ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) – UCF head coach Scott Calabrese revealed the finalized 2017 men's soccer signing class on Wednesday. The 12-member class has been a part preseason training in preparation for the season opener on Friday.
"I am very excited to announce our incoming class," Calabrese said. "Our staff has done an amazing job in the recruiting process and I believe we have moved the program in a very positive direction. The preseason showed that this group was eager to integrate into the team and they have already had a positive influence on the program. I am looking forward to the season to see how this team evolves and matures as the season unfolds."
| 2017 UCF Men's Soccer Signing Class |
| Name | Pos. | Cl. | Hometown / H.S. |
| Hattabiou Barry | F/M | Fr. | Paris, France / Bernom |
| Shane Berson | GK | Fr. | Greenville, S.C. / Riverside |
| Francois Dulysse | D | Fr. | West Palm Beach, Fla. / Beaverton |
| Brandon Golding | F/M | Fr. | Margate, Fla. / Saint Thomas Aquinas |
| Gregorio Ibanez | D/M | Fr. | Weston, Fla. / Cypress Bay |
| Jack McCloskey | M/F | Fr. | Weston, Fla. / Cypress Bay |
| Noah Murphy | F | Jr. | Austin, Texas / St. Stephens Episcopal (Saint Louis) |
| Yannik Oettl | GK | Fr. | Munich, Germany / Gymnasium Starnberg |
| Ricardo Oliveros | M/F | Jr. | Weston, Fla. / American Heritage (Louisville) |
| Louis Perez | M | Fr. | Villennes Sur Seine, France / Lycee Jeanne d'Albret |
| Yoni Sorokin | M | Fr. | Jerusalem, Israel / Denmark |
| Max Stiegwardt | M/D | Jr. | Weston, Fla. / Cypress Bay (Louisville) |
Calabrese's first class at UCF features three Division I transfers in Noah Murphy from Saint Louis and Ricardo Oliveros and Max Stiegwardt from Louisville. Four players have international experience, while six members came from the Sunshine State.
After a litttle more than two weeks of training, the Calabrese era kicks off on Friday at Duke. The first home matchup of the season is set for Sept. 1 at 7 p.m. vs. Charlotte.
| Hattabiou Barry |
| F/M | 5-9 | 155 | Fr. | Paris, France / Bernom |
HIGH SCHOOL - Played with the ESTAC Troyes B club team coached by Gharib Amzine in 2016 and played alongside Louis Perez
- Competed with the Bordeaux B squad coached by Patrick Battiston in 2015
|
| Shane Berson |
| GK | 6-3 | 198 | Fr. | Greenville, S.C. / Riverside |
HIGH SCHOOL - Three-year letterwinner for head coach Todd Lea at Riverside High School
- Two-time all-region, all-state and Greenville-News All-Upper-State First Team (2015-16)
- 2016 5A Region Player of the Year
- Helped the Warriors compete in the Clash of the Carolinas, a match between the best teams from South Carolina and North Carolina
- Competed for two years with the Region III Olympic Development (ODP) Team
- Played club soccer with the Cesa 98B Premier coached by Nick Finotti (head) and Nick Garilas (Goalkeepers)
- Served as club captain and attended several national team combines
- Club won five state championships and a region championship in 2015
- Won the 2016 South Carolina Goalkeeper Competition and captured the 2015 Region 3 Golden Glove
- Member of German Honors Society
|
| Francois Dulysse |
| D | 6-0 | 173 | Fr. | West Palm Beach, Fla. / Beaverton |
HIGH SCHOOL - Spent senior season with the Portland Timbers in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy (DA) coached by Larry Sunderland
- Competed with the Boca United Academy in the DA as a junior
- Played soccer and volleyball at Beaverton High School
- Traveled to Mexico with the Region III Olympic Development (ODP) team as a freshman
- Member of the National Honor Society
|
| Brandon Golding |
| F/M | 5-10 | 142 | Fr. | Margate, Fla. / Saint Thomas Aquinas |
HIGH SCHOOL - Three-year letterwinner for head coach John Walsh at Saint Thomas Aquinas
