PEORIA, Ill. -- The Bradley Soccer team will welcome seven newcomers to its 2011 roster as the Braves try to defend their 2010 Missouri Valley Conference tournament title.  Head coach Jim DeRose today announced his latest recruiting class, which includes two players who enrolled in January and have already suited up for the spring season.

Bradley's group of newcomers for the 2011 season includes current students Alexei Davies-Campbell (Hamilton, New Zealand/Hamilton Boys School) and Cecil Jeffrey (Framingham, Mass./The Rivers School); as well as incoming freshmen Desmond Campbell (Kingston, Jamaica/Wolmer's Boys School), Cody Gilfillan (Peoria, Ill./Notre Dame H.S.), Shay Niemeyer (Centennial, Colo./Arapahoe H.S.) and Josh Otusanya (Lake Stevens, Wash./Lake Stevens H.S.); and junior college transfer Matt Kuehl (South Beloit, Ill./Honoegah H.S.).

"The 2011 class is one we are very excited about," said DeRose.  "A few things really fell into place that allowed us to add real quality and depth to the program.  Having Alexei and Cecil join us this spring has added a great deal to the dynamic of our team.  They have immediately solidified themselves as guys that will compete for starting roles. 

"This class really covers the bases for us in many areas," DeRose added.  "Every position on the field has been addressed, and while it features a great deal of speed, athleticism and versatility, there is an attacking creativity and prowess that we are excited about.  Perhaps more importantly, it is experienced in winning and competing at the highest levels. 

"The addition of this class with the two redshirts from 2010 adds nine new players that we believe will lead to a bright future.  It is certainly worth noting that our assistant coaches Brian Barnett and Devin O'Neill have done a phenomenal job in expanding the footprint of our recruiting even further, and we are hopeful that this class will continue to lead to the academic and athletic success as many before them."

In addition to the seven newcomers, Bradley expects to return 20 lettermen from the 2010 squad that posted an 11-9-3 overall record and finished strong by going 6-2-2 in their final 10 games to win the State Farm MVC Tournament title and advance to the program's fifth NCAA Tournament in 11 years.

2011 Bradley Soccer Recruiting Class

Desmond Campbell, F, 5-foot-9, Kingston, Jamaica, Wolmer's Boys School
A Jamaican national, Campbell will come to Bradley from Wolmer's Boy's School, the second-oldest English speaking school in the Caribbean.  The 5-foot-9 forward twice earned a spot on the ISSA/Pepsi/Digicel Manning Cup all-tournament team (2009 and 2010) and, although he has not yet earned a CAP, he has twice been called into the Jamaican U20 National Team training camp.

"Desmond's commitment toward the soccer program at Bradley is without question," said Ludlow Bernard, Wolmer's Boys School soccer head coach.  "He now will be able to fulfill a life-long dream of playing with a top American university and at the same time acquire a quality education.  Bradley will be richer for his talent and Desmond will be socially, upwardly mobile after gaining a solid education."

"Desmond has incredible top end speed and is a highly-skilled forward that should really pose problems for opposing back lines," said DeRose.  "His emergence over the past 18 months has shown with his inclusion into the U-20 National Team Pool in talent-rich Jamaica, and his addition with Bryan Gaul and Christian Meza, as well as our other returning forwards, is going to add a great deal of scoring options for us.  I think our fans will really be excited to see Desmond play as his 1-v-1 attacking ability will be fun to watch."

Alexei Davies-Campbell, D, 5-foot-11, Hamilton, New Zealand, Hamilton Boys School, Waikato FC
A New Zealand national, Davies-Campbell enrolled at Bradley in January and is playing with the Braves this spring.  The athletic defender has trained with the New Zealand U20 National Team Development Squad and also has played for the Waikato Football Club and Melville United AFC.  He was training with the Olé Football Academy in Wellington, New Zealand last May when spotted by Bradley assistant coach Brian Barnett.

"I am very excited to be a part of the Braves culture and represent Bradley University," said Davies-Campbell.  "I hope to make the needed impact the team requires."

