After the Warriors barely missed out on the conference tournament for the first time since 2010, Men's Soccer Head Coach Dana Taylor has announced the signing of six outstanding players -- two incoming freshmen and four transfers – to bolster an all ready talented, youthful team for the 2014-15 season. 

With the departure of only two seniors from the 2013 team, Taylor feels this incoming class will again make an immediate impact to the program both on and off the field.  In 2013, the Warriors fielded the youngest lineup in Taylor's five years. While the coaching staff is thrilled to be welcoming back a large returning class, this year's recruits were carefully selected in order to immediately contribute on the pitch.

"Every single player coming into the program is a unique player with the expectation of contributing from day one. Each of them will add quality and competition in every position.  We have brought in a very diverse recruiting class which includes a great combination of size, athleticism, quickness, great technical ability, and an overall high soccer IQ," Taylor said.

"I feel our program is continuing to develop and it is now becoming evident in the type of athletes that we are attracting. I look forward to seeing how these players add to our current team and help get Stanislaus soccer back into the national tournament."
 
Here are some of the new Warriors looking to contribute this season:
 
Jose Acosta
Midfielder, So., 5-9, 150, Modesto, Calif., Delta Junior College
 
Jose will strengthen the team's options at the attacking-mid position. Calm and composed on the ball, he has the ability to both hold up play and invite others into the match and find the final ball into the forwards. A local talent, Acosta grew up in Manteca and played competitively for two of the top programs in the area in Ajax and Turlock Football Club. He was an integral part of the U18 Turlock side that won the State Cup in 2012. Cal State Stanislaus already has four players from that roster currently playing for the University including Josue Barajas, Brady Taylor, Daniel Valenzuela, and Christian Madrigal. Taylor is thrilled to have a player of Acosta's caliber join our squad: "Jose can carve players up. He is very special on the ball but his real strength is the ability to score from set pieces. We are excited to have a player of Jose's ability to link up play," Taylor said.
 
Acosta, son of Jose Acosta Sr. and Magealena Moreno, transferred from Delta Junior College. He is excited with the opportunity to link up with past teammates and current friends: "I choose Stanislaus because of the proximity to my family and ultimately to play again with my brothers. I have bled over the years both on and off the pitch with so many of the current players; it really was a no brainer for me."
 
Ramiro Ceja
Forward, Jr., 6-0, 165, Milpitas, Calif., Otero Junior College
 
Taylor is excited to add a player of Ceja's quality to our already talented group of forwards. Ceja is an accomplished star on the pitch, as he competed in the NJCAA the past two seasons for Otero Junior College where he led the team in scoring with 23 goals in 20 appearances in 2013. Ceja was recently named a NSCAA and NJCAA All-American and the Region IX MVP. With Ceja, the Warriors are getting a clinical finisher with the ability to beat opponents on the dribble, with a shot, or by getting in behind the backline. "With all the exciting young players we have returning, Ramiro will fit right in and be a part of a great strike force," commented Taylor.
 
Ceja is excited to join the Warrior program which is close to his hometown of Milpitas, which will allow his parents, Ramiro and Lupe Ceja, to watch him compete. Ceja played competitively with top club Santa Clara Sporting which claimed the State Championship in his last year with the team. A highly sought after transfer student, He had many options to consider but ultimately decided to make his way back to California. "I have been interested in CSU Stanislaus since the first time I visited the campus and soccer facilities when I was a senior in high school. I choose CSU Stanislaus because of the location and history of the soccer program."
 
Josh Jacobs
Defender, So., 6-2, 165, Elk Grove, Calif. Consumnes River College
 
The coaching staff expects Jacobs to instantly raise the level of thesquad from the moment he steps onto the practice pitch. Jacobs is a standout transfer from Cosumnes River College where he virtually played every position in the back as well as starting a handful of matches at the defensive mid spot. His versatility and athleticism make him one of the most sought after players in the area. We are thrilled to have landed such a technically sound defender with the ability to play on either side of the backline. Jacobs has proven that he is successful in the classroom as well as he is transferring to Stanislaus with GPA above 3.0. "Joshua has a work rate that is second to none and is unique in the fact that he is a hard tackler of the ball but has the technique and composure to play out of tight spaces. He is an all around athlete and a natural leader," Taylor said.
 
Jacobs played his competitive ball with Elk Grove Everton and played an age group up in the Olympic Development Pool (ODP) for five consecutive years. When asked why he choose Stanislaus he responded, "I decided on Stanislaus because of the great opportunity to attend an academically oriented University as well as the chance to compete in the toughest Division II conference in the nation. The coaching staff  has made me feel wanted from the first time I spoke with them and having seen the level of the current team, I'm anxious to help get Stanislaus back into the National Tournament."
 
Russ Klabough
Goalkeeper, Jr. 6-5, 220, Phoenix, Ariz., Scottsdale Junior College
 
Klabough transfers to us after graduating from Scottsdale Community College in the Spring of 2014. Not only did he started every match for his team, but he was named a captain in his first season at the school. "We are excited to have a player of Russell's caliber join our squad. He brings great experience and a determined work rate that has seen him succeed over his soccer career," Taylor commented. "Russell's distribution is of the highest level and will allow us the opportunity to instantly get in behind our opponents with one throw or kick."
 
Klabough was born near Pasa Robles and has been living in Arizona since he was two years old. He has declared a major of Criminal Justice and has the dream of becoming a police officer when his playing days are over. "Playing in the CCAA has been a dream of mine since I began playing competitive soccer. On top of having the chance to compete in the CCAA, the opportunity to live in California played a large part in my decision to move out of state."
 
Jake Lustig
Defender, Fr., 6-3, 200, Napa, Calif., Sacred Heart HS/U18 San Juan Academy
 
Lustig is an athletic, technically sound, central defender coming from the San Juan Academy system. He has competed against the top players in the country over the past two seasons and has demonstrated his ability to both win the ball and then find the pass that keeps his team in possession. "From the first time I saw Jake play, I knew he was a player that I wanted to join me here at Stanislaus. He is dominating in the air and has the athleticism to defend all types of attacking players," said Taylor.
 
Son of Gary and Fawn Lustig, Jacob comes to Stanislaus from Sacred Heart High School in Napa, Calif.. Jake has been born and raised in Napa and looks forward to moving to Turlock in pursuit of both a college degree from a highly acclaimed University and the opportunity to play collegiate soccer at a very high level.
 
Matthew Waldron
Midfielder. Fr., 6-1, 170, Sacramento, Calif., American River/U18 San Juan Academy
 
Taylor is also excited to bring in a player of Waldron's ability. He is good with the ball at his feet and can pick out players with his passing ability. Waldron is a strong player in the air that brings that hard work mentality associated with the DM position. Waldron's family is avid football fans, more specifically, Crystal Palace fans, and that passion for the game is evident in watching him compete. He has a thirst for being the best he can be. Waldron will be pushing for a starting spot at DM from Day 1.
 
Waldron, son of Simon and Christie Waldron, has been living in the Sacramento area since the age of three. He has been playing competitive soccer with San Juan for nearly nine years. "We have complete faith that Matthew will contend for a starting position from the moment he arrives in the summer. He has been playing in the Academy system, the highest competitive level in the United States, for three years and in doing so has competed against the best players at his age in the nation. Matt is tidy on the ball, strong in the air, and sees the game extremely well. The sky is the limit for this young player," said assistant coach John Powell.