NAMPA, Idaho — Following up on the program’ first-ever trip to the NCAA National Tournament last fall, the Crusader men’s soccer team continues to build toward even greater national success.

Motivated by a national berth and first-round win, Northwest Nazarene head men’s soccer coach Coe Michaelson worked hard to bring in a large and talented group of recruits to bolster an already dynamic lineup.

“It was a big recruiting year in the sense that we wanted to capitalized on what we accomplished last year,” said Michaelson, whose team set a program record going 15-4-1 and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

That momentum helped the Crusaders to sign five junior-college transfers, including three All-American players, add eight freshmen and a valuable returning Crusader who played for NNU from 2008-10.

Joining the Crusaders as juniors this fall will be JC transfers Abraham Placito and Keith Fujita, both from Mount San Antonio College, Laramie County Community College transfer Dennis Viva-Diaz, Barton Community College transfer Sorbian “Ebu” Camara, and Fernando Alvarez from Arizona Western College.

Rejoining the Crusader squad after a four-year hiatus will be Christian Adamson, who will be a senior, and new to the NNU team will be incoming freshmen Aleksa Mitrovic from Belgrade, Serbia, Jan Ilskens from Verl, Germany, Caleb Druckhammer and Lantz Shope from California, Jack Hornsby, Logan Wood and Jacob Hillyer from Washington, and Lauro Vasquez from Idaho Falls, Idaho.

“We’re excited about every single one of them,” Michaelson said.

Here is a look at the newest members of the Crusader track & field team:

CHRISTIAN ADAMSON (NNU & MOUNTAIN HOME HS IN MOUNTAIN HOME, IDAHO)
After four years away from the field, Adamson will be back in uniform for NNU for his senior season. Christian was a freshman on the 2008 NNU squad, the first year the team played collegiately after a six-year hiatus.

A left-footed center or left back, the 6-3 Adamson played in 50 games, starting 47, and had two goals and three assists in his previous three seasons with NNU.

“He’s one of the best athletes we’ve ever had in our program,” Michaelson said.

FERNANDO ALVAREZ (ARIZONA WESTERN COLLEGE & COLEGIO RENA ISABEL IN TIJUANA, MEXICO)
Alvarez (6-2) earned Second-Team All-Region I honors as a sophomore in the fall of 2013, playing right back or a center forward for Arizona Western. He played two years with current Crusaders, Julio Castillo and Jaime Verdin while at Arizona Western.

Fernando played in 36 games, starting 31, and scored six goals and added four assists.

“He brings immediate quality,” Michaelson said. “He’s someone who can play multiple positions across the back line or as a center forward.”

SORIBA ‘EBU’ CAMARA (BARTON CC & HAYS HS IN HAYS, KAN.)
A 6-2 center forward who grew up in Guinea, Africa, “Ebu” was named a Second-Team National Junior College Athletic Association All-American after his sophomore season in the fall of 2013 at Barton.

During two seasons at Barton, Ebu scored 33 goals and had 10 assists in 36 games played. Camara also ran track at Barton.

“His track times right now would put him in the finals in the GNAC (in the 200 and 400 meters),” Michaelson said. “He has really good feet and is super pacey.”

CALEB DRUCKHAMMER (RIO LINDA HS IN RIO LINDA, CALIF.)
A first-Team All-Capital Valley Conference honoree, the 6-2 defender also was named the California Interscholastic Federation Subway Male Sportsman of the Year.

The Defensive Player of the Year at Rio Linda, Druckhammer also ran track, maintained a 3.66 GPA and was the student body president.

“Another big, strong kid with some athletic ability and somebody we really hope over the next few years can thrive and develop in this environment,” Michaelson said.

KEITH FUJITA (MT SAC & UPLAND HS IN FONTANA, CALIF.)
Fujita is a 5-10 versatile flank player, capable of playing as a fullback, wide midfielder or wide attacker.

Last fall at Mt. SAC playing primarily as a wingback, Keith appeared in 18 games with one goal and one assist, helping Mt. SAC to the CCCAA Championship match.

Prior to Mt. SAC, Keith played his club soccer for Arsenal FC, and away from the field Keith maintained a 3.3 GPA.

“He’s very versatile, so he can play as a wide attacker or as a fullback,” Michaelson said.

JACOB HILLYER (BELLARMINE PREPARATORY SCHOOLS IN FORT LEWIS, WASH.)
A 6-foot goalkeeper, Hillyer won four straight Washington State Cup Titles playing for the Crossfire US Development Academy U18 team and helped lead that team to the USSDA Playoffs, playing in 23 games this past season.

