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Grand Canyon University Athletics
Victor Cardoso
Men's Soccer Lands Two From Illinois Central College
5/13/2013 9:42:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Join five others as new additions to 2013 team
Grand Canyon University head men’s soccer coach Petar Draksin today announced that Courage Chirandu and Victor Cardoso will join the squad for the upcoming 2013 season, the first for the Antelopes as members of the Division I Western Athletic Conference. The two were teammates at Illinois Central College and will join GCU in their junior year of eligibility.
“With our record in the past few years of recruiting young men from ICC and their awesome experiences in our program, it has helped us land both Courage and Victor onto our team,” said Draksin.
Chirandu and Cardoso join five other student-athletes as new additions to the team.
Chirandu (front picture), a central midfielder, was a 2012 Mid-West Athletic Conference All-Region First Team, M-WAC All-Conference First Team, and Athletic Director’s Honor List selection in his final season with the Cougars. During his freshman campaign, he garnered 2011-12 Men’s Soccer M-WAC Conference All-Academic Team, Dean’s List, and M-WAC All-Region Team accolades, while also serving as part of the Illinois Central College men’s soccer team that was named NJCAA Academic Team of the Year.
Chirandu represented Zimbabwe at the Copa-Coca Cola Schools Tournament in South Africa in 2009 and was a member of the Harare Provincial Soccer Team that same year. Originally from Chitungwiza, Chirandu attended Churchill School.
“Courage is a young student athlete that I have confidence that most people on this campus will be drawn to,” said Draksin. “He is an awesome athlete and student and highly committed to his spiritual life. On the field, his resume speaks for itself. Courage will play in the midfield. His natural position is holding midfield where our captain Alex Connally played for the last two years. So we are looking for Courage to step in and assume that role. He has also had stints with the Zimbabwe National Team, and brings great experience to our program.”
Cardoso, a midfielder/forward, is originally from Sao Paulo, Brazil where he attended Colegio Amorim-Tataupe. During his freshman season with the Cougars, he was named M-WAC All-Conference and All-Region Honorable Mention after scoring eight goals and collecting four assists to finish with 20 total points, second-most on the team.
Cardoso earned M-WAC All-Conference and All-Region First Team honors for his efforts during his sophomore season in 2012. He had 16 goals and five assists to finish with 37 total points, and was ranked in the top-20 nationally for goals and points. Cardoso also helped guide the team to a fifth-place finish at the national championships.
“Victor is another ICC player that we are very fortunate to land,” Draksin added. “He is an incredibly technical player, and has a nose for scoring goals. Victor has the frame of a Division I athlete. He is also highly committed to his studies. I am very excited to land Victor into the future of our program going Division I, and we are looking for Victor to step into a role of playing forward or midfield.”
“Again, we welcome with open arms these two young men continuing the trail of past recruiting from ICC.”
“With our record in the past few years of recruiting young men from ICC and their awesome experiences in our program, it has helped us land both Courage and Victor onto our team,” said Draksin.
Chirandu and Cardoso join five other student-athletes as new additions to the team.
Chirandu (front picture), a central midfielder, was a 2012 Mid-West Athletic Conference All-Region First Team, M-WAC All-Conference First Team, and Athletic Director’s Honor List selection in his final season with the Cougars. During his freshman campaign, he garnered 2011-12 Men’s Soccer M-WAC Conference All-Academic Team, Dean’s List, and M-WAC All-Region Team accolades, while also serving as part of the Illinois Central College men’s soccer team that was named NJCAA Academic Team of the Year.
Chirandu represented Zimbabwe at the Copa-Coca Cola Schools Tournament in South Africa in 2009 and was a member of the Harare Provincial Soccer Team that same year. Originally from Chitungwiza, Chirandu attended Churchill School.
“Courage is a young student athlete that I have confidence that most people on this campus will be drawn to,” said Draksin. “He is an awesome athlete and student and highly committed to his spiritual life. On the field, his resume speaks for itself. Courage will play in the midfield. His natural position is holding midfield where our captain Alex Connally played for the last two years. So we are looking for Courage to step in and assume that role. He has also had stints with the Zimbabwe National Team, and brings great experience to our program.”
Cardoso, a midfielder/forward, is originally from Sao Paulo, Brazil where he attended Colegio Amorim-Tataupe. During his freshman season with the Cougars, he was named M-WAC All-Conference and All-Region Honorable Mention after scoring eight goals and collecting four assists to finish with 20 total points, second-most on the team.
Cardoso earned M-WAC All-Conference and All-Region First Team honors for his efforts during his sophomore season in 2012. He had 16 goals and five assists to finish with 37 total points, and was ranked in the top-20 nationally for goals and points. Cardoso also helped guide the team to a fifth-place finish at the national championships.
“Victor is another ICC player that we are very fortunate to land,” Draksin added. “He is an incredibly technical player, and has a nose for scoring goals. Victor has the frame of a Division I athlete. He is also highly committed to his studies. I am very excited to land Victor into the future of our program going Division I, and we are looking for Victor to step into a role of playing forward or midfield.”
“Again, we welcome with open arms these two young men continuing the trail of past recruiting from ICC.”
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