SPARTANBURG, S.C. – There are some new faces to know at all levels of the USC Upstate Men's Soccer roster for the 2023 season as there are 13 new players and a new goalkeepers coach joining the Spartan program.
"I am really excited about this incoming freshman class. We have had to reload in some key positions and they definitely have the talent and maturity to play a big part in the future of the program," said head coach Scott Halkett. "It is going to be fun to watch this group of players grow and see the impact they will have on the team.
In addition to reloading the roster, the Spartan coaching staff will see some changes as well. Doug Smith joins the Spartans staff to work with the goalkeepers while last season's volunteer coach Colin Francis has been elevated to a full-time assistant coach.
"The addition of Colin Francis and Doug Smith to the coaching staff is huge. It is the first time we will have three full time coaches on staff so it will be great to have the extra support. Colin did a fantastic job last year as a volunteer coach. He has the ability to breakdown the game and to relay tactical information to the players really well," said coach Halkett. "Doug will be the goalkeeper coach for us this season and I am really looking forward to seeing his impact on our goalkeepers. He did a fantastic job at SMC so I am happy to add him to the coaching staff."
Below is information on Assistant Coach/Goalkeepers Coach Doug Smith and the 13 players to catch on the pitch (listed in alphabetical order).
Doug Smith | Assistant Coach/Goalkeepers Coach
Doug Smith, joins the USC Upstate 2023 Men's soccer staff as the goalkeepers coach for his third stint in Spartanburg after serving in the same position for the Converse Valkyries women's soccer team and having a two-year run as an assistant coach at Spartanburg Methodist. He is currently on staff with Carolina FC as their goalkeeper coach.
Smith played collegiate soccer for Limestone from 2006-2007 before serving in the Marine Corps for ten and a half years. While in the Marine Corps, Smith was an assistant coach at Freedom High School in Dumfries, Va. and St. Augustine Catholic School in San Diego, Calif.
Upon retiring from the Marine Corps, Smith continued his collegiate career, playing at Palaomar College in California.
He and his wife Nikki have three sons, Weston, Jared, and Jack.
Dzenan Cerimagic | Forward | 5-11 | Marietta, Ga. | Campbell High School
Attended Campbell High School (Smyrna, Ga.)... scored 60 goals over his high school career…holds school and county record for most goals in playoff history (18)... 1x County Player of The Year…4x First Team All-Region…played club soccer for Concorde Fire ECNL…scored 28 goals and 6 assists in 28 games…2x Conference Player of The Year
Anthony Cox | Defender | 6-0 | London, England | Bellevue University
Attended Sir John Leman High School (Suffolk, England)...transferred from Bellevue University (Continental Athletic Conference, NAIA)... recorded 5 goals and 19 assists over 30 appearances…First Team All-Conference and All-Tournament team in freshman year
Max Edwards | Midfielder | 5-10 | Burnley, England | Lincoln High School
Attended Lincoln High School (Portland, OR.)...Four years on varsity squad…18 goals in senior year, most in PIL 2021…PIL First Team 2021…Oregon's Best Midfielders list 2021…played on Burnley, FC U19 team…recorded 11 goals…two time Player of The Month
Kristian Eek | Goalkeeper | 6-0 | Charlotte, N.C. | Marvin Ridge High School
Attended Marvin Ridge High School (Waxhaw, N.C.)... 3 goals in senior season… named captain and starter all four years… played for Charlotte Eagles USL Academy… 1x U19 National Champions, 1x State Champions, 2x Regional Champions…
Ezra Hoffman | Forward | 5-11 | Dacula, Ga. | Mountain View High School
Attended Mountain View High School (Lawrenceville, Ga.)... recorded 28 goals and 10 assists…all time leading goal scorer…2x First Team All Gwinnett County…2x First Team All Region… 1x All State… Played for Atlanta Fire ECNL…recorded 17 goals and 6 assists during 2022 season…Leading goal scorer from 2019 - 2022…2021 All Team South East ECNL… 2x ECNL Playoffs…1x ECNL Southeast Champions
James Hungerbuhler | Defender | 5-8 | Atlanta, Ga. | Lassiter High School
Attended Lassiter High School (Marietta, Ga.)... 2022 and 2023 State Champions… Second Team All-Region in Freshman year… First Team All-Region Sophomore, Junior, and Senior years…
Petr Lozenv | Defender | 6-1 | Charlotte, N.C. | South Mecklenburg High School
Attended South Mecklenburg High School (Charlotte, N.C.)... recorded 1 goal and 4 assists during senior season… played club ball for the Charlotte Eagles… named Team of The Year in 2023
Luke Marin | Midfielder | 5-6 | Fort Mill, S.C. | Nation Ford High School
Attended Nation Ford High School (Fort Mill, S.C.) … 3x named All-Region and All-star game… region champions in 2022… Played club for U19 Charlotte Independence Pro Academy
Adrian Panaite | Forward | 5-11 | Toronto, Ontario | Georges Vanier High School
Attended Georges Vaniet High School (Toronto, Ontario)... Played club for Toronto FC Academy
Dario Stadler | Forward | 6-1 | Zurich, Switzerland | Kantonsschule Baden
Attended Poway Highschool (1 year, Poway, Calif.) and Kantonsschule Baden… Undefeated championship season at Poway… Holds record for Freshman 3200M in 9:48 min Athletic Award… Youth Titan of The Year Award… Academic Excellence Award…Played club for FC Wohlen and FC Kosova… U19 Swiss Champion with FC Wohlen… Record 7 goals and 5 assists over 6 games… FC Wohlen 1st Team…1x Liga Classic Champion… 1 goal in Official Swiss Cup with FC Kosova… MVP in U19 Tournament in Munich
Jack Thomas | Defender | 5-8 | Columbus, Ohio | Hilliard Darby High School
Attended Hilliard Darby High School (Hilliard, OH)... recorded 17 goals and 39 assists over 50 starts… First Team All-District… Academic All-First team… Holds record for assists in a season (15)... Played for Ohio Premier… recorded 5 goals and 25 assists… Team Captain all years in ECNL
Emmanuel Uwazie | Goalkeeper | 6-5 | Capelle aan den Ijssel, Netherlands | Grace College
Attended Malcolm Arnold Academy (Northampton, England)... transferred from Grace College (CrossRoads league, NAIA)... played club for AFC Rushden and Diamonds, Cogenhoe United…named in Northhamptonshire FA U18 representative team…
Ollie West | Defender | 6-0 | Hampshire, England
Attended the Sixth Form College Farnborough (Hampshire, England)... Captain at the U18 level
