SAN DIEGO – Head coach Ryan Hopkins has announced the addition of Eloge Iradukunda (San Diego, Calif.) and Fritz Oestreicher (Darmstadt, Germany) during the spring signing period.
Iradukunda, a 5'10" forward/winger from UC San Diego's Preuss School, and Oestreicher, a 6'1" defender from Darmstadt, Germany, join SDSU's 2020 recruiting class that is ranked top ten in the nation according to Top Drawer Soccer.
Eloge Iradukunda | 5'10" 155 lbs. | Forward/Winger | Preuss School - UC San Diego | Sporting San Diego | San Diego, Calif.
Born in Mozambique, Iradukunda relocated to the U.S. when he was 11. A two-time league MVP, he was named to the All-CIF First Team this past season after being on the Second Team as a sophomore. A dynamic playmaker, he helped his team win three straight league championships while making the Principal's Honor Roll.
Coach Hopkins' Take: "We are thrilled to welcome Eloge into the program. He was one of the first players I went to see when I arrived in San Diego and I came away very impressed by him as a student-athlete. He has an incredible story to tell marked by resiliency that will resonate with the core values of our program. On the field, he is an exciting attacking player that combines blistering pace with an ability to score goals. Defensively, his mentality, positioning and work rate will fit perfectly into our counter pressing style. I know Aztec Nation will embrace him as one of their own as a local who lives just five minutes from campus."
Why Iradukunda chose SDSU: "I chose to attend SDSU because I wanted to represent my hometown. The teams, the culture and the energy surrounding San Diego State is unique, and I can't wait to be part of that."
Fritz Oestreicher | 6'1" 175 lbs. | Defender | Bertolt-Brecht-Gymnasium | Kickers Offenbach | Darmstadt, Germany
Oestreicher comes to SDSU from the Kickers Offenbach in the Bundesliga U-19 League. Prior to that he played for Eintracht Frankfurt, also a Bundesliga U-19 club. A natural leader, Oestreicher is a tremendous 1v1 defender with the skill to push the ball up the field.
Coach Hopkins' Take: "All three Final Four teams I have been a part of (Concordia 2007, Denver 2016, Virginia 2019) have had a very similar theme – a stout defensive side with a mentality of never wanting to concede a goal. The main lynchpins in those three defenses were dominate center backs. I knew one of my first orders of business would have to be repairing a defensive side that conceded 37 goals last year. As a staff, we were able to target Fritz pretty quickly as a center back who could organize the team with proactive communication. His experiences with the German National Team and Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga U-19 League will insure the selfless mature attitude we are trying to create within the Aztec soccer culture."
Why Oestreicher chose SDSU: "I got offers from several universities, but San Diego State and head coach Ryan Hopkins immediately grabbed my attention. I am confident I will find success there on the field and in the classroom. I also think San Diego will be a great place to live for four years. I can't wait to be an Aztec!"