ORLANDO – The UCF men’s soccer team has announced its 2023 recruiting class, which consists of 11 newcomers. The incoming class contains three forwards, four midfielders, two defenders and two goalkeepers. Of the 11, nine are incoming freshman while one is a transfer from another NCAA soccer program and one is an incoming fifth year after playing internationally.
"We are so excited to welcome this talented group to UCF. The staff and I are impressed with the attitude and effort of this group. We expect big things from this class in the fall and we can't wait to get to work."
Scott CalabreseUCF Men's Soccer Head Coach
Clarence Awoudor – Forward – Saint-Lo, France – Oregon State
An All-Pac-12 First Team honoree in his rookie season, Awoudor transfers in from Oregon State to join the Knights ahead of his sophomore season. He appeared in 13 games for the Beavers, starting in 12. He scored his first career goal on Oct. 9 against Stanford, and then followed that up with a goal and two assists in the next match on Oct. 14 against Portland. He finished the campaign with a trio of goals on 23 shot attempts, seven of which were on target. Awoudor is one of two former members of Oregon State on this year’s roster, joining Ousmane Ba who transferred in ahead of last season.
Mouhamed Pouye – Forward – Dakar, Senegal – Montverde Academy
Pouye joins the Knights from just down the street, continuing to build the Montverde Academy pipeline to UCF. There, he helped the Eagles win MAST championships in 2022 and 2023. Internationally, Pouye was a part of the Galaxy Football Academy in Senegal. Prior to that, he was a part of Senegal U17 Beach Soccer National Team and also took part in the Forte Dei Marmi tournament in Italy during 2015 and 2016.
“I chose UCF because it is a good soccer program and has good academics. It’s a Division I school in a place that has nice weather.”
Malang Mandiang – Forward – Dakar, Senegal – Montverde Academy
Mandiang was alongside Pouye at Montverde Academy this past year and helped hoist the 2022 and 2023 MAST championships. Mandiang served on the U17 Senegalese National Team.
“I chose UCF because they have a good soccer program and great academics.”
Itai Levisman – Midfielder – Ra’anana, Israel – Aviv High School
Levisman joins the Knights after being on the roster of Hapoel Ra’anana AFC, a team in the third division of Israeli soccer. He graduated from Aviv High School in 2018.
“My decision to study at UCF was based on the soccer program, which combines high academics with high soccer levels at amazing facilities and with great staff.”
Yanis Belatrache – Midfielder – Herblay sur Seine, France – Lycee Louis de Cormontaigne/FC Metz Academy
Belatrache most recently played for FC Metz II, a team in the fourth tier of French soccer. He earned one start in four appearances with the club. Away from the pitch, Belatrache enjoys playing tennis.
“I chose UCF because it gives me a chance to continue my studies and offers a great opportunity to be drafted.”
Saku Heiskanen – Midfielder – Espoo, Finland – Makelanrinteen Iukio
Heiskanen comes to UCF after spending time with Finland’s national team, earning over 20 caps between the U15 and U20 levels. Additionally, he was a part of TSG 1899 Hoffenheim’s training academy for just under two years, a club that is at the highest level of German soccer. Away from the pitch, Heiskanen participated in ice hockey growing up.
“UCF was an easy choice. The school and the facilities are amazing. The team is very good and they play in a style that suits me well. The Sun Belt Conference will be a tough conference and I can’t wait to start playing those games.”
Drew Hansen – Midfielder – Cleveland, N.C. – Christ the King Catholic High School
Hansen is coming off a couple of tremendous seasons in his final two years of high school soccer. He led his team to a pair of high school state championships in his junior and senior seasons, winning plenty of awards along the way. He was named First Team All-State and Regional Player of the Year in back-to-back years and in his senior year collected honors such as State Finals MVP, Mid-Atlantic All-Region Team and Carolina Soccer Honors High School Player of the Year. He was named First Team All-Conference in his freshman and sophomore seasons.
“I chose UCF because of the amazing coaching staff and the unique environment.”
Jonas Fritschi – Defender – Donaueschingen, Germany – Rotteck-Gymnasium Freiburg im Breisgau
Fritschi joins the Knights as a 6-foot-1, fifth year defender from Germany. He served on the German U15 National Team and played club soccer with SC Freiburg U16-U19. He hoisted a title earlier this year, winning the Württembergischer-Pokal.
“I chose UCF because it’s a perfect balance between a great soccer program and a very good academic program, all while living in a beautiful place.”
Ron Ben Dakon – Defender – Ganei Tikva, Israel – Meitar High School
Ben Dakon joins the Black and Gold after playing for Hapoel Petah Tikva FC, a team currently in the second tier of Israeli professional soccer. He attended Meitar High School and graduated from there in 2019.
“I chose UCF because it has an amazing soccer program that offers me a wonderful opportunity to grow academically and athletically in a great environment.”
Shane Wright – Goalkeeper – Orlando, Fla. – Trinity Preparatory School
Wright is a three-time all-state honoree, earning the honor in his final three seasons of high school soccer. He and Trinity Prep won the state championship in his senior season and Wright was named as the Orlando Player of the Year. He played club soccer with the Florida Kraze Krush and also competed in Tier 1, the fourth level of American soccer, in the NPSL. He played alongside Beto Ydrach on the Central Florida Panthers in the summer of 2022.
“I chose UCF because of the great facilities and that they continually compete against the best of the best.”
Pablo Ossabal – Goalkeeper – Medellin, Colombia – Celebration High School
Ossabal joined Orlando City’s academy in his freshman year while also attending Celebration, working his way up to playing with the club’s MLS Next team, making his debut in his junior year. The team went to the MLS Next semifinals that season, and led to Ossabal getting practice reps with the Orlando City first team in his senior year.
"I chose UCF because of the exceptional soccer program, the athletic rescources and the film degree offered here. The soccer program has a great mindset and a high level of quality that interested me, which along with the athleic and academic resources, I know will help me acheive my goals."
Fabio Guerreiro – Forward/Midfielder – Faro, Portugal – Escola Secundaria Jose Falcao
Guerreiro was signed on Aug. 9 out of Portugal. In his time before coming to UCF, he won a championship with Academica OAF. He graduated from Escola Secundaria Jose Falcao in 2020 and was most recently at Coimbra Business School.
"I was impressed with UCF's passion and dedication to the sport. The people are great and UCF is a place where I can turn my dream of playing soccer in the U.S. into a reality."