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LOWELL, Mass. – UMass Lowell men’s soccer head coach Kyle Zenoni has announced the addition of 12 newcomers ahead of the 2024 season.
The incoming class features four junior transfers, forwards Jean Leonardo (Sao Paulo, Brazil) and Martin Harguindey (Buenos Aires, Argentina), midfielder Junyoung Hwang (Gimpo, South Korea), and goalkeeper JR Gawel (Leonardtown, Md.). The River Hawks also will welcome eight true freshmen in forward Santiago Somorrostro (Nashua, N.H.), midfielders Jona Starek (Düsseldorf, Germany), Saihaj Kailay (Belleville, Ontario), Cristiano Da Silva (Port Coquitlam, British Columbia), and Matteo Costa (Frankfurt am Maine, Germany), and defenders Henry Wohlt (Milwaukee, Wis.), Zach Britton (Scarborough, Maine), and Omar Atia (Cairo, Egypt).
“I am excited about the incoming players as they have added quality and energy to an already strong core,” said Zenoni. “I am looking forward to the growth of this team. We are all really hungry to compete for a championship. The incoming class will help achieve our goals as a team.”
Meet the Players
Name: Jean Leonardo
Class: Junior
Hometown/High School: Sao Paulo, Brazil/Colegio Colaço
Position: Forward
Height: 6-3
Major: Business
PREVIOUS SCHOOL: Played two seasons at Morton College … Won the NJCAA Skyway Conference and was named a captain in both seasons … NJCAA Region 4 Winner and National Runner-Up as a freshman … Tabbed to the NJCAA Region 4 – First Team All-Region and the Skyway Conference First Team.
HIGH SCHOOL: Played soccer for Audax Rio de Janeiro … Won the Carioca Championship with U20 Audax Rio de Janeiro as a senior … Gothia Cup winner as a freshman.
PERSONAL: Son of Alessandra and Jean … Likes playing guitar, spending time with family and friends, and playing altinha (juggle the ball) with friends in his free time … Names Atlanta as his favorite TV show … Says his favorite sports figure is Ronaldo Nazario … Can speak three languages (Portuguese, English, and Spanish) … Chose UMass Lowell because “I was delighted to have the opportunity to pursue my professional dreams at the number one public college in Massachusetts. It’s a program with excellent leadership from the coaches and a great group of fellow students.”
Name: Martin Harguindey
Class: Junior
Hometown/High School: Buenos Aires, Argentina/Sagrado Corazón
Position: Forward
Height: 5-7
Major: Economics
PREVIOUS SCHOOL: Played two seasons at Elmira College … Tallied 13 goals and three assists as a sophomore and seven goals and three assists as a freshman … Named Empire 8 Player of the Year as a sophomore … Named to the All-Conference First Team, All-Region Second Team, and the CSC Academic All-American Team as a sophomore … Empire 8 Regular Season and Conference Champion.
HIGH SCHOOL: Played soccer at Sagrado Corazón and for the club team Vélez Sarsfield.
PERSONAL: Son of Mariel and Jorge … Has one sibling, Paula … Names Peaky Blinders and Breaking Bad as his favorite TV shows … Says his favorite sports figure is Lionel Messi … Lists his greatest sports moment as winning the conference and going to nationals when he was at Elmira … Speaks both English and Spanish … Chose to attend UMass Lowell “To play soccer at the Division I level”.
Name: Junyoung Hwang
Class: Junior
Hometown/High School: Gimpo, South Korea/Hanyang Technical
Position: Midfield
Height: 5-8
Major: Economics
PREVIOUS SCHOOL: Played two seasons at Pima Community College … Won the NJCAA D2 National Championship in both seasons … Tallied three goals and an assist in 28 games played.
HIGH SCHOOL: Played soccer at Hanyang Technical High School.
PERSONAL: Son of Jungrim and Ilho … Has one sibling, Suyoung … Nicknamed “Juny” … Likes playing games and listening to music in his free time … Names Real Madrid as his favorite professional team … Says Toni Kroos is his favorite sports figure … Chose UMass Lowell because of “The great academics, great facilities, great soccer program, and it is in a great location.”
Name: JR Gawel
Class: Junior
Hometown/High School: Leonardtown, Md./Leonardtown
Position: Goalkeeper
Height: 5-11
Major: Economics
PREVIOUS SCHOOL: Played two seasons for Howard University … As a freshman he led the conference in saves per game, making 75 saves in 14 games … Named a starter in his first season.
HIGH SCHOOL: Played soccer for Leonardtown High School … Played for the varsity team all four years … State Championship runner-up as a sophomore … Named Team Captain and All-Conference as a senior … Posted a 4.0 GPA to make the Honor Roll as a senior.
PERSONAL: Son of Sukanda and Stanislaw … Has one brother, AJ … Enjoys lifting weights, camping, and playing video games … Lists Suits as his favorite TV show … Says his favorite professional team is Liverpool and his favorite sports figure is Íker Casillas … Names winning states as his greatest sports moment … Chose UMass Lowell “to play soccer and get a degree.”
Name: Santiago Somorrostro
Class: Freshman
Hometown/High School: Nashua, N.H./Nashua South
Position: Forward
Height: 5-11
Major: Business Administration
HIGH SCHOOL: Played soccer at Nashua South … As a senior was named a Sports Illustrated Top 20 High School Boys Soccer Player in the Nation … Tabbed a United Soccer Coaches All-American, First Team All-State and All-Region … Named the NH Boys Soccer Gatorade Player of the Year as a junior and senior … Won back-to-back NHIAA Division 1 State Championships his sophomore and junior year … Named team captain as a junior and senior.
