The Mohawk Mountaineers and the men's soccer program is thrilled to announce Brandon Barnard (Brantford, ON) and Nicholas Tavares (Milton, ON) have committed to the team for the 2022 season.

Barnard will provide the Mountaineers a left side winger that can primarily cover the wide areas.

"I chose Mohawk because of not only the programs being offered and the success the students have had, but the direction and hope their young team has," Barnard said. He added that he hopes to provide the team with passion and hard work.

In 2019, Barnard won a league championship with his club team, Paris FC.

"Brandon has got good speed and tenacity," said Mountaineers head coach Jordan Brown. "He's going to give us a lot of grit and determination."

Tavares will be an addition as a centre attacking mid for the Mountaineers.

"After having met Jordan, I got a sense that the team atmosphere would be an inviting and positive one to be a part of," Tavares said. "Also, the (Mohawk) journalism program's field placement opportunity and the overall appearance of the campus was enticing."

Tavares played club soccer with the Brampton Youth Soccer Club for numerous years before joining Oakville Soccer Club.

In 2018 with Brampton, Tavares ranked second in the Golden Horseshoe Soccer League (GHSL) with 14 goals in 19 games. Then in 2019, with Oakville, Tavares and his team won the GHSL League Cup Championship.

At the high school level with St. Francis Xavier Catholic Secondary School, Tavares was part of the 2019 junior boy's Halton Catholic Athletic Association (HCAA) championship team and at the senior level in 2022 the team finished as a finalist.

"Nick is good on the ball, but also brings that tenacity and that drive we want from all the players," said Brown.

Barnard will enroll in the Broadcasting – Television and Communications Media program at Mohawk beginning in September, and Tavares will begin his postsecondary studies in the Journalism program.

The Mountaineers kick-off their 2022 season on September 14 when they host the Redeemer Royals at Tim Hortons Field.