Men's Soccer | 7/24/2018 2:27:00 PM

FAIRFAX, Va. – With the 2018 season a little more than a month away, the George Mason men's soccer team will feature a variety of new faces.

Head coach Greg Andrulis has announced the addition of 12 newcomers – five freshmen and seven transfers, including three with Division I experience – from four countries and three states. 

"We are very excited about the potential these exceptional people are bringing to the George Mason men's soccer team," Andrulis said. "This is a very diverse group with local, national and international backgrounds and experiences. We have added a talented and well-balanced group of players who exemplify all the virtues that it means to be a Patriot. This is a talented and deep group of players who we expect great things – both on and off the field."
 
Mateen Bakhtari, Defender, Clifton, Va., Centreville High
Bakhtari was a three-year letterman and all-conference standout at Centreville High. He joins his brother, Ramez, a sophomore midfielder, on the men's soccer team at Mason. 
 
Colin Brezniak, Forward, Hanover, Pa., Pittsburgh/New Mexico
Brezniak hails from Hanover, Pa., and spent last fall at the University of Pittsburgh. He played in 16 games and made nine starts for the Panthers, scoring three goals. He cracked Top Drawer Soccer's Men's Freshman Top 100 midseason list last fall. He transferred to New Mexico after winter break and spent the spring semester with the Lobos. At the club level, he has competed for both the DC United and Philadelphia Union MLS academies. He scored 17 goals for his U14 Philadelphia Union squad, 14 goals for his U16 DC United team and five more goals for DC United's U18 team before heading to Pitt.
 
Daniel Damiani, Midfielder, Alexandria, Va., Virginia Tech
One of seven newcomers from the Commonwealth of Virginia, the former West Potomac standout spent the last two seasons at Virginia Tech. He played in 22 games for the Hokies and made four starts. The midfielder notched two assists for VT, including setting up the game-winning goal against No. 10 Charlotte in the second round of the 2016 NCAA Tournament. Damiani played in all four games of the NCAA Tournament that year, helping the Hokies reach the Elite Eight. He earned all-district, all-conference and all-met honors while at West Potomac, which he helped lead to the region semifinals and district championship in 2016.
 
Michael Diehl, Defender, Leesburg, Va., Heritage High
Local product who was a four-year starter at Heritage High and three-time all-conference standout. Also, played club soccer for BRYC 99 Elite. 
 
Obdulio Funez Borjas, Midfielder, Sterling, Va., North Carolina Wesleyan
Transfer from Division III North Carolina Wesleyan. Played in six games and made three starts for the Battling Bishops in 2017, scoring one goal. Scored 56 goals and dished out 55 career assists in four years at Park View High in Sterling. Helped Park View win 2016 state championship and earned all-state, all-regional and all-conference honors in 2016. Funez Borjas also was named the 2016 Loudoun County Player of the Year.
 
Edwin Guevara, Midfielder, Woodbridge, Va., Louisburg College
Played the last two years at Louisburg College, a junior college in North Carolina. He played in 38 games and made 38 starts. He scored two goals and dished out three assists for the Hurricanes. He helped Louisburg win the 2017 Southeast District title, reach the NJCAA Division I Championship Tournament and finish ranked ninth in the country. He was four-year letterwinner at Woodbridge Senior High and earned all-conference accolades. 
 
Pablo Pertusa Martinez, Defender/Midfielder, Alicante, Spain, Monroe College
A junior college All-American, Pertusa Martinez helped Monroe (N.Y.) College reach the NJCAA Division I National Championship Tournament in back-to-back years, including a trip to the championship game in 2016. The Spaniard was named to the 2017 NJCAA Division I Men's Soccer All-America Team in 2017 and he earned Region XV First Team honors in 2016 and 2017. He started all 31 games he played in over the last two years, notching a goal and an assist. He played soccer in his home country of Spain at Salesianos Don Bosco High. 
 
Vaughn Phillips, Forward, Brunswick, Md., Brunswick High
Striker who scored 58 career goals and dished out 19 assists at Brunswick High. He helped Brunswick win the 2014 Maryland state championship. Also competed in track, winning the 2016 state championship in the 4x100-meter relay. Earned all-state honors in track in 2016. Phillips graduated from high school in 2017 and spent last year at Frederick Community College but did not play soccer. 
 
Kweku Pumpuni, Defender, Springfield, Va., West Springfield High
Pumpuni was a three-year letterwinner at West Springfield High, earning all-conference honors in 2017. His father, Charles, competed in track at the University of Ghana. 
 
Andreas Varlas Tsaousis, Goalkeeper, Vienna, Va., George C. Marshall
An early-enrollee who has been on campus since January and practice and competed with the team during the spring season. Earned the Golden Gloves award while at nearby George C. Marshall High. 
 
Gregor von Westphalen, Forward, Bad Homburg, Germany, Virginia Tech
Von Westphalen will join former Virginia Tech teammate Daniel Damiani on the Patriots' roster. The forward played in six games last fall for the Hokies. The German played for Eintracht Frankfort Youth Academy's U13-U-17 teams. He also was selected for the Hessia State U14, U15, U16 and U19 teams. He helped Hessia State win championships in 2015 and 2019. He scored 14 goals for U17 and 10 goals for U19.
 
Ato Williams, Defender, St. Catherine, Jamaica, Trinidad State Junior College
Transfer from Trinidad State Junior College in Colorado was named the school's most outstanding international student-athlete in 2017-18. The Jamaican played in 32 games the last two years, making 23 starts. He scored a goal and dished out an assist last fall as he also served as team captain. 

"We cannot wait to integrate everyone into the Mason soccer and extended family," Andrulis said. "As members of the Mason soccer program, these men will join a group that strives every day to positively represent the university, the community and the past and present players that have built this program, with success on the field, in the classroom and in the community. Eduardo de Souza, Billy Chiles and all of our staff have worked very hard assembling this tremendous group."