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Hannah Walker

Men's Soccer

Get to Know CSUB Men's Soccer: Defenders

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – With the start of Cal State Bakersfield's men's soccer season just a week away, we are continuing our deep dive into Interim Head Coach Adam Grant's 2023 squad.

Before the season officially starts on Aug. 24, we want to introduce fans to the team, providing more insight into the person behind the name, number, and uniform. Next up in our position-by-position breakdown of the `Runner men's soccer team, meet Bakersfield's defenders.

Notable
  • Grant on the `Runner defenders: "We lost some influential players from the back line but with Bryson and Steph stepping into those roles as our captains, the defense is an area where we continue to be strong and have a good base. We were good in the Spring in those positions and adding Haruya was important as well. We have a lot of strength and depth with some really talented freshmen coming into that area as well."
`Runner Defenders
  • #3 Shammai Camara (Returner)
    • 5-foot-11, junior
    • From Phoenix, Ariz., went to Madison Highland Prep
    • Led Heat to runner-up finish in State tournament in 2020
    • Last year for CSUB, started in all 17 matches and led team with 1,465 minutes
    • Scored game-winning goal vs. Gonzaga
    • Kinesiology major
  • #4 Sinan Solmaz (Newcomer)
    • 6-foot-3, freshman
    • Native of Bergisch Gladbach, Germany, went to Geschwister Scholl Berufskolleg
    • Plans to major in economics
  • #5 Haruya Iwasaki (Newcomer)
    • 6-foot-1, junior
    • From Tokyo, Japan, went to Fukagawa High School
    • Transferred to CSUB from Fort Hays State in Hays, Kan.
    • A two-time All-Central Region and All-Conference honoree
    • A business administration major with an emphasis on finance
  • #8 Bryson Hankins (Returner)
    • Team Captain
    • 5-foot-9, junior
    • From Bakersfield, Calif., went to Highland High School
    • Started 28 matches over the last two seasons for CSUB
    • Played all 90 minutes in each of Bakersfield's three shutouts last year
    • This summer, played in USL 2 for Long Island Rough Riders
    • A kinesiology major
  • #13 Alec Aceves (Newcomer)
    • 5-foot-8, freshman
    • Native of Temecula, Calif., went to Temecula Valley High School
    • Competed for Albion SC San Diego in MLS Next from 2021 to 2023
    • Plans to major in political science
  • #14 Pedro Monge-Munoz (Newcomer)
    • 6-foot-1, freshman
    • Native of Auburn, Wash., went to Thomas Jefferson High School
    • Three-time All-League honoree and earned league's Offensive Player of the Year award once
    • Plans to major in business administration
  • #20 Filip Arras (Newcomer)
    • 6-foot-1, freshman
    • Native Melhus, Norway, went to Melhus High School
    • Plans to major in kinesiology
  • #23 Stephon Marcano (Returner)
    • Team Captain
    • 5-foot-11, redshirt senior
    • From Santa Cruz, Trinidad and Tobago
    • Due to redshirt and COVID year, entering his sixth season at CSUB
    • Started 15 matches last season as one of team's top defenders
    • Has earned multiple caps with Trinidad and Tobago National Team
    • Scored game-winning goal vs. Gonzaga
    • A liberal studies major
  • #25 Abraham Gutierrez (Newcomer)
    • 6-foot-1, freshman
    • Native of Baldwin Park, Calif., went to Baldwin Park High School
    • Competed for LAFC Academy U17 from 2021 to 2023 and LA Surf in MLS Next from 2020 to 2021
    • Plans to major in computer engineering
  • #27 Ben Erwin (Newcomer)
    • 6-foot-1, freshman
    • Native of Scottsdale, Ariz., went to Horizon High School
    • Led RSL Arizona to NLS Next Cup and a USL Academy Championship in 2021
    • Plans to major in psychology
Up Next on the Schedule
  • at UCLA (Exh.)
  • Saturday, Aug. 19, 7:30 p.m. (PT)
  • Los Angeles, Calif.
  • CSUB Season Ticket and Single-Game Ticket information available at GoRunners.com/Tickets.
~GoRunners.com~
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Players Mentioned

Shammai Camara

#3 Shammai Camara

D
5' 11"
Junior
Bryson Hankins

#8 Bryson Hankins

D
5' 9"
Junior
Stephon Marcano

#23 Stephon Marcano

D
5' 11"
Redshirt Senior
Alec Aceves

#13 Alec Aceves

D
5' 8"
Freshman
Ben Erwin

#27 Ben Erwin

D
6' 1"
Freshman
Abraham Gutierrez

#25 Abraham Gutierrez

D
6' 1"
Freshman
Haruya Iwasaki

#5 Haruya Iwasaki

D
6' 1"
Junior
Pedro Monge-Munoz

#14 Pedro Monge-Munoz

D
6' 1"
Freshman
Sinan Solmaz

#4 Sinan Solmaz

D
6' 3"
Freshman
Filip Arras

#20 Filip Arras

D
6' 1"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Shammai Camara

#3 Shammai Camara

5' 11"
Junior
D
Bryson Hankins

#8 Bryson Hankins

5' 9"
Junior
D
Stephon Marcano

#23 Stephon Marcano

5' 11"
Redshirt Senior
D
Alec Aceves

#13 Alec Aceves

5' 8"
Freshman
D
Ben Erwin

#27 Ben Erwin

6' 1"
Freshman
D
Abraham Gutierrez

#25 Abraham Gutierrez

6' 1"
Freshman
D
Haruya Iwasaki

#5 Haruya Iwasaki

6' 1"
Junior
D
Pedro Monge-Munoz

#14 Pedro Monge-Munoz

6' 1"
Freshman
D
Sinan Solmaz

#4 Sinan Solmaz

6' 3"
Freshman
D
Filip Arras

#20 Filip Arras

6' 1"
Freshman
D
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