chapter for the Bethel Wildcats as the team enters the year with a dynamic mix of youth and experience. Following the graduation of several key contributors, the coaching staff has reloaded with an elite recruiting class that brings 14 new faces to campus. These newcomers join a strong core of 18 returning players, setting the stage for what promises to be an exciting season.

Among the returners are some of the team's top performers from last year, including leading scorer Horace Avila Jr., senior MSC All-Conference standout Gregory Cousins, and veteran forward Standley Grand-Pierre Sr. These three will be crucial to the team's offensive success and overall leadership.

The Wildcats are also counting on major contributions from Sajar Blair, an MSC Second Team selection, and playmaker Juan Garcia, both of whom bring high-level experience and creativity. While the roster is young in some areas, the experienced core will anchor the team throughout the season.

In the midfield, the Wildcats look solid with the addition of talented freshman Soulemane Balde, who will join forces with sophomore Enock Owusu, as well as returners Isrrael Rodriguez and Roberto Mariella. Together, they bring technical quality and depth to the center of the pitch.

Defensively, the Wildcats will be bolstered by the return of Diego Camargo, a sophomore who earned MSC Defensive Player of the Week honors in 2024, and junior center back Juan Carreno, who brings toughness and leadership to the backline.

Newcomers to Watch:

Ishamel Fuseini – Center Back

Roberto Rangel – Left Back

Callum Bryce – Center Back

Ludwig Flink – Forward

"We have a great group of returners who know what it takes to compete at this level, and we've added some exciting young talent that's eager to prove themselves," said Head Coach Malang Jarju. "There's a lot of potential in this team. We're going to take it one game at a time, stay focused, and keep building. The work starts now."

With a talented blend of returners and high-potential newcomers, the Wildcats are poised for another strong campaign. While there's still plenty of work to be done, the team is motivated, focused, and ready to compete at a high level in 2025.

As always, the Cats face a tough schedule. It will be an unusual season with the Wildcats playing only four home games this year.