Clayton State men report for 2007 preseason soccer practice
“Claim It, Live It, Own It” the motto for Lakers as they open camp

MORROW, Ga. – August 5, 2007 – The summer came to an early end for the Clayton State Laker men’s soccer team as head coach Pete Petersen welcomed 28 players to campus for the start of preseason camp on Sunday.

The Lakers went through the first day with team meetings and physicals. Clayton State officially starts preseason camp on Monday.

“I am so very, very pumped about getting out there tomorrow and see what we have as a unit,” said Petersen, who is 35-17-8 entering his fourth season at the Laker helm. “We have a lot of talent, at least two deep in each position and have a large group of seniors who committed. In the month of August we plan to focus on fitness and defensive organization.”

The Lakers return 13 letterwinners and six starters from last season’s 10-9 squad that won the Peach Belt Conference championship for the second straight year. Headlining the returnees are All-Peach Belt and All-Southeast Region midfielders Hailab Habtom and Johnny Lara.

Habtom, a 6-foot, 150-pound senior, was the Lakers’ leading scorer last season with 10 goals and 11 assists, leading the Peach Belt in that category. The 5-8, 150-pound Lara had one goal and five assists.

That duo is joined by the primary offensive threat in senior forward Tonny Madegwa, who was leading the Peach Belt in scoring when he went down with a season-ending knee injury in the ninth game. Other returning starters include senior midfielder Dean Gilewicz, senior defender Danny English and junior defender Jordan Gilbert.

A key ingredient that was missing last season but back this time around is senior midfielder Jarrid Nicholson. The 2005 Peach Belt Tournament Most Valuable Player, the 5-8, 160-pound Nicholson missed last season with a knee injury, but is back ready to direct the Laker attack in the midfield.

“We’re hungry,” said Nicholson. “Missing the NCAA Tournament was very disappointing for us last season and we’re ready to pick it up more this season.”

A group of 15 newcomers join the returning players with a strong mix of experience and youth to help the Clayton State cause this season. Included in the recruiting class is two NCAA Division I transfers, two Division II transfers and four players with national team credentials to their credit.

Senior defender Karl Haggon comes to Clayton State after a season at Division I Marshall and should make an immediate impact along the always strong Clayton State defensive backline. The other Division I transfer is goalkeeper standout Mike Gustavson, who comes to Clayton State after two stellar seasons at South Carolina. Gustavson will redshirt this season, and then become eligible in 2008.

The two Division II transfers are Wenshel St. Hilaire from Peach Belt rival North Georgia, and Stephen Dolbeer from Tusculum. St. Hilaire had a medical redshirt last season at North Georgia, while Dolbeer left Tusculum after its men’s soccer program was suspended last season. It is a homecoming of sorts for Dolbeer, who prepped at nearby Lovejoy High School.

The Lakers also inked arguably the most heralded freshman to step foot at Clayton State - forward Jamal Geathers. A high school All-American and teammate of Gustavson at South Aiken in Aiken, S.C., Geathers was also in the U.S. National Team Pool with Gustavson and should be an immediate offensive force up front for the Lakers. The other two newcomers with national team experience is senior goalkeeper Janel Simon (Antiguan National Team) and freshman forward Michael Albouy (Bermuda U-19 National Team).

“We’re very excited about this recruiting class,” Nicholson said. “It has a lot of experience and leadership to bring to the table.”

Clayton State opens the 2007 season at home against Tampa on Aug. 24.