GUELPH, Ont. – The 2019 season sees the return of a pair of familiar faces to the Guelph Gryphons men's soccer team. Star forward Jace Kotsopoulos is back for a fifth and final year with the Gryphons following an unforgettable 2018 campaign. A season ago, Kotsopoulos became just the second player in program history to earn national player of the year honours as the recipient of the Joe Johnson Memorial Trophy as the 2018-19 U SPORTS Player of the Year.

The Burlington native scored 15 goals during his All-Canadian 2018 campaign, making him the OUA's leading scorer for the second time in his varsity career. In the process, Kotsopoulos also eclipsed the University of Guelph's all-time goals record with a school-record 56 goals under his belt. Jace's success at the OUA level translated into an professional opportunity in 2019. In November of 2018, Jace was selected third overall by the Hamilton-based franchise Forge F.C. in the inaugural draft for the newly-founded Canadian Premier League. After scoring twice as a member of Forge F.C., Kotsopoulos chose to return to the University of Guelph to complete his final semester as a management economics and finance major while suiting up for one final season with the Gryphons.
 
But Jace Kotspoulos isn't the only big name returning to the Gryphons in 2019.

Set piece specialist Alexander Zis is back in the red, black and gold after spending the previous two seasons south of the border with the NCAA's South Florida Bulls. Zis, a marketing management major from Oakville, starred as a rookie with the Gryphons three seasons ago, serving as an instrumental piece in the 2016 Gryphon squad that captured the OUA title and earned bronze at nationals on home soil. During his unforgettable rookie season as a Gryphon, Zis scored a total of 15 goals (8 during the regular season, 7 during the OUA and U SPORTS playoffs). The talented attacking midfielder has already reminded the Gryphons of his deadly set piece capabilities with a stunning preseason goal versus Carleton with Zis scoring from a set piece 30-yards out. With Kotsopoulos and Zis leading the way, the Gryphons boast one of the most dangerous attacking duos in the country.
 
Fifth-year senior Youssef Zaghloul will also provide support in attack, with the talented winger back to full health after an injury-plagued 2018 campaign. When healthy, Zaghloul has caused opposing defences headaches with the mechanical engineering major earning OUA All-Star status during the 2017 season.
 
A pair of fourth-year forwards will lead the front line for the Gryphons with Mitch Lefebvre and Jonathon Amoo both coming off of 6-goal seasons a year ago.

In the defensive midfield, it will be third-year Brampton native Manveer Gill called upon to fill the void left by departed OUA All-Star Ryan Vyrostko.
 
The biggest change for the Gryphons in 2019 will be on the back line where four new faces will have a chance to lead the Gryphon defence. Luke Rankin, the team's reigning rookie of the year, will help anchor a centre back position and will pair up alongside former OUA All-Star Ian Vidovich, who drops back from his centre defensive midfield position. Incoming rookie Moses Kafeero (Ottawa, ON) has impressed in the preseason and provides the Gryphons with an exciting option at fullback, while converted forward Dylan Rennie (St. Thomas, ON) may also dropback to provide the Gryphons with a versatile option at fullback.
 
Erik Hermanns returns for his third season to handle goalkeeping duties after posting three clean sheets a season ago. Rookie Darlington Murasiranwa (Kamloops, BC) will also compete for time in net after arriving at U of G after having spent time with the Vancouver Whitecaps FC Residency program.
 
Quote from Gryphon head coach Keith Mason:
"A key for us this season will be to organize our new-look defence and goalkeeping very quickly. We have multiple talented players in those areas, just a matter of becoming familiar with each other and get used to working together. Going forward, we have a very strong attack that has the ability to be a real force. Our players have an unbelievable desire to win and we have a good mixture of some established players at this level to go with a good group of youthful players who have been waiting for the opportunity."
  
KEY RETURNERS:
Jace Kotspoulos (F)
Manveer Gill (MF)
Ian Vidovich (D)
 
KEY ADDITIONS:
Alex Zis (MF – transfer from NCAA's South Florida Bulls)
Moses Kafeero (RB from Ottawa, ON)
Darlington Murasiranwa (GK from Kamloops, BC)
Jack Sears (Attacking MF from Whitby, ON)