Cal State Bakersfield's Men's Soccer team has players from 10 countries including Bermuda representing three continents and eight languages.
Not-so-fun numbers: In 19 games last year, they scored just 17 goals, their lowest total in nine years, and won just six times. To that mix they've added 12 new players and have a team nearly as inexperienced as last year's youthful squad.
CSUB is hoping its increased diversity – and more relevant, its increased experience – results in more goals and victories this season.
We went through this last year; we were just a little inexperienced, but we're hoping to be a better settled than last year because there's experience," said coach Richie Grant, a native of Ireland who adds an 11th country to the roster. "We're going to be young for two years in a row, and then next year we'll be experienced overnight."
Grant is high on his new players, however, most notably goalkeeper Detre Bell, who has spent time with the Bermuda national team.
"He comes in and straight away is someone who can help us win games," Grant said. "It gives our team a lot of confidence, because even though we're young, we've seen what he can do. He's a pretty good last line."
Bell, 20, went to prep school in Connecticut and then attended UConn for one year, redshirting, before transferring to CSUB. He has played with Bermuda's under-20 national team and briefly with the senior national team, where he was tutored by the likes of veteran forward Nahki Wells, a professional player from the Premier League club Huddersfield Town.
"It was a great experience," Bell said. "Older guys who coach you through some things, and you just feel comfortable.
"... If I was doing something wrong, they would pull me to the side and tell me what I could do better, and I feel like I can bring that here."
The defense in front of Bell will be anchored by team captain Jamie Carey-Morrell, an England native who has started every game since his freshman year.
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