[UC SANTA BARBARA] Dion Acoff, who started for NCAA Division I semifinalist Creighton for three seasons, and Frenchman Achille Campion, who scored 21 goals in two seasons at NAIA school Belhaven, are among the players UC Santa Barbara has signed for the 2012 season.

Acoff was the Missouri Valley's Freshman of the Year in 2009. The Upland, Calif. native has five goals and 16 assists in 58 contests over three seasons.

"He's a dynamic, explosive player with great pace and the ability to beat you," UCSB coach Tim Vom Steeg said. "Against us [during the 2011 NCAA third round], I thought he was the best player on the field and I also thought he was very good at the Final Four. We will look to use him vary similarly to Sam Garza. We don't have to do a whole lot different; he will run out of midfield the same way and will be a third forward. He gives us the pace that Sam gave us, and the ability to get around the defense. He's a very good pick up for us in terms of what we just lost."

Campion becomes the first French player in UCSB history. The target striker brings size to the Gaucho offense, standing at 6-2 and 200 pounds.

Other signings:

Ema Boateng, who helped Cate School to a 30-1-1 record during the past two seasons, hails from Ghana and follows in the footsteps of Michael Tetteh, Waid Ibrahim and Fifi Baiden, who made their way to the states through the Right to Dream Academy.

Goalkeeper Nick Savino is a two-sport star at Moorestown (N.J.) High School, competing as a pitcher and first baseman on the Quakers' baseball team in addition to playing as the soccer team's starting goalkeeper.

Brandon Brockway, a defender, redshirted this past season at Oregon State and will come to UCSB with four years of eligibility.

The Gauchos have also added two players to the roster this winter quarter: midfielder Cesar Castillo from Cerritos College and defender Dylan Murphy, who hails from Australia and played for New South Wales Institute of Sport.