Men’s Soccer to Feature a New Starting Goalkeeper for Fall Season

A new season has brought three fresh faces in a highly spirited preseason competition to stop opposing shots in front of the goal for the Georgia Gwinnett College men’s soccer team this fall.

GGCAthletics.com highlights a critical spot in the Grizzlies’ lineup as the squad strives to meet the challenge of the competitive schedule, earn a conference championship and once again ranking among the nation’s top NAIA teams. 

Sophomore Gal Grodetzki, an Israel native, appeared in three matches for GGC last season, including a starting assignment against NCAA Division II Clayton State University (Georgia). Meanwhile, freshman Clay Refling from Lilburn, Georgia, made his collegiate debut in a reserve role in a home match against Wiley University (Texas). 

Meanwhile, freshman Victor Darub arrives to Lawrenceville from Lincoln, Nebraska, with experience playing for club teams in the United States and globally.

These goalkeepers look to build off a 2024 season in which the team posted six shutouts amid 11 victories. GGC also advanced to the second round of the NAIA national tournament a year ago.

“We needed to get some competition for Gal and Clay and were excited to bring in Victor with his experience playing for (Major League Soccer) FC Dallas’s reserve team and was a member of (Brazil’s) Botafogo U-20 squad. It will be an open battle for the starting goalkeeper position throughout preseason practice and exhibitions,” stated DeCou.

Georgia Gwinnett College will kick off the fall slate against Campbellsville University (Kentucky) on August 21 at the Dalton State Classic in Dalton, Georgia. The team’s home opener is scheduled a week later against Lawrence Tech (Michigan) to begin the Labor Day Grizzly Classic.