SPRINGFIELD - The Missouri State men's soccer program will welcome the addition of 14 newcomers to its 2022 class with the signing of Gustav Moberg, Simon Bakken, Gianluca Fiorini, Pablo Guillen, Ollie Bate, Alan Rivera, Alex Matthews, Charlie Bell, Larsen Hackworth, Zack Hargreaves, Colin Bastianoni, Elijah Zelkind, Alex Hare and Daniel Normann to National Letters of Intent.
"I want to thank the coaching staff for their tireless work recruiting," said Missouri State head coach designate Michael Seabolt. "The quality of student-athlete we are bringing into the Bear family is exciting, and it is full credit to the efforts of the team on and off the field. We are the luckiest guys in the world to be Bears and can't wait to welcome these new additions and work with them to achieve individual and team goals."
Joining the Bears for the 2022 season are:
Gustav Moberg (MF, 5-11, 150, Fr., Borås, Sweden)
Moberg joins the Bears from Borås, Sweden, where he spent time playing for IF Elfsborg and Norrby IF. Moberg was named captain every season for his respective clubs and led the teams in assists for several years. He plans to major in Business at Missouri State.
Assistant coach Phil Woods on Moberg: "Gustav is a true competitor and impressed the staff with his attitude during the recruiting process. It's exciting to us that he is committed to the process of being a Bear and we look forward to working with him throughout his athletic and academic career here at MSU."
Simon Bakken (F, 5-7, 150, Fr., Lillestrøm, Norway)
Bakken comes to Missouri State from Lillestrøm, Norway where he was a member of Gjelleraasen IF. Playing for the first team, Bakken scored five goals and added six assists in 13 matches. He also recorded six goals and six assists for the second team over three matches. Bakken plans to major in Business at Missouri State.
Woods on Bakken: "We wanted to add Simon to the team as we believe he can provide a threatening attacking option. It was also a delight for us when Simon committed because we knew his qualities off the field were also of the highest level. Simon has the upmost respect for the program, the university, the coaching staff and his teammates, so we are confident he will be a great Bear."
Gianluca Fiorini (D, 5-7, 154, Jr, Scandiano, Italy / Davis & Elkins)
Originally from Scandiano, Italy, Fiorini comes to Springfield after two seasons at Davis & Elkins. There, he earned All-MEC First Team honors and made the All-MEC Freshman Team. He was also named MEC Men's Soccer Defensive Player of the Year and helped lead his team to a conference title in 2021. Fiorini plans to major in Sports Medicine at MSU.
Woods on Fiorini: "Gianluca has already made a great impression in United States Soccer both at USL Two level with the Des Moines Menace and at the NCAA Division II level with Davis & Elkins College where he transfers into the Bears. Not only could we see great qualities on the field, but his coaches also provided outstanding references about his character on and off the field, so we are looking forward to getting to work with Gianluca".
Pablo Guillen (F, 5-10, 171, Jr., A Coruña, Spain / Evansville)
Hailing originally from A Coruña, Spain, Guillen joins the Bears after spending two seasons at a Division I institution. During the 2020-21 season, Guillen finished in the top five in the conference in shots, shots per game, points, goals, and goals per game. Prior to that, he played on C.D. Lugo's youth team of Spain's LaLiga 2 where he finished the 2019-20 season with 9 goals and 11 assists. He plans to major in Economics at Missouri State.
Woods on Guillen: "We are excited to add a player with Pablo's talent and skill set. We are sure he will be able to contribute to our team and that he will be a great Bear"
Ollie Bate (F, 5-7, 157, Fr., Yorkshire, England, Bromley College)
Bate joins the Bears from Yorkshire, England, after stints with Millwall FC, Erith & Belvedere and Ramsgate. Most recently he tallied nine goals with Erith & Belvedere, adding 12 assists through 18 games. He plans to major in Environmental Biology at Missouri State.
Seabolt on Bate: "Ollie will be on academic scholarship on MSU and is an elite student. On the pitch he is a dynamic attacker with pace and an eye for goal. He spent the last year with Ramsgate playing with the amateur men's game and preparing for the speed and physicality that he needs to excel for MSU."
Alan Rivera (MF, 5-10, 145, Fr., Round Rock, Texas, Stony Point High School)
Rivera attended Stony Point High School in Round Rock, Texas, where he started all four years on his high school team. He joins the Bears midfield after time spent playing in the ECNL, where he scored 31 goals. He plans on majoring in Business at Missouri State.
Seabolt on Rivera: "Alan has excelled for both Lonestar and Austin FC. He has been a key players for one of the top teams in the ECNL and is a proven winner. He is a dynamic attacker player and will quickly adapt to being a complete player. He is a high character person and a hard worker that has impressed us with his attitude and ability from day one."
Alex Matthews (MF, 5-7, 132, Fr., Derbyshire, England, Chellaston Academy)
Hailing from Derbyshire, England, Alex Matthews brings a wealth of experience to the Bears. A member of the Derby County FC, Matthews was named the Derby County player of the year in 2019 while playing for the under-16 team. He was also a part of the league winning team while playing for the under-18 team in 2019, as well. Matthews is undecided on his major.