"Alexei has immediately inserted himself as one of our program's most athletic, fit and hardest-working players," said DeRose.  "His physical abilities, coupled with his skill on the ball is an exciting combination. 

"Lex is extremely competitive and can literally play anywhere on the field, and like Desmond, has been in the National Team program in his native New Zealand.  He is a bit older than most incoming players and has a tactical maturity and savvy that can be applied anywhere on the field.  No doubt he will impact us this fall."

Cody Gilfillan, Fr., M, 5-foot-8, Morton, Ill., Peoria Notre Dame H.S.
Gilfillan is a 3-sport star at Peoria Notre Dame High School, where he helped the soccer team to IHSA 2A state championships in 2008 and 2010 and the boys basketball team to the state 3A No. 1 ranking for the majority of the 2010-11 season and a 28-1 final record.  He is currently playing baseball for the Irish.

On the pitch, Gilfillan was a four-year varsity starter who earned all-state honors as a junior and senior.  He was a team captain for the Irish squad that finished as the Class 2A state runner-up in 2009 then rebounded for the program's second state championship in three years in 2010.  In addition to the 2010 state championship, PND finished the season ranked #4 nationally by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.

"Cody is a tremendous athlete on the field and an even better person off it," said Peoria Notre Dame High School coach Mike Bare.  "He works hard, has a great attitude and is the ultimate team player.  He also is very good at beating defenders off the dribble and has a knack for finding the net. 

"Being a three-sport athlete in high school, I can only imagine the type of player Cody will become when immersed into a year-round Division I soccer program," Bare added.  "I look forward to following his career and watching him play in person at Bradley."

"Cody is simply a winner and the ultimate competitor," said DeRose.  "Regardless of the sport he plays, winning surrounds him and his leadership qualities are of the highest caliber.  That said, Cody has acquired the skills of being a year-round soccer player while only playing four months.  This is obviously due to his fantastic athletic ability and drive to maximize everything from every training session and the time he invests on his own.  Once fully-immersed in soccer at our level year-round, we believe Cody will have incredible success."

Cecil Jeffrey, Jr., M, 6-foot, Framingham, Mass., The Rivers School, Wheaton (Mass.) College, Boston Bolts
A transfer from Wheaton (Mass.) College, Jeffrey was a two-sport star at the NCAA Division III school, earning all-conference honors on the soccer pitch as a freshman in 2009 and All-American honors on the track in 2010.  In two soccer seasons for the Lyons, Jeffrey played in 41 games, scoring 18 points on five goals and eight assists and he was a member of Wheaton's 4x400 relay team that won the national championship at the 2010 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

"We are very excited for Cecil," said Wheaton College soccer head coach Matt Cushing.  "His goal was to play at an elite Division I program and he can achieve this at Bradley under Coach (Jim) DeRose. 

"Cecil is a tremendous talent with a huge upside," Cushing added.  "He has a great work rate to go with great feet.  He is very athletic and an exceptional ball-winner, and he is a great kid who is very coachable."

As a high school soccer player, Jeffrey earned all-league, all-state and All-New England honors at The Rivers School, helping his prep school team to a runner-up finish in the Independent School League, as well as the New England Class B Championship.

"Cecil, like Alexei, has impacted us from his first step on campus," said DeRose.  "He is perhaps our most-skillful player, along with Bryan Gaul, and his confidence and comfort level on the ball are of the highest level.

"Cecil's background and club experience in the Boston area and abroad in his native Trinidad and Tobago, coupled  with his natural athletic gifts, give us a dimension we really need," DeRose added.  "Two years of college soccer at one of Division III's best programs, with one of Division III's top coaches in Matt Cushing, has more than prepared Cecil to compete right away.

"Whether in the midfield or up top, Cecil will be able to unbalance defenses with pace, vision or simply by taking people off the dribble, which should really afford us the opportunity to get to goal."

Matt Kuehl, Jr., D, 6-foot-1, South Beloit, Ill., Hononegah H.S., Kishwaukee C.C.
Kuehl played the last two seasons at Kishwaukee Community College, where he earned honorable mention all-conference honors in 2010, when he also was named his team's Offensive Player of the Year.  An excellent student, Kuehl also earned a spot on the Dean's List during the 2010 Fall semester.