PERSONAL: Son of Julie and Omobono … Has a younger sister, Nina … Nicknamed “Santi” … Lists the Denver Broncos and Boston Red Sox as his favorite professional teams … Says his favorite sports figure is Lionel Messi … Names scoring the winning penalty kick to capture the NH State Championship as his greatest sports moment … Chose to attend UMass Lowell “to play soccer at a high level and for the strong business program.”
Name: Jona Starek
Class: Freshman
Hometown/High School: Düsseldorf, Germany
Position: Midfield
Name: Saihaj Kailay
Class: Freshman
Hometown/High School: Belleville, Ontario/Eastside Secondary School
Position: Midfield
Height: 6-2
Major: Computer Engineering
HIGH SCHOOL: Played soccer at Eastside Secondary School … Named the captain of his high school team as both a junior and senior … Also tabbed the captain of Pickering FC U19 League 1 Reserve.
PERSONAL: Son of Harjit and Sukhdeep … Has one younger sibling, Kirpa … Likes spending time with family, watching soccer, and playing other sports in his free time … Names Fresh Prince of Bel-Air as his favorite TV show … Lists Manchester United and Toronto FC as his favorite pro teams … Says his greatest sports moment was committing to UMass Lowell … Chose UMass Lowell because of “the tight-knit community within the men’s soccer program and the highly reputable engineering program.”
Name: Cristiano Da Silva
Class: Freshman
Hometown/High School: Port Coquitlam, British Columbia/University Hill Secondary
Position: Midfield
Height: 5-11
Major: Business
HIGH SCHOOL: Played soccer at University Hill Secondary and for Vancouver Whitecaps FC … As a senior, was named to the All-Whitecaps Second Team and was tabbed the U19 Player’s Player of the Year.
PERSONAL: Son of Regina and Carlos … Has one sister, Mikaela … Likes to walk his dog in his free time … Nicknamed “Cris” … Says Real Madrid and the Miami Heat are his favorite professional teams … Says his greatest sports moment was winning Player’s Player of the Year at Whitecaps … Chose to attend UMass Lowell because “you’ll always be getting the best competition.”
Name: Matteo Costa
Class: Freshman
Hometown/High School: Frankfurt am Main, Germany/Julius Leber Schule
Position: Midfield
Height: 6-0
Major: Economics
HIGH SCHOOL: Played soccer for FSV Frankfurt/Frankfurt am Main.
PERSONAL: Son of Maria Cosimo … Has one sibling, Alessia … Lists his non-athletic interests as traveling, food, and fashion … Names Prison Break and The Blacklist as his favorite TV shows … Says his favorite sports figures are Cristiano Ronaldo and Andrea Pirlo … Chose to attend UMass Lowell because “I really liked the athletic and academic program. Also, I personally think I can develop here in the best way possible and want to try a new experience in a new environment. Additionally, I had good conversations with the staff and coaches.”
Name: Henry Wohlt
Class: Freshman
Hometown/High School: Milwaukee, Wis./Rufus King
Position: Defense
Height: 6-2
Major: Business
HIGH SCHOOL: Played soccer, baseball, and basketball at Rufus King, while also playing for Bavarian United SC … As a senior he was tabbed MLS Next Fest Best of Match, and qualified for MLS Next Playoffs … Also tabbed MLS Next Cup Best of Match as a junior … Named All-Conference in baseball as a sophomore, junior, and senior.
PERSONAL: Son of Katherine and Troy … Has two siblings, Margaret and Lily … Lists golfing, fishing, and playing cards and games as things he likes to do in his free time … Says his favorite sports teams are the Packers, Brewers, and Bucks … Says his greatest sports moment was making the state finals for soccer and winning regionals in baseball … Chose UMass Lowell because “The city and campus caught my eye at first and it has a very good business school, as well as he gets to play soccer and be a River Hawk.”
Name: Zach Britton
Class: Freshman
Hometown/High School: Scarborough, Maine
Position: Defense
Name: Omar Atia
Class: Freshman
Hometown/High School: Cairo, Egypt/Kings Christian Collegiate
Position: Defense
Height: 6-0
Major: Business
HIGH SCHOOL: Played soccer for Kings Christian Collegiate and the club team SSV Ulm … As a junior, he won the regular season for League 1 Ontario U21 with Prostars FC … Was called up to the Egyptian U20 National Team and made the 60 man roster for Canadian U20 National Team as a senior.
PERSONAL: Son of Lamis and Yehia … Has two siblings, Lily and Janna … Lists traveling, watching movies, and playing board games as some of his hobbies … Names Peaky Blinders as his favorite TV show … Says his favorite sports figures are Mohamed Salah and Sergio Ramos … Getting called up to the Egypt U20 National Team was his greatest sports moment … Chose to attend UMass Lowell because “I really love the academic and athletic programs, and the coaching staff and academic advisors helped me feel comfortable and at home.”
Source link : https://goriverhawks.com/news/2024/8/13/mens-soccer-river-hawks-announce-12-additions-to-2024-roster.aspx
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Publish date : 2024-08-14 03:07:48
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