Seabolt on Matthews: "Alex is a technical midfielder and a box to box guy. We are confident he will be a two-way player from day one for the Bears. He will join a long line of Bears midfielders that will outrun and outwork opponents while bringing quality. Alex is also a very accomplished individual and student that has earned and academic scholarship."
Charlie Bell (MF, 5-7, 149, Fr., Doncaster, England, Doncaster Roves FC)
Bell joins the Bears from Doncaster, England, where he played for the Doncaster Rovers Football Club. During his time there, he helped the club to a league, EFL Youth Alliance, championship in 2019. After spending two seasons as a starter for the under-18 team, he was called up to the under-23 team. He will add to MSU's depth at midfield, as well as can transition to a defensive player. He is undecided on his major at Missouri State.
Seabolt on Bell: "Charlie is a technical and hard-working midfielder. He is versatile and can also play on defense. We're excited to add him to the squad, and we look forward to working with him."
Larsen Hackworth (MF, 5-7, 140, Jr., Bradenton, Fla., IMG Academy / UNC Asheville)
Hackworth comes to the Bears with Division I experience under his belt after spending the 2019-21 seasons at UNC Asheville, captaining the team that made its first Big South Semifinal appearance since 2001. Originally from Bradenton, Fla., Hackworth plans to major in Health Studies at Missouri State.
Seabolt on Hackworth: "Larsen is a technical and aggressive midfielder with successful Division 1 experience. I have known Larsen since his days at the IMG Academy where he played for my good friend Keith Fulk. Larsen also played for new assistant Coach Jordan Valentine. We know he will fit in well with our style of play."
Zack Hargreaves (MF, 6-1, 180, Gr., Manchester, England, Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School / Indiana Wesleyan)
Hargreaves will join the Bears after spending seasons at Southern Wesleyan and Indiana Wesleyan. During his time at Indiana Wesleyan, he scored nine goals and tallied 13 assists. Originally from Manchester, England, Hargreaves was named to the conference's first-team for his efforts, earning All-American status in 2021. He will earn his Master's degree in Business Administration at Missouri State.
Seabolt on Hargreaves: "Zack played for good friend Matt Reeb. Matt speaks very highly of Zack as a player and leader. Zack will add to an already strong midfield core. Zack also has great experience playing in the summer leagues and his coaches there speak highly of him. He will be starting graduate school at MSU."
Colin Bastianoni (F, 6-0, 180, Fr., Naperville, Ill., Metea Valley High)
Bastianoni will join the Bears following his graduation from Metea Valley High School in Naperville, Ill, where he was a forward for the Mustang's soccer team. During his senior season, he scored 19 goals and added four assists earning him the title of All-Area MVP. He plans on majoring in Finance at Missouri State University.
Seabolt on Bastiononi: "Colin is a top attacking player who is a proven winner and national champion. During the summer of 2021 he impressed us with his ability as well as his toughness when playing through an injury. He has a willingness to run in behind defenses and arrive in the box where goals are scored."
Elijah Zelkind (D, 5-7, 140, Fr., San Diego, Cali., Torrey Pines High)
Joining the Bears from San Diego, Zelkind will add depth to Missouri State's strong backfield. A three-year starter out of Torrey Pines High School, he was named to both the American Southwest First Team and the Avocado West first team following his junior campaign. Zelkind plans to major in Business at Missouri State.
Seabolt on Zelkind: "Eli is an outside back that is a complete two-way player. He can press, he can defend, he can pass, and he attack and is also a top student. We fully expect Eli to be another Bear competing for both athletic and academic honors in the coming years."
Alex Hare (GK, 6-3, 187, Fr., Derby, England, The Ecclesbourne School/Derby County FC Academy)
Hare comes to Missouri State after honing his talents playing for both Derby County FC and Sheffield Wednesday FC in England. During the 2020-21 season, he earned the status of the goalkeeper with the nation's best defensive statistics at the under-18 level, recording seven clean sheets. He will major in Sport Management as a Bear.
Seabolt on Hare: "Alex is a strong goalie with a very good background. His coaches speak highly of him and everything we have seen suggests he has the chance to be a top goalie in the NCAA. He is a modern goalie that stops goals and will also be a valuable member of the team in possession as well."
Daniel Normann (MF, 5-8, 157, So., Husnes, Norway, Haugesund Toppidrettsgymnas/Cal Poly San Luis Obispo)
Normann comes to MSU after spending one season playing NCAA Division I soccer at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. There, he made eight starts appearing in all 14 games. He took eight shots and added his first collegiate assist in the team's match against UC San Diego. Normann will major in Business at Missouri State.
Seabolt on Normann: "Daniel already has experience in NCAA Division I and his former coach and former US National Team Coach Steve Sampson speaks very highly of him as a player and person. Everything we saw from our scouting suggests Daniel will fit perfectly in our style of play as a technical and creative player that is also a hard worker."
Missouri State is coming off a 2021 campaign in which the team captured its third-straight Missouri Valley Conference regular season title and second-consecutive MVC Tournament championship with a 17-2 overall record. MSU capped off its season with its sixth trip to the NCAA Tournament. Beginning January 1, the Bears will be under new leadership as long-time assistant coach Seabolt will take of the reigns following the retirement of Jon Leamy after 30 years at the helm.
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