Rock Hill, S.C. – Winthrop men's soccer placed six players on the 2025 Big South Conference Preseason Returning Players Watchlist, announced by the league office Tuesday afternoon.
Jack Kilstrom,
Emory Crichlow,
Diego Candia,
Bernardo Pacheco,
Ryan Armijo and
Ethan Marks were all recognized for the preseason honors.
Kilstrom was among three goalkeepers selected as he returns after starting 12-of-13 games for the Eagles in 2024. In his first two seasons, Kilstrom has started 20 of the 22 matches he's appeared.
Candia and Crichlow were among 12 defenders on the list. Candia is a two-year starter for the Eagles, who was selected as the 2024 Big South Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. In 2023 he was a Second Team All-Conference selection and has started all 29 matches he's appeared as an Eagle. Crichlow Has 27 starts in 33 career games as an Eagle and in 2024 was named Big South All-Conference Honorable Mention.
Pacheco and Armijo were 17 midfielders selected. Pacheco appeared in 17 matches in 2024 with six starts as he tallied one assist. Armijo was a 2024 Big South All-Freshman Team selection after finishing with two goals and assist in 18 games and 12 starts.
Marks was the lone Eagle on a list of forwards consisting of six players around the league. Marks is expected to be a starter this season after finishing second on the team in scoring in 2024 in 15 appearances and five starts. Marks notched three goals, two of them game-winners.
Each team could select up to six returning players (regardless of position) to be included on the Watch List, along with any returning Big South All-Conference and All-Freshman Team members from prior seasons that will play in 2025.
Meanwhile, the Preseason Players of the Year honorees in the categories of Offensive, Midfielder, Defensive and Goalkeeper will be selected by the head coaches from the lists, and will be announced on Wednesday, Aug. 13, along with the 2025 preseason predicted order of finish.
Below are the Top Returners To Watch for 2025, listed by position and presented in alphabetical order by school.
FORWARDS - Name, School, Class
Jaylen Orr, Gardner-Webb, Sr.
Brendan Krueger, High Point, Sr.
Alfred Baafi, High Point, Jr.
Brando Bedolla, Longwood, Soph.
Aysa Hamid, UNC Asheville, Sr.
Ethan Marks, Winthrop, Jr.
MIDFIELDERS - Name, School, Class
Tiago Campos, Gardner-Webb, Jr.
Nate Porterfield, Gardner-Webb, Soph.
Jefferson Amaya, High Point, Sr.
Anthony Ramirez, High Point, Jr.
Aaron Asamoah, Longwood, Sr.
Aristhid Kamdjin, Longwood, Jr.
Steven Cordova, Presbyterian, Sr.
Jonas Sundli-Hardig, Presbyterian, Soph.
Donovan McClellan, Radford, Sr.
Dax Booth, Radford, Soph.
Hiromassa Iwai, Radford, Jr.
Edvin Grolimund, UNC Asheville, Gr.
Charlie Wood, UNC Asheville, Soph.
Louis Beckett, UNC Asheville, Sr.
Jack Steel, UNC Asheville, Jr.
Ryan Armijo, Winthrop, Soph.
Bernardo Pacheco, Winthrop, Sr.
DEFENDERS - Name, School, Class
Leo Andrade, Gardner-Webb, Sr.
Breno Correia, Gardner-Webb, Jr.
Lukas Kamrath, High Point, R-Soph.
Beau Yantz, High Point, Sr.
Joshua Yoder, Longwood, Sr.
David Ambaek, Longwood, Sr.
Jesus Macaya, Longwood, Jr.
Bryce Burdette, Presbyterian, R-Jr.
Benian Yao, UNC Asheville, Gr.
Viðar Ragnarsson, UNC Asheville, Sr.
Emory Crichlow, Winthrop, Jr.
Diego Candia, Winthrop, Sr.
GOALKEEPERS - Name, School, Class
Alan Horrocks, Gardner-Webb, Jr.
Josh Caron, High Point, R-Jr.
Jack Kilstrom, Winthrop, Jr.
