Andrew Mills

The Grizzlies return their entire starting midfield from last season's quarterfinal squad

Experience Starts in Middle of the Pitch for 2026 Men’s Soccer

8/3/2026 10:00:00 AM

Ten returning starters, several quality reserve players and a bevy of promising newcomers being led by an experienced coaching staff have the Georgia Gwinnett College men’s soccer team primed for more success on the pitch this fall.

And the Grizzlies’ good prospects starts with a midfield unit that had 23 goals (out of the team’s 59 total goals) and 22 assists (out of 50) during a 2025 season that had a 13-3-4 record and matched the deepest postseason run in program history, with a quarterfinal-round appearance in the NAIA national tournament.

The midfield position group is where GGCAthletics.com begins the preseason preview series for a men’s soccer season that’s scheduled to open August 21 with a match at SCAD Savannah (Georgia). The home opener is set for August 31 against Southeastern University (Florida) at the Grizzly Soccer Complex.

We have a deep and quality midfield unit and the competition for starting roles throughout our preseason has elevated the entire team. We could have been satisfied with our 10 returning starters, along with several bench role players coming back, but we brought in a group of quality newcomers to push them to get even better. The competition within the group is going to be beneficial, I believe. There will be challenges at every spot and we’re going to be at least two-deep at every position. That depth will be a key element for us,

- Head Coach Steve DeCou, who is entering his 15th season leading the Grizzlies

Luka Colic made an immediate impact to the Grizzlies' midfield during his freshman campaign.

The midfield also benefits from having wingbacks that will roam between the defensive back line and assist in GGC’s offensive attack.

Sophomore Luka Colic should spearhead the midfield’s offensive production after scoring five goals and assisting on four other tallies a year ago. Three of those goals came in the first two matches and he contributed two assists against United States Sports University (Alabama) during the final month of the regular season.

Junior Kevin Diaz started all 20 matches and helped the team’s defense post eight shutouts last fall, including a shutout against the University of Rio Grande (Ohio) in NAIA Second Round play. His only goal and assist of the season came in a home triumph against the University of Pikeville (Kentucky).

Junior Kevin Diaz has been a mainstay in the starting lineup over the past two seasons as a central midfield piece.

Those efforts earned Colic and Diaz all-conference accolades for the 2025 season, with Colic being a first-team honoree.

Meanwhile, senior Francisco Osorio emerged as a midfield starter during the back half of last fall, beginning 13 of 20 matches. He assisted on goals in home victories against Tennessee Wesleyan University and Talladega College (Alabama).

Sophomore Michael Mallaburn also appeared in all 20 matches, with four starts, during his initial collegiate season. He scored a pair of goals last season while one of his five assists was a free kick near midfield that set up the match-winning goal in the team’s 2-1 Round of 16 victory against Cumberland University (Tennessee) at the NAIA National Championships site.

Sophomore Michael Mallaburn successfully converted a penalty kick in last season's NAIA Second Round postseason victory against the University of Rio Grande (Ohio).

Junior Djordje Djurasinovic had a breakout campaign in 2025, coming off the bench to tally eight goals and contributing an assist. One of his goals came in GGC’s 3-0 victory against Bellevue University (Nebraska) in the championship match of the Continental Athletic Conference tournament.

Djordje can play in an attacking piece. He is a player who could see an expanded role as a forward after being a super substitute last year,

- Head Coach Steve DeCou, who has led GGC to six conference championships and 11 national tournament appearances

Assisting in the midfield from the wingback spots in the lineup are senior Pedro Alejandro and junior Josefa Simao, a duo that had 37 starts among 40 matches last fall. Simao scored the match-winning goal against Cumberland while Alejandro contributed three assists in his first season wearing the Green and Gray.

Junior Gabriel Martins tied for the team lead with six assists in 2025, including a contributing pass in the team’s come-from-behind victory against Carolina University (North Carolina) in the CAC semifinal match. He then tallied GGC’s first goal in the victory against Cumberland during NAIA postseason play.

Junior Josefa Simao provides versatility to the midfield as a wingback and has been a member of two NAIA national tournament squads.

Juniors Aldo Campos and Diego Fredericks join sophomore David Varela among returning midfielders who appeared in at least six matches during last fall’s successful season.

Newcomers challenging for playing time this fall and adding depth to the Grizzlies’ lineup will be juniors Dylan Cedeno and Jean Malido along with freshmen JJ Grimaldo and Jose Oliva-Martinez.

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