"Coaching Matt was a privilege," said former Kishwaukee coach Josh Woita.  "Watching him mentor younger players, along with his desire and commitment to excellence, made him invaluable to our program.  "I am excited for both Matt and Bradley University and I am confident he will excel at BU."

"Matt is the type of player we have great success with at Bradley; strong, athletic, brave and a great competitor," said DeRose.  "He has the ability to lock down some of the nation's top attacking players.  His ability in the air is of the highest level and he will really allow us to be dangerous on set pieces and in defending them, as well. 

"While he does possess great physical tools, Matt is more than competent enough on the ball to initiate the attack and get forward," DeRose added.  "Matt has really developed over the past few years and his maturity is something we will look to help with some of our younger guys."

Shay Niemeyer, Fr., GK, 6-foot-1, Centennial, Colo., Arapahoe H.S., Real Colorado
The top goalkeeper in Colorado, Niemeyer starred between the pipes at Arapahoe High School the last three seasons.  As a senior in 2010, Niemeyer earned NSCAA all-region and Colorado 5A all-state honors.  He also was named the 2010 Centennial League Player of the Year and was a first-team all-conference pick after each of his three varsity seasons.   ESPN RISE named him a 2010 state all-star and to the Fall Preview Western Region Starting 11.  In addition Niemeyer was an honorable mention academic all-state selection.

"I cannot say enough about Shay," said Arapahoe High School boys soccer coach Mark Hampshire.  "Though his stats and awards say a lot, it is his character that separates him from the rest."

In addition to his high school soccer accomplishments, Niemeyer played for the Real Colorado Development Academy and trained in the Olympic Development Program from 2006-08.  He was a member of the South Texas ODP state team in 2006 and 2007 and the Colorado ODP state team in 2007 and 2008.  Niemeyer's 2008 ODP squad won the Region IV championship.

"Good goalkeeping has always been something we have been fortunate to have at Bradley, and while we are deep at the position, we felt we simply could not pass on Shay's talents," said DeRose.  "Competition, regardless of the position, is necessary for teams to develop and win championships, and Shay's addition will allow us to have incredible competition at goalkeeper in the short- and long-term. 

"Shay has had the good fortune of being coached by Eric Vaughter, one of the country's top goalkeeper coaches," DeRose added.  "Through coaching and by playing in the USSF Academy program, Shay has developed into one of the region's top goalkeepers.  His work ethic, desire to excel and his mental approach to the game shows a maturity beyond his age, and his inclusion in our program I believe gives us the opportunity to be excellent for years to come at the position."

Josh Otusanya, Fr., F, 6-foot, Lake Stevens, Wash., Lake Stevens H.S., Snohomish United Black
Otusanya (pronounced OH - two - SAHN - yah) is in the middle of his senior season at Lake Stevens, Wash., High School.  As a junior in 2010, he helped the Vikings to conference and district titles, as well as a runner-up finish in the state tournament and a #21 national ranking by ESPN RISE.

"Josh is the first player in our program's 35-year history to play soccer at a Division I school," said Lake Stevens High School boys soccer coach Scott Flanders.  "Josh's years of hard work and commitment to being the best player he can be are great examples to other players in our program.  He will be missed by our program and we wish him the best in his college career at Bradley."

In addition to leading LSHS in game-winning goals in 2010, Otusanya led the Snohomish United Black club team in scoring during his U17 league season and was leading the team in scoring again during the U18 season with 10 goals and four assists in 12 games before suffering an ankle injury toward the end of the season.

"Josh is a player that we have watched develop over the past 18 months or so and has really impressed us with his versatility," said DeRose.  "His athleticism is something that is immediately noticeable, but his ability on the ball is getting better and more effective from game-to-game.  Based on that versatility and athleticism, we see Josh being able to compete primarily wide in the midfield or up top. 

"With Lake Stevens being one of the top high schools in Washington and the coaching he is receiving as a student-athlete there, we believe that Josh's development will continue right up to his arrival on campus."