Oh my.
UCSB men’s soccer coach Tim Vom Steeg is probably saying that after adding dynamic forwards Gabby Okito and David Opoku to his roster for the 2010 season.
The Gauchos also picked up former Santa Barbara High star midfielder Christian Vasquez, who transfers in from UCLA, and freshman defender Kevin Garcia-Lopez.
Opoku comes to UCSB from Accra, Ghana, where he was a standout player for his team, St. Martin De Porres.
At 6-2, 180 pounds, Opoku gives the Gauchos power and speed up top.
“David is a player who only comes along once in a while in your program,” Vom Steeg said. “He can play with his back to the goal, can attack the goal and he is very comfortable with the ball at his feet. He is the one player that we felt like we were missing up front. He is a real key ingredient to what we are trying to do next year and we think he will be as good as any forward in college soccer, even as a freshman.”
Opoku becomes the fourth UCSB player from Ghana, joining returnees Michael Tetteh, Waid Ibrahim and freshman Fifi Baden.
Okito joins three of his former Yavapai (Ariz.) College teammates (Sam Hayden, Chris Hunter and Evan McNeil) at UCSB. While at Yavapai, he served as the team captain in 2009 after helping lead his team to the 2008 national championship. Okito has played with the Region IV ODP team and has served as team captain for the Real Salt Lake Youth U-17 team, Inter FC and the Utah Rush. In 2007, he was a finalist with the Region IV team at the Disney Showcase. The same year he captained his high school team to the state championship. In just one season with his high school program, he was named First Team All-State.
“Gabby is a player that we have followed for the past two seasons,” Vom Steeg said. “We are attracted to him because of the way he approaches the game; he is a very dynamic player, he can play up front and he can play out wide. His energy and work rate are unbelievable, so he fits right in with the way we want to play and I think it will be an easy transition for him coming to UCSB.”
Okito and Opoku will help fill the void left by the Gauchos’ 2009 leading scorer, David Walker. They will join a talented front line that includes sophomore Michael Nonni, junior Waid Ibrahim and incoming sophomore transfer Sam Garza.
Vazquez returns to his hometown after spending two seasons at UCLA. He saw a lot of playing time as a freshman, but had his minutes cut back considerably in his second year with the Bruins.
“Christian is a player that is familiar to the local soccer community,” Vom Steeg said. “He has decided to come back to town and we are very happy to have him in the program. He is a skillful midfielder; he doesn’t lose the ball. He is familiar with our team and our players and I think it will be a smooth transition for him onto our roster.”
Garcia-Lopez, a defender, has played with South Bay Force Soccer Club with which he won the 2007 Cal South National Cup and the 2002 San Diego Surf Cup. In 2007, he was a finalist at the 2007 U.S. Soccer National Region IV Championships and in 2006 he was a Cal South National Cup finalist.
“Kevin reminds me a lot of some of the other defenders we have had, like Greg Curry. At first when you see him he looks small as a defender, but he is big as a player, ” said Vom Steeg.
The Gauchos open their season on Aug. 21 when they host cross-town foe Westmont in an exhibition match on the newly resurfaced Meredith Field at Harder Stadium.
