Men’s Soccer sends 10 to Next Level

PERKINSTON — The number of players off the 2022 Mississippi Gulf Coast men's soccer team going to the Next level has soared to double digits.

There will be 10 Bulldogs of that squad playing at four-year schools next season. It's an indication that head coach Chris Handy's motto for his program continues to pay off: Two-Year School, Four-Year Program.

Three players will be competing at NCAA Division I schools, with three more at NCAA Division II programs. Three will be playing in the NAIA, with one returning home to play soccer at a Canadian university.

"It was a large sophomore group, which is part of it," Handy said. "They accomplished a lot on the field, and they were great off the field in the classroom. That's the key to getting these guys out, so I'm really proud of them."

The group went 20-13-4 over the last two years and won the 2021 MACCC/NJCAA Gulf District Championship. That earned them a berth in the school's first-ever NJCAA Tournament in Wichita, Kan.

Hyungjoon Lee, Seattle University (NCAA Division I)

The Swiss Army knife from Suwon, South Korea, was a two-time NJCAA All-American. Listed as a midfielder, Lee also saw time as a forward and defender. He scored 25 goals and assisted on nine others in his two seasons at Gulf Coast and was a College Sports Communicators Academic All-District selection this year.

Seongbin Son, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (NCAA Division I)

The midfielder from Seoul, South Korea, scored three goals with seven assists in his two seasons at Perkinston. He won NJCAA and MACCC All-Academic awards last year and is line to repeat this year.

Miller Hayden, UNC Asheville (NCAA Division I)

A midfielder from Hattiesburg, Hayden played in only four games as a sophomore after transferring from UAB. He was prolific in his short time on the field, scoring twice with two assists.

Ashton Taylor, Delta State University (NCAA Division II)

The midfielder from Olive Branch returned for a third COVID year and had four goals with three assists while playing in just 12 games. He finished with 12 career goals and eight assists and earned All-MACCC honors last season. Taylor earned a spot on the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District team. 

Michael Bell, University of West Alabama (NCAA Division II)

The midfielder from Jackson had eight goals and two assists in two years for the Bulldogs. He was named to the All-MACCC team as a sophomore.

Ivan Gonzalez, University of Auburn Montgomery (NCAA Division II)

The midfielder from Olive Branch had 21 goals and five assists at Gulf Coast. He only played in nine games as a sophomore but scored 14 times as a freshman. He earned a spot on the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District team.

Klaidas Pudlauskas, University of Houston-Victoria (NAIA)

The forward from London, England, scored seven goals with nine assists in two seasons at Perk. He earned Academic All-MACCC honors as a freshman and is line for MACCC and NJCAA academic honors for his final season.

Abdul Omar, University of St. Mary (NAIA)

The midfielder from Madison played three seasons at Gulf Coast and finished with seven goals and 17 assists. He led the NJCAA in assists in the spring 2021 season with 11. St. Mary is a Kansas school that reached the NAIA playoffs last year. 

Alwayne Whittaker, Cleary University (NAIA)

The forward from Biloxi played three seasons for the Bulldogs. He finished with four goals and five assists. Cleary is located in Howell, Mich.

Marcus Gaymes, Western University (Canada)

The defender from Brampton, Ontario, returns north of the border after playing one season at Gulf Coast. He transferred to Perk after redshirting at Houston Baptist. Western, in London, Ontario, plays in the Ontario University Athletics conference. It's part of Canada's U Sports, a nationwide organization like the NCAA. 

For more information on MGCCC's 11 intercollegiate athletic teams, follow @MGCCCBulldogs on Twitter and MGCCCBulldogs on Facebook, and go to mgcccbulldogs.com.