ORLANDO – On the heels of its historic first season as a member of the Sun Belt Conference in 2023, the UCF men’s soccer team is readying for its encore this fall. Head coach Scott Calabrese and the program have announced the team’s 2024 signing class, a group that features two midfielders, four defenders, one forward and one goalkeeper.
“We are excited to welcome this talented group to our team. This group has impressed our staff with its maturity and attitude from the beginning. We are excited to see how they elevate our program in the season ahead, and can’t wait to get to work.”
Scott CalabreseHead Coach
Sora Funakoshi – Junior Midfielder – Nishinomiya Hyogo, Japan – Cowley College, Hotoku Gakuen High School
Funakoshi joins the Knights after spending two seasons at Cowley College in Arkansas City, Kansas. As a Tiger, he appeared in 37 matches, including 29 starts, and scored 17 goals while adding 14 assists. He notched his first season with double-digit goals in 2023, netting 12 and adding 11 assists en route to an NJCAA Division I First Team All-American selection as a sophomore.
With Funakoshi’s help, Cowley College advanced as far as the 2023 NJCAA Division I Men’s Soccer Championship pool play in the opening round, winning three of their four matches and drawing with the eventual national champion Monroe College, 2-2.
“I chose UCF because this program best sets me up for future success and can help me one day realize my dream of becoming a professional soccer player,” Funakoshi said. “There are many other ways to grow off the field with UCF as well.”
Alex Smith – Fifth Year Defender – Jacksonville, Fla. – Georgia Southern, Sandalwood High School
Smith makes his move to UCF from within the Knights’ new conference, having spent the previous four seasons of his collegiate career with the Georgia Southern Eagles. He appeared in and started all 17 of his team’s matches in 2023, a personal season high, aiding his team’s defensive front in limiting Georgia Southern’s opposition to two or fewer goals on 14 occasions.
After scoring the first two goals of his collegiate career in 2022, Smith netted his third score in the Eagles’ second match of the season in last fall, an unassisted tally in the 85th minute of Georgia Southern’s 2-0 win over UNC Asheville Aug. 27. His career resume features 34 total matches played, during which he has scored three goals on 22 shot attempts, including seven on goal.
His 2023 campaign represented the second of his career with double-digit appearances, after he played in 13 matches with the Eagles in 2022.
Smith was selected to the Sun Belt Conference’s Academic Honor Roll in both of the last two seasons (2022-23), and prior to his collegiate career was a U.S. Soccer Training Center invitee and participant from 2014-16.
“I chose UCF because they are one of the best programs in the country, which will allow me to compete with and play against the best while also being close to home,” Smith said.
Gabi Velez – Sophomore Defender – Weston, Fla. – NC State, Inter Miami CF
Velez joins the Knights for his second collegiate season after spending the first year of his career with the NC State Wolfpack last fall. The Weston, Florida, native appeared in 15 matches with the Wolfpack in 2023, including 12 starts. He totaled 953 minutes of action in his debut season and played the full 90 minutes on four occasions.
He also tallied a pair of assists on the offensive end in his first season of action, one coming in the Wolfpack’s 2-0 win over Boston College Sept. 8, and the second coming in a 2-1 loss to American Oct. 10. Velez notched three shot attempts as well, including two on goal.
Before joining NC State, the left back was invited to the U15 U.S. Youth National Team camp and was also awarded Academy Player of the Month honors during his time at Inter Miami CF in April of 2023.
“I decided to come to UCF for its great soccer program and academic excellence,” Velez said. “It’s an all-around school that is in a great location and also very close to home.”
Carlos Rojas – Freshman Forward – Orlando, Fla. – Lake Nona High School
An Orlando native, Rojas remains in his hometown to begin his collegiate career. In his final high school season, he netted 12 goals and added three assists in his 10 matches and was awarded ‘Man of the Match’ honors in four contests.
With Lake Nona, he and his squad were ECNL Florida Conference winners in each of the last three seasons (2023-24, 2022-23, 2021-22), and he also represented the top goal-scorer during the 2023-24 campaign for the Florida Kraze Krush soccer club (FKK), as well as the leading scorer for the Orlando City Academy in the regular season and playoffs during the 2020-21 slate.
“Staying close to home was the best for me,” Rojas said of his decision to commit to UCF. “As soon as I visited UCF and saw the atmosphere, campus and the people, I knew it was the right choice for my career.”
Daisuke Shinko – Junior Defender – Kobe City, Japan – Takigawa Daini High School
Shinko joins the Knights on the heels of a two-year career with Coffeyville Community College during the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons. The Kobe City, Japan, native appeared in 35 total matches with the Red Ravens, starting each of his 35 appearances and tallying eight goals and one assist to total 17 points.
He set personal season highs in appearances and starts (19), goals (6), points (12) shot attempts (16) and shots on goal (12) throughout the ’23-’24 slate, and on the defensive end aided his team in limiting its opposition to two or fewer goals 17 times in 19 total matches last season.
“I chose UCF because it is a great program that sets me up for future success, as I am able to aim for a professional career while also competing for a national championship,” Shinko said.
Javi López Sánchez – Senior Midfielder – Murcia, Spain – I.E.S. Vicente Medina
Sánchez makes the move to UCF after earning experience with a pair of clubs in his native Spain, Real Murcia and UCAM Murcia. He won a pair of league titles with the U15 and U17 Murcia squads before making his debut with Real Murcia in 2023.
“UCF is one of the most complete universities that I have been able to see, including its size, facilities, climate, and above all, the student environment,” he said. “The state of Florida has always caught my attention, and the team’s playing style matches mine. I believe I can fit in well here.”
Gwendal Eugène Degorce – Freshman Defender – Lyon, France – EM Lyon Business School
With EM Lyon Business School in 2022, Degorce and his team emerged victorious in the 2022 Coupe Gambardella, and were also a U19 conference champion in 2022 as well.
Timo Haböck – Freshman Goalkeeper – Frankfurt am Main, Hesse, Germany – Liebigschule Frankfurt
A member of the highest possible league with FSV Frankfurt prior to joining the Knights, U17 Bundesliga, Haböck was also previously part of the U16 winning squad with the Verbandsliga 2023 men’s team FSV Frankfurt in the Regionalliga (4th division in Germany).
“UCF brings an outstanding mix of academics and athletic facilities,” Haböck said. “As a student, you have a large selection of different majors and incredible support from the academic advisors. As an athlete, you have great support from the students and very motivated and capable coaches who are supportive in every possible way.”
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