Hillyer also backstopped his Crossfire club team to two Regional finals and two regional semifinals.

“Jacob is a starter at the Crossfire Development Academy and that’s a high level of play,” Michaelson said.

JACK HORNSBY (EASTLAKE HS IN SAMMAMISH, WASH.)
The 5-11 goalkeeper at Eastlake and for the Eastside FC U18 club team, Hornsby was named the all-conference goalie at Eastlake and his team’s MVP both as a junior and senior.

In club soccer, he was the starting goalkeeper on the Eastside FC’s National League squad, and prior to joining Eastside, he played for the Seattle Sounders Development Academy U18 squad.

“He’s a good shot stopper, he’s a great communicator,” Michaelson said.

JAN ILSKENS (GYMNASIUM VERL HS IN VERL, GERMANY)
A 6-3 midfielder from Germany, Ilskens is capable of playing in either a defensive or attacking role.

Most recently he played for the SC Paderborn U23 team, while previously he was a member of the Paderborn U19’s who were in the U19 German Bundesliga. He also played for the All-State-Westfalen Team, representing his region of Germany, and played for the Paderborn team that reached the final of the Westfalen Cup in 2012.

“He’s a bit more mature,” Michaelson said of Ilskens, who turns 20 this fall, “I have no doubt he’ll make a significant impact right away.”

ALEKSA MITROVIC (DIMITRIJE DAVIDOVIC HS IN BELGRADE, SERBIA)
A versatile attacking player who can play either as a midfielder or forward, the 5-11 Mitrovic played for several top youth clubs in Belgrade and spent time training at La Masia in Spain, the famous home of FC Barcelona.

“He is a very high-level player,” Michaelson said. “I think we’ll see him competing immediately for playing time somewhere in our front four.”

ABRAHAM PLACITO (MT. SAC & LAKESIDE HS IN LAKE ELSINORE, CALIF.)
Abraham was named a National Soccer Coaches Association of American First-Team All-American for the 2013 season, scoring five goals and adding three assists as a sophomore.

A 6-2 central defender who grew up playing club soccer for Arsenal FC in Southern California prior to attending Mt. SAC, Abraham played in two CCCAA Championship games.

“He’s a commanding center-back, he’s 6-(foot)-2, but he’s got great feet,” Michaelson said.

LANTZ SHOPE (VICTORY CHRISTIAN HS IN CIRTUS HEIGHTS, CALIF.)
A four-time First-Team All-Conference selection at Victory Christian, Shope is a versatile, 6-foot attacking player, capable of playing throughout the midfield and at forward.

Shope also was named the Athlete of the Year at Victory Christian.

“He is just a super hard-working player who can play up the flanks or up the middle of the field, and we know from day one he’s going to compete,” Michaelson said.

LAURO VASQUEZ (BONNEVILLE HS IN IDAHO FALLS, IDAHO)
A 5-6 forward from Idaho Falls who also played at Vista Grande High and for Real Salt Lake’s club team in Arizona, Vasquez is a versatile attacking player who can play across the front three and in the attacking midfield.

A three-year selection to the High Country Team First-Team at Bonneville, Vasquez moved to Arizona to play for the prestigious Real Salt Lake residential academy as a senior.

Away from the field he maintain a 3.3 GPA.

“He’s a good technical player with some versatility,” Michaelson said.

DENNIS VIVAR-DIAZ (LARAMIE COUNTY CC & BONNEVILLE HS IN IDAHO FALLS, IDAHO)
This past fall, Vivar-Diaz was named a National Soccer Coaches Association of American First-Team West Region and Second-Team All-American.

Dennis (5-10) scored 17 goals and had 17 assists in 39 games during his two years at Laramie County and also maintained a 3.3 GPA off the field.

“Dennis is a player who can play as a holding player, but we see him as a box-to-box player,” Michaelson said.

LOGAN WOOD (TAHOMA HS IN MAPLE VALLEY, WASH.)
A 6-foot attacker who can play on either flank, Wood grew up playing for Eastside FC in Seattle and also was named the South Puget Sound League 4A Offensive MVP this past year in high school. The Tacoma News Tribune All-Area Player of the Year, Wood also was named to the Seattle Times All-Area Team.

Last fall he led Eastside to the Washington State Championship and advanced to the Far West Regional Semifinals in club soccer, while in 2014-15 Eastside was also a participant in the prestigious US Youth Soccer National League.

“He’s got bags of pace,” Michaelson said. “He’s another guy who we’re looking at to make an immediate impact.”