SHREVEPORT, La. - In a vote of the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference head men's soccer coaches released Thursday, August 24, the Gents are picked to finish eighth in the SCAC in 2017. The Maroon and White finished seventh in the SCAC last season, winning its final three games of the regular season by 1-0 shutouts, including wins over conference-foes Dallas and Austin College.
The 2017 slate kicks off for Centenary the first weekend in September when it travels to Millsaps and Jackson, Mississippi for a pair of games. The Gents take on Belhaven at 5 p.m. on September 1, finishing the trip against the Uiversity of the Ozarks at 3 p.m. on September 3.
The Maroon and White open up SCAC and home play the following Friday against Austin College at 7 p.m.
Also released on Thursday, Centenary Gents soccer and head coach Kyle Symczak is pleased to introduce the addition of eight freshmen for the 2017 season.
The class includes four local student-athletes - Byrd graduate Francisco Simoncini, Caddo Magnet graduate Ali Ibrahim, and Captain Shreve graduate Alec Melvin from Shreveport, as well as Airline graduate Gin Pau from Bossier City. Also from Louisiana is Matthew Young from Alexandria and a Grace Christian graduate.
Rounding out the class from Texas are Shim Eliya (Fort Worth), Brett Shoffstall (San Antonio), and Greg Petreas (Denton).
Here is more information on all eight athletes:
Shim Eliya
Freshman / Defender
5-9 / 152
Fort Worth, Texas / Amon Carter Riverside HS
Eliya played left and right back for head coaches Richard Gonzalez and Roman Guthrie at Amon Carter Riverside HS in Fort Worth, Texas. For the Eagles, he garnered First Team All-District and Defensive MVP accolades. Academically, he was named a Scholar Athlete.
Born in Tanzania, Eliya is the son of Rehema Ndayisenga and Bamba Dieudonne. He has four sisters (Yvonne, Zerahi, Sakina, and Elizabeth) as well as four brothers (Dieudonne, Musa, Simiyoni, and Pascal). At Centenary, he plans to major in biology.
Ali Ibrahim
Freshman / Forward
6-0 / 170
Shreveport, La. / Caddo Magnet HS
Ibrahim played forward for Radi Baltov and Nick Flowers at Caddo Magnet HS. He helped the Mustangs win a District Championship in 2017. Individually, Ibrahim was named to the Regional Team, grabbed Overall MVP Honors for junior varsity, was named the Offensive MVP, won the 110% Award, and garnered Second Team All-District Accolades. He also played club soccer for Shreveport United and BOCA.
The son of Hassan Ibrahim and Amena Kayyas, he has two brothers, Omar and Abdul. At Centenary, he plans on majoring in biology.
Alec Melvin
Freshman / Goalkeeper
6-1 / 165
Shreveport, La. / Captain Shreve HS
Melvin manned the goal at Captain Shreve High School and played for the East Texas Premiere club team. Academic awards for the Alligators include being voted the best in the District, City, and Second in the State.
The son of Glenn and Olga Melvin, he has three brothers: Colton, Noah, and Alex. At Centenary, he is undecided upon a major.
Gin Pau
Freshman / Midfielder
5-6 / 140
Bossier City, La. / Airline HS
Pau played the wing and as an attacking midfielder and center forward for head coach Frank Wade at Airline HS, finishing as Airline's leading scorer with 94 goals. Named All-District and All-City for three seasons, he earned District and City MVP honors his senior season. He was the top-goal scorer in Shreveport with 37 goals his junior season. Besides his accomplishments on the pitch, he was Airline's Salutatorian, a member of the All-State Soccer Academic team, and a recipient of Centenary's President's Scholarship.
Born in Myanmar to Khual Neu and Don Hau Cing, he has a sister, Cing Kim. At Centenary, he plans to major in mathematics.
Greg Petreas
Freshman / Midfielder
5-8 / 145
Denton, Texas / Guyer HS
Petreas played center midfield for head coach Cody Schroeder at Guyer High School. With the Wildcats, he was named All-District as well as a Team Captain and Team MVP. Petreas also played for the North Texas Celtics club team. Off the pitch, he was named All-Academic.
The son of Jim Petreas, he has one sister, Stephie, and one brother, Jaron. At Centenary, he is majoring in business.
Brett Shoffstall
Freshman / Defender
5-11 / 165
San Antonio, Texas / Winston Churchill HS
Played midfield and was a defender for head coaches Kevin Walter and Casey Jenson at Winston Churchill High School. He also played club soccer for Lonestar.
The son of Rocky and Cindy Shoffstall, he has two sisters, Brooke and Julie, and one brother, Ross. At Centenary, he intends to major in economics.
Fancisco Simoncini
Freshman / Defender
5-11 / 170
Shreveport, La. / C.E. Byrd HS
Simoncini played right back at C.E. Byrd High School. With the Yellow Jackets, he was named to the Honor Roll and an AP Scholar.
He is the son of Alberto and Cinzia Simoncini. At Centenary, he is undecided upon an academic major.
Matthew Young
Freshman / Forward
5-5 / 144
Alexandria, La. / Grace Christian HS
Played forward for the Warriors at Grace Christian High School.
He is the son of Bobby and Sheri Young. At Centenary, he intends to major in business.
