As we move closer to the start of the 2021 Mississippi Brilla FC season, we'll take a look at the roster unit by unit. Today, the team's midfielders will be previewed.
Midfielders
Wisconsin alum Duncan Storey (Ridgeland, Miss.) will be one of Brilla's key returnees in the center of the park. Storey was a mainstay in the Brilla lineup in 2019, playing in 13 games. He scored in a 1-1 road tie against the AHFC Royals.
Amadou Gadio (Toulon, France) has been a key part of Oklahoma Wesleyan's spine this season. The Second Team All-KCAC selection has scored four goals and tallied three assists for the #2 ranked team in the NAIA.
Jack Fasteen (Louisville, Ky.) of Louisville is a recent addition to the team. He played in 12 matches for the Cardinals this season, racking up nine starts in the process. He scored this goal, which was named USL League Two Goal of the Month in 2017.
Mateo Alzate (Huntington, N.Y.) has started 32 games in his Davidson career, including eight games this spring. He was teammates with defenders Jamie DiLuzio and Luke Bryant this past season.
Arnold Onyango (Nairobi, Kenya) of Liberty made eight appearances this spring and played the full 90 minutes in the Flames' win over #21 Coastal Carolina. He has played for the Kenyan national team at the U-17, U-20, and U-23 levels.
Connor Johnson (Madison, Miss.) has played 51 times for Mississippi College in his college career, making 47 starts in the process. He is a Brilla returnee who has deputized as a defender for a large part of his career.
David Medeiros (Boston, Mass.) will be a teammate of fellow Brilla players Orlando Lozano and James Ndubueze at Azusa Pacific this fall. He was a two-time NJCAA All-Region selection at Indian Hills Community College, scoring 17 goals and dishing 23 assists in his junior college career.
Michael Bell (Jackson, Miss.) completed his Murrah High School career with 39 goals and 20 assists. The Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College signee played club soccer for FC Dallas this past season.
Though they may be primarily used on the forward line, Juan David Herrera (Cali, Colombia) and Adrian Morales (Midland, Texas) can contribute to the attack from the center of the park. Herrera was a Second Team NJCAA All-American at Georgia Military College, scoring 25 goals in the process. Morales, a former FC Dallas Academy player, was named to the Big South All-Freshman team while at Campbell University in 2019.
Defenders Jake Morris (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) and Luke Bryant (Clinton, Miss.) can also step into the midfield and add extra depth. Both have experience playing in the middle.
Season
The first time you can catch this unit in action is the Mississippi Brilla FC season opener. The season will kick off with a home game against Round Rock SC on May 15th at 7:00 p.m. Clinton High School will be the venue, and the complete Brilla schedule can be viewed HERE.