Six New Soccer Recruits

DeLoach adds 6-pack of ‘Cats

WAXAHACHIE, Texas  --  Off-season is seldom that to a coach. Building the men’s soccer team at Southwestern Assemblies of God University has seen head coach Aaron DeLoach tirelessly working as a recruiter. And there is a good reason. The young program has yet to experience a winning season.

The Lions coach, in preparing for his second year on the job, recently introduced three incoming freshmen. Now SAGU is adding six more. Each has signed their binding National Letter of Intent to suit up for the Purple Pride this fall.

Coach DeLoach is as busy as a pair of jumper cables at a used car lot.
“We are searching for student-athletes who are not only skilled in this game,” he said, “but who are hungry for what God has in store for them in their education. Southwestern is a great school and God is doing wonderful things here in the lives of our students.”

The list of incoming freshmen that Coach DeLoach has been able to secure are the type of players who well-represent the values of Southwestern. In the words of Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, the recruits reveal that DeLoach is “staying true to our brand.”

The six-pack of new ‘Cats for the upcoming fall season includes;

Salvador Avila, Irving, Tx

Avila is a Center Midfielder. He played for the (Irving) MacArthur High School “Cardinals.” The inward bound Avila is a friend of current player, David Reyes. “They attend the same Hispanic church,” DeLoach says. “Salvador is known for exceptional speed. That element excites me about him. He knows the game well and is not afraid to play quick while playing simple,” he added.

Ben Cole, Austin, Tx

A talented Defender, Cole is a vocal field general when on the pitch. The son of an Assembly of God minister (Church of Glad Tidings), he has played soccer in Ohio as well as Texas. His play is described as a leader who tackles hard. That element is needed in the offense-rich Red River Athletic Conference.

Robbie DeLeon, Dallas, Tx

DeLeon comes with a pedigree of winning, having been a valued player on the Dallas Texans club team that won the national championship last year. His position was Right Back.

His uncle pastors an A/G church here in Waxahachie though DeLeon attends First Assembly in Dallas. “Robbie is a solid defender who gets up and down the field, always asserting himself into the attack,” DeLoach praised.

Cesar Espana, Katy, Tx

Teams will be hearing double as SAGU’s other Goalie is Cesar Galvan! The incoming Espana plays for the Texas Rush Academy club team.  He was goalkeeper on both the U15 and U17 El Salvador National Team.

Espana is gifted with great hands and feet and is accomplished at distributing the ball. He has expert eyes for the game.

Hamuli Riffin Kajangu, Charlotte, NC

Kajangu is a transfer from the University of North Carolina-Greensboro. He is a Left Back and was a player for the Charlotte United Futbol Club. He graduated from East Mecklenburg High School, also of Charlotte.

“Hamuli is left-footed,” points out DeLoach. “He’s also very athletic and is proficient at moving upfield and downfield while remaining part of the attack.”

Erick Quan, Honduras

Endowed with the heart of a servant, Quan can utilize that ability as a Midfielder, setting up goal-scorers. The freshman, originally from Honduras (Central America), attends the same A/G Hispanic church as current player David A. Flores.

Quan’s knowledge of the game and nose for the ball make him dangerous to the opposing defense.

Over the Summer

Southwestern players have a specific summer conditioning directive from Coach DeLoach. The team will report on campus for training camp by August 1, with their first games likely to start in the third or fourth week of that month.

Last season the Lions began with an August 23rd match in Conway, Arkansas against Central Baptist College (L 0-2) followed by another road game two days later in Oklahoma City, Ok against Mid-America Christian University (W 3-1).

The 2011 SAGU soccer schedule is nearing completion and will be posted in the coming weeks.

Early Season Starts

The team is a member in the NAIA’s Red River Athletic Conference.

Prior to the start of their conference season (SAGU plays each RRAC team once), the club has warm-up, non-league games.

Three years ago the Lions lost all seven pre-conference matches, scoring just three times and yielding 19. They suffered a pair of overtime defeats.

Under head coach Tim Grant they went 5-2 in the 2009 pre-season, with a 13-12 edge in goals.

Last year, in Coach DeLoach’s inaugural campaign, SAGU began the fall at 5-3. They scored 16 and allowed 12, with one OT loss.

Contact: Mark “Link” Warde, SAGU Sports Information Director at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 469-658-2847.