LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – Rider University men's soccer head coach Chad Duernberger has announced his team's incoming recruiting class for the 2026 season. New players for the upcoming season include Sawyer Koza, Louis Demarest, Jacobo Cruz, Carter Schmitz, Emmanuel Dan-Adokiene, Cole Bachuzewski, Daniel Grider, Axel Lucas, Noah Rose-Smith, Flavio Gomes, Anthony Becker, Mohammed Moatassim, Gavin Faracchio, and Chiemeka Azurunwa.

"I'm beyond excited to bring in this group of players to our Rider Men's Soccer family. I want to thank both current Assistant Coach Reilly Fuller and former Assistant Coach Drew Munoz for their relentless work in helping put this recruiting class together." Duernberger said. "We wanted to make sure we found the right fit. Players that fit our program's philosophy and core values. Rider Guys, frankly."
 
Sawyer Koza
Position: Defender
Hometown: Newton, Pennsylvania
High School: Council Rock North
Former School: Rutgers

• Played in 18 games for Rutgers, completing two assists while recording 412 minutes on the pitch for the Scarlett Knights.

 
Louis Demarest
Position: Defender
Hometown: Arras, France
High School: Baudimont Saint-Charles
Former School: Emory & Henry

• Played in 13 games for the Wasps in 2025 while starting in eight, recording two shots on goal.
• Scored only goal of the season against Chowan on September 7.

 
Jacobo Cruz
Position: Defender
Hometown: Burlington, Ontario
High School: Holy Trinity Catholic Secondary School
Former School: UIC

• Started in all 17 games during the Flames' 2025 season, scoring twice while recording an assist across 1,470 minutes on the pitch.
• Named Missouri Valley Conference Defensive Player of the week on September 23, 2025.
• Featured for the Guatemala under-20 National Team in 2022.

Carter Schmitz
Position: Defender
Hometown: Chandler, Arizona
High School: Barcelona Residency Academy
Former School: Hofstra

• Played in six games for the Pride in 2025, scoring a goal away at Fordham on October 21.
• Previously played in Germany for Bischofswerdaer FV 08 and VfB 1921 Krieschow.
• Won the 2023-24 NOFV-Oberliga Sud title with Bischofswerdaer.

 
Emmanuel Dan-Adokiene
Position: Forward
Hometown: Calgary, Alberta
High School: Lester B. Pearson
Former School: Trinity Western

• Competed in 12 games while starting in seven for trinity Western across 2024 and 2025, logging six goals off of 11 shots on goal.

 
Cole Bachuzewski
Position: Goalkeeper
Hometown: Albuquerque, New Mexico
High School: La Cueva
Former School: Evansville

• Named to the NMAA All-State First Team in 2021.
• Did not feature for Evansville in 2025.

 
Daniel Grider
Position: Midfielder
Hometown: Lexington, Kentucky
High School: Henry Clay
Former School: Louisville  

• Played in three games for the Cardinals in 2025, logging 31 total minutes in Louisville.

Axel Lucas
Position: Midfielder
Hometown: Plouasne, France  
High School: La Croix Rouge la Salle

• Has played for European academy teams in Italy for Siena, Nardo, Gelbison, and Matera.
• Played for Stade Brest's under-19 team in 2023-24.

 
Noah Rose-Smith
Position: Defender
Hometown: State College, Pennsylvania
High School: State College Area
Club: Pennsylvania Classics

• Listed on State College Honor Roll four times

 
Flavio Gomes
Position: Forward
Hometown: Belo Horizonte, Brazil
High School: High Mowing (New Hampshire)  
Club: Black Rock FC

• Previously played in the youth academy of Watford Football Club.
• Son of Heurelho Gomes, former Tottenham Hotspur, Watford, and Brazilian Men's National Team goalkeeper.

 
Anthony Becker
Position: Winger, Fullback
Hometown: Fort Myers, Florida
High School: Bishop Verot
Club: Florida West FC ECNL

• Recorded 21 goals and 15 assists across his junior and senior high school campaigns.
• Named to two Florida All-State teams and two All-County teams.
• Four-time district champion with Bishop Verot and two-time Private Eight champion.

 
Mohamed Moatassim
Position: Forward
Hometown: Brussels, Belgium
High School: Athenee Royal d'Lxelles
Club: Black Rock FC

• Previously played in the youth academies of Olympic Landen, RSC Anderlecht, and Lierse.

 
Gavin Faracchio  
Position: Midfielder
Hometown: Somers Point, New Jersey  
High School: Scholar Athletes Leadership Academy   
Club: Sporting Athletic Club u-19

• Competed with Numancia in Spain during the 2024-25 season, scoring a goal while recording 13 assists.
• Also had youth stints at New York Cosmos and Ocean City Nor'easters.

 
Chiemeka Azurunwa
Position: Forward
Hometown: Aurora, Ontario
High School: Bill Crothers Secondary School
Club: Richmond Hill Soccer Club

• Previously played ASD Vastogirardi, SSC Ancona, and ASD Cannara in Italy's Serie D.
• Won the Ontario Championship with Simcoe County Rovers.

"This group embodies everything we believe in. Not only do they fit our culture, they are a talented group that fits many positional needs we needed to fill in our 2026 roster reconstruction. I can't wait to get going with this group." Duernberger added. 

Rider University men's soccer opens their 2026 campaign on the road at James Madison on August 20 at 6:00 p.m. in Harrisonburg. The Broncs open their home slate of games on August 28 against Howard at 7:00 p.m. at Ben Cohen before starting their 2026 Metro Conference campaign on September 19 against Quinnipiac at 1:00 p.m. in Lawrenceville.