Atlanta Silverbacks Add Young Goalkeeper C.J. Cochran

The Atlanta Silverbacks announced the signing of a homegrown Metro Atlanta product, C.J. Cochran,  that will serve especially vital with goalkeeper Steward Ceus’ looming departure for international friendlies later this month. An Alpharetta native, Cochran bolsters the Silverbacks stable of 'keepers after a record-breaking career with Georgia State University.

“When I was younger, I used to go to Silverbacks games at the old Memorial Stadium,” Cochran said. “When I found out (head coach Gary Smith) was going to offer me a contract, it was a dream come true.

“I live here; this is my home, so it’s great that my family and friends get to come see me play. All the hard work from college and before that really paid off.”

Cochran was invited to Silverbacks preseason training as a trialist after four competitive years with the Panthers, including posting the program’s all-time record goals-against average (1.33). He also finished his NCAA career with the program’s third-most shutouts (11) and with the third-best single-season goals-against average (1.47) as a senior in 2014.

The 6-foot-4 keeper constructed an impressive career at GSU, earning Sun Belt and College Sports Madness Independent Defensive Player of the Week honors, TopDrawerSoccer.com Midseason Top 100 Freshmen to Watch honors and two CAA Rookie of the Week honors. Cochran played more than 4,345 minutes with a 23-22-2 record in 48 career starts.

He ranks top-10 all-time for the Panthers in career saves (188) while posting five different single-season top-10 finishes.

“I came into preseason with a goal to make the team,” Cochran said. “And, now, from there, get better and hopefully see some playing time. I definitely have bigger goals than just coming out and trying to play well. I wanted to make the team and represent Atlanta as a Silverbacks goalkeeper.”

The team’s other goalkeeper, Ceus, boasts six years professional experience and seven caps for Haiti’s national team. With Ceus departing on March 21 for Haiti’s two international friendlies, Cochran will stand in between the posts.

“Working with Steward everyday is a lot of fun,” Cochran said. “I’ve already learned a lot from him; he's been a professional for a while and he's obviously pretty accomplished. I always try to watch and take it in. That's been the best part about training – learning from him. I train more with him than any of the outfield players because we do individual keeper training.”

With Ceus on international duty, Cochran appears poised for action in Atlanta’s preseason friendlies against the University of Alabama-Birmingham, Clemson University and Young Harris College in the final days of March. Atlanta kicks off its NASL Spring Season just a week later.