- Totaled 25 goals over three seasons, which included 10 as a senior
- Competed club soccer with the Miramar United Elite coached by Rhiago Oliveira, Richard Jobson and Alvin James
|
| Gregorio Ibanez |
| D/M | 5-9 | 155 | Fr. | Weston, Fla. / Cypress Bay |
HIGH SCHOOL - Played at the club level with Weston FC Academy coached by Victor Pastora
- Competed with the U20 Nicaragua National Team
|
| Jack McCloskey |
| D | 6-1 | 175 | Fr. | Winter Springs, Fla. / Winter Springs |
HIGH SCHOOL - Played for the Orlando City Academy coached by David Longwell in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy
- Made 54 starts, tallying five goals from 2015-2017 with OCA
|
| Noah Murphy |
| F | 6-1 | 197 | Jr. | Austin, Texas / St. Stephens Episcopal (Saint Louis) |
SAINT LOUIS - Appeared in 13 games and made one start as a sophomore
- Fired shots in back-to-back games against Tulsa and Marquette
- Played a season-high 47 minutes against Fordham
- Appeared in seven games as a freshman
- Earned his first-career start in the Wisconsin game and played a career-high 73 minutes
- Saw 43 minutes of playing time against George Washington
HIGH SCHOOL- Totaled 54 goals over his four-year prep career at St. Stephen's Episcopal School
- Also played lacrosse for two seasons
- Played club for Lonestar SC in the US Soccer Academy
- Scored 18 goals last season for his club team
|
| Yannik Oettl |
| GK | 6-2 | 190 | Fr. | Munich, Germany / Gymnasium Starnberg |
HIGH SCHOOL - Competed with FC Augsburg coached by Christian Worns form 2015-16
- Played for SpVgg Unterhaching coached by Claus Chromm, making two appearances in 2014-15
- Secured a 1-0 victory against Preuben Munster on May 16, 2015 in his debut
|
| Ricardo Oliveros |
| M | 5-8 | 163 | Jr. | Weston, Fla. / American Heritage (Louisville) |
LOUISVILLE - Played two seasons at Louisville
- Saw action in 19 matches, all in a reserve role, during second season with the Cardinals
- Finished with three assists on the season, including two in win over Belmont (10/4)
- Added a helper in the victory over No. 16 Virginia (9/24)
- Appeared in 16 matches making one start and scoring one goal during freshman season
- Connected for first career goal, scoring the game-winner in a victory over UConn (10/13)
HIGH SCHOOL- Played freshman season at Cypress Bay High School and captured a state championship
- Graduated from American Heritage High School
- Competed with Weston FC coached by Vieter Pastora
- Weston FC captured the U16 conference championship
- Also played with the West Pines United and was a member on the ID2 international tour
|
| Louis Perez |
| M | 5-9 | 170 | Fr. | Villennes Sur Seine, France / Lycee Jeanne d'Albret |
HIGH SCHOOL - Played three seasons with ESTAC Troyes coached by Gharib Amzine and played alongside Hattabiou Barry
- Tallied five goals and four assists in the U19 Nationals
- Competed with the Paris Saint-Germain U17 squad and AS Poissy U15 and U17 teams
|
| Yoni Sorokin |
| M | 5-11 | 155 | Fr. | Jerusalem, Israel / Denmark |
HIGH SCHOOL - Won a pair of championships at Denmark High School
- Earned MVP honors following junior campaign
- Competed with Baitar Jerusalem at the U15, U17 and U21 levels
- Also played with Hapoel Bikat Ayarden coached by Ron Marcos
|
| Max Stiegwardt |
| M | 5-9 | 156 | Jr. | Weston, Fla. / Cypress Bay (Louisville) |
LOUISVILLE - Played two seasons at Louisville
- Saw action 13 matches overall as a reserve during sophomore campaign
- Appeared in five matches during first collegiate season and chipped in with one assist in win over Memphis
HIGH SCHOOL- Played club soccer for Weston FC coached by Victor Pastor
- Also competed with the Minnesota Thunder
- Member of the U.S. National U14 and U15 teams
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