Wolfpack Completes Strong Signing Class Ahead of 2018 Season

July 18, 2018

RALEIGH – The NC State men's soccer program put the finishing touches on a strong 2018 signing class, head coach George Kiefer announced this week.

Featuring 12 total players and three included within the Boys IMG Academy Top 150 rankings, the Wolfpack's latest class is ranked 13th in the nation by TopDrawerSoccer.

"I'm really looking forward to watching the returning players help the new players acclimate to our team culture," Kiefer said. "Every player on the roster understands that we are working to restore the rich tradition of NC State men's soccer and many of them could have chosen a place that has more trophies in recent years, but they chose NC State in order to grind and restore the glory to this program."

"This class is made up of a very diverse group of young men and I'm really pleased that we have a good amount of local players, have tapped into a few MLS academies, and added a few international players as well."

Alex Bautista | D | FC Dallas Academy
Native of Nashville, Tenn. … Played for FC Dallas Academy for 2016-17 and 2017-18 seasons under Luchi Gonzalez and Chris Hayden … One of his FC Dallas Academy Teams advanced to the national championship and finished second … Chose to attend NC State because he likes the great campus and soccer program … Favorite professional club is Cruz Azul and favorite player is Marcelo … Motivated by his mother.

Iverson Brisma | F | Philadelphia Union Academy
Born in Port Au Prince, Haiti, and lives in East Windsor, N.J. … Has played for the Philadelphia Union Academy for the last five years … Was the youngest player in club history to play in a Generation Adidas (GA) Cup match with a U-16 side … Most assists in his age group for three consecutive years … Club reached the Developmental Academy (DA) Cup semifinal round … Chose NC State because he felt at home from the moment he stepped on campus and felt as though NC State provided a great opportunity to balance his soccer and academic careers … Favorite professional player is Willian … Motivated by being better than he was the day before.

Aidan Foster | MF | North Carolina FC Academy
Native of Cary, N.C. … Ranked 94th in the Boys IMG Academy Top 150 rankings … Has played for the North Carolina FC Academy program since 2013 and is currently on the NCFC U-19 Academy Team under coach John Bradford … Was a captain on his U-16 NCFC Academy team … Chose NC State because of the coaching staff, academic and soccer opportunities, and the opportunity to play soccer in the Atlantic Coast Conference … Brother Kellen played soccer at UNCW … Motivated by his family and past experiences training with the NCFC first team.

Jose Garcia Valles | D | Torre Levante CF
Native of Valencia, Spain … Goes by the nickname "Pepe" … Played for Sima Aguilas of the USL Premier Development League (PDL), a club that currently ranks atop the Southeast Division table … Played for Torre Levante CF in Valencia, Spain … Son of Jose Garcia Hernandez and Amparo Valles Villanova … Chose to attend NC State because he says it is an amazing place with a good soccer team … Motivated by the goals of being an educated man and becoming a professional athlete.

Matt Lockwood | D | AFC Apex '99 College Prep | Cal State Dominguez Hills
Played the 2017 season at Cal State Dominguez Hills, starting 21 matches and playing 1891 minutes for a side that posted a 13-5-3 record … Native of Murray, Utah … Son of Douglas Lockwood and Rebecca Verdon … Played for AFC Apex '99 College Prep in Utah under coaches Matt and Jonny Broadhead … Team captain … Surf Cup finalists, State cup semifinalists, UYSA Premier 1 … Chose NC State because it felt like the perfect place for him when he visited and he sees a lot of potential in the Wolfpack program … Favorite professional club is Manchester United and favorite professional player is DeAndre Yedlin.

Gabriel Machado | MF | Monroe College
Graduated from 15 di Outubro High School in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and played the 2016 and 2017 seasons at Monroe College in New York … 2017 NJCAA Division I Region XV Men's Soccer Player of the Year … Also named to the 2017 NJCAA Division I Men's Soccer All-Region XV Team … Scored 16 goals and distributed 12 assists in just 15 matches played during the 2017 season … Son of Leonor Madalena and Jorge Andrade … Favorite athlete is Lionel Messi.

Caleb Martinez | MF/F | Orlando City SC Academy
Native of Wesley Chapel, Fla. … Played for the Orlando City SC Pro Academy under coach Mike Potempa … Son of Chris and Derwin Martinez … Played with Chargers Soccer Club from 2015-17 … Favorite club is Real Madrid and favorite athletes are Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar … Motivated by his family.

Kuda Muskwe | F | Rotherham United
Native of Leicester, England … Spent the last four seasons playing for Paule Warne of Rotherham United, a club that recently earned promotion to the second division of English soccer … Son of Chester and Millicent Muskwe … Chose to play in Raleigh because he believes that at NC State, you are a part of something bigger, a part of the Pack.

Bailey O'Connor | MF | North Carolina FC Academy
Native of Cary, N.C. … Played for the North Carolina FC Academy program from 2017-18 under coach John Bradford … Played for the NCFC Academy program from 2013-17 under coach Greg Shields … Took part in the ID2 U.S. Soccer Camp in 2013 … Participated at the 2013, 2014, and 2015 U.S. Soccer Training Centers … Son of Richard and Kristen O'Connor … Chose NC State because it's a great ACC school with fantastic academics and a great soccer program … Motivated by the desire to succeed and be the best at everything he does.

James Orozco | D | North Carolina FC Academy
Native of Durham, North Carolina … Ranked 105th in Boys IMG Academy Top 150 rankings …Plays for the North Carolina FC Academy program under coach John Bradford … Played for the U-15 U.S. Youth National Team … Son of Dagny Orozco and Josefa Lopez … Chose NC State because of the high education standards and he feels as though he will fit in with the team while in Raleigh … Favorite professional club is FC Barcelona and favorite athlete is Lionel Messi.

Orlin Roque | F | North Carolina FC Academy
Native of Durham, N.C. … Played the 2017-18 season for North Carolina FC's U-18/19 team … Played 20 matches (starting 17) during the 2017-18 season, during which he scored nine goals … Spent the 2016-17 season with the then Capital Area Railhawks (now NCFC) U-15/16 side … Played 28 matches (starting 14) during the 2016-17 season and scored five goals … Son of Orlin E Roque and Kenia Campos.

AJ Allen Seals | MF | Orlando City SC Academy
Native of Orlando, Fla. … U.S. Soccer Development Academy Eastern Conference Best XI for 2018 season … Ranked 74th in the Boys IMG Academy Top 150 rankings … Played for the Orlando City SC Pro Academy from 2013-17 under coaches Greg Brick, Mark Lowry, Darren Powell, Jeff Negalha, David Longwell, Max Rogers, Rob Valentino, and Mike Potempa … Participated in Orlando City's MLS preseason camp and the U19 USMNT camp in 2018 … Orlando City Pro Academy U18/19 DA captain … Orlando City Pro Academy U17/18 DA quarterfinals … Made professional debut for Orlando City B vs. Toronto FC II in 2017 … Participated in the U17 USMNT Residency Training Camp in 2017 and the U15 Boys' National Team Camp in 2016.

#GoPack | @PackMensSoccer

Wolfpack Completes Strong Signing Class Ahead of 2018 Season

Players Mentioned

Alex Bautista

Ivy Brisma

Aidan Foster

Pepe Garcia

Matt Lockwood

Gabriel Machado

Caleb Martinez

Kuda Muskwe

Bailey O'Connor

James Orozco

Orlin Roque