MORROW, Ga. – July 12, 2007 – Clayton State men’s head soccer coach Pete Petersen took care of the present and looked ahead to the future of the Laker program with the signing of four newcomers to the 2007 Clayton State recruiting class.

Joining the Laker program for this season is junior goalkeeper Mike Gustavson, senior defender Wenshel St. Hilaire, freshman goalkeeper J.C. Williams and freshman midfielder Marijan Babic. This quartet brings Petersen’s recruiting class for this upcoming season to 14.

Headlining this quartet is Gustavson, who comes to Clayton State following two stellar seasons for head coach Mark Berson’s nationally-ranked program at South Carolina. The 6-foot-4, 190-pounder from Aiken, S.C., was a two-time All-Conference USA selection in both 2005 and 2006, not to mention the 2005 Conference USA Freshman of the Year.

This past season, Gustavson posted 70 saves with six shutouts and a 1.09 goals-against average in pacing the Gamecocks to an 11-5-1 mark. As a freshman, he had 88 saves and a 1.19 goals-against average with four shutouts. Gustavson is a member of the USA Under-20 national team pool and was a teammate at South Aiken High School with another Laker recruit – forward Jamal Geathers.

The two played for the Aiken Fire club team that won four straight South Carolina state championships. He will redshirt this season and aim to take over as the Clayton State goalkeeper for the 2008 season.

“He (Gustavson) is the highest-caliber American player we’ve ever had here,” said Petersen. “He’s ready to get back in the saddle after this season and eager to get better. Mike can be an MLS-caliber player with some seasoning.”

Aiming to make an immediate impact on the defensive backline is St. Hilaire, who comes to Clayton State from Peach Belt Conference rival North Georgia. The 5-11, 192-pounder from Sunset, Fla., started all 18 games for the Saints in 2005, leading North Georgia to a 10-6-2 mark in its first season at the Division II level. He was medically redshirted last season.

St. Hilaire was a standout at Georgia Perimeter prior to attending North Georgia, where he was a teammate of former Laker Junior Smith. He was an All-State selection at Pipes High School in Sunset.

“I’ve known Wenshel for six years, and we’ve tried to recruit him before,” Petersen said. “He should be a heavy contributor as an outside back for us.”

The 6-2, 180-pound Babic will give the Lakers more depth in the midfield and was a standout at Friedrich Dessaner Gymnasium in Frankfurt, Germany. Petersen compares Babic to former Clayton State All-American Juan Trujillo with his style of play.

“He is silky smooth and very crafty with the ball,” Petersen said. “He loves to take people on offensively, and has a lot of the characteristics that Juan had.”

Williams, a 5-11, 190-pounder from Stockbridge, Ga., comes to Clayton State after attending Valdosta State last year. He prepped at Union Grove High School and also plays club soccer for the Henry County Soccer Association.

“We needed depth at the goalkeeper position, and J.C. will provide that,” Petersen said. “He’s got a great work ethic and could really develop.”

The Lakers open preseason practice on Aug. 6. Clayton State opens the 2007 season on Aug. 24, playing host to Tampa at 7:30 p.m.