YUMA, Ariz. – 14 Arizona Western Matadors Men's Soccer players signed to continue their athletic and academic careers at the four-year level on Tuesday afternoon after leading the Matadors Men's Soccer program to a pair of national tournament appearances in two years.

This year's ACCAC Goalkeeper of the Year, Esteban Gonzalez, signed to play at Colorado State University Pueblo next year after appearing in 31 career games for the Matadors and making 102 saves, posting 13 career shutouts. Colorado State University Pueblo is an NCAA DII institution in Pueblo, Colo., and competes in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.

Sophomore forward Stephen Saladin returns to the Midwest to play at Bradley University next season. The St. Louis, Mo., native played in 38 career games with the Matadors over the last two seasons and scored nine goals while recording six career assists. Saladin was a 2024 United Soccer Coaches All-American. Bradley University is an NCAA DI institution in Peoria, Ill., competing in the Missouri Valley Conference.

Karim Nlamu signed to play at Radford University after playing in 38 career games for the Matadors and scoring 12 career goals while assisting on six. Nlamu started both games for the Matadors in the 2024 NJCAA DI Men's Soccer Championship.

Also signing with Radford University is Nael Redjam, who played in 26 games for the Matadors in his career and scored a pair of goals while tallying nine assists. The sophomore assisted on a goal in the Matadors' 2-1 win over Miami Dade in the first game of pool play at the 2024 NJCAA DI Men's Soccer Championship.

Joining Nlamu and Redjam at Radford University is Hiromasa Iwai, who appeared in 27 career games and made 14 starts for the Matadors. Iwai scored 14 goals and tallied 10 assists in his career at Arizona Western and assisted on a pair of goals at the 2024 NJCAA DI Men's Soccer Championship. Radford University is an NCAA DI institution located in Radford, Va., competing in the Big South Conference.

Midfielder Fernando Carvalho will continue his career at Emmanuel University after playing in 30 games over two seasons with the Matadors, starting 11 of them. The sophomore from Villahermola, Mexico, played in all three games for the Matadors at the 2023 NJCAA DI Men's Soccer Championship. Emmanuel University is an NCAA DII institution located in Franklin Springs, Ga., competing in the Conference of the Carolinas.

Sophomore Saneyuki Yamagata signed to play at Eastern Illinois next season, following a career at Arizona Western that saw Yamagata play in 14 games and score eight goals. The forward started the final game of the season for the Matadors against Cowley County in the  2024 NJCAA DI Men's Soccer Championship. Eastern Illinois University is an NCAA DI institution located in Charleston, Ill., and competes in the Ohio Valley Conference.

Luis Munoz Valencia is staying in the state to continue his collegiate career, signing with Arizona Christian University. Munoz Valencia played in 24 games for the Matadors in two seasons and scored a game-winning goal against Paradise Valley as a freshman in 2023. Arizona Christian University is an NAIA institution located in Glendale, Ariz., competing in the Great Southwest Athletic Conference.  

After transferring to Arizona Western as a sophomore in 2024, Diogo Silvestre will continue his collegiate career at Mid-America Christian University. Silvestre played in 19 games last season and made 13 starts, scoring eight goals for the Matadors. Mid-America Christian University is an NAIA institution located in Oklahoma City, Okla., and competes in the Sooner Athletic Conference.

Midfielder Ebenezer Laryea has signed to play at Oral Roberts University after spending his sophomore season at Arizona Western. Laryea transferred to Arizona Western from Salt Lake and played in 19 games and recorded four assists for the Matadors while scoring a pair of goals. Oral Roberts University is an NCAA DI institution located in Tulsa, Okla., competing in the Summit League.

Yuma native Jacob Quintana signed to play at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College next season. The former Cibola Raider played four games as a freshman this past season and made a pair of starts. Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College is an NAIA institution located in Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Ind., and competes in the Crossroads Conference.

Haruto Horii will continue his collegiate career at Winthrop University after spending his sophomore season at Arizona Western, after transferring in from Indian Hills. Horii played in 16 games and made nine starts while recording a pair of assists. Winthrop University is an NCAA DII institution located in  Rock Hill, S.C., and competes in the Big South Conference.

Redshirt-freshman Yves Sisse played in six games for the Matadors as a true freshman in 2023, scoring a goal and recording five assists. The forward from Phoenix, Ariz., will continue his career at Daemen University, an NCAA DII school located in Amherst, N.Y., competing in the East Coast Conference.

Tupokiwe Kyumba will head to Grand Canyon University next year after playing in 10 games and making five starts this last season for the Matadors.