IRVINE, Calif. ---The reigning co-Big West champions from 2021 retool with 10 additions to the program ahead of the 2022 season under head coach Yossi Raz.
The 'Eaters return for 2022 with the departure of nine players from last year's Big West title roster adding 10 players from across the map and three redshirts ready for their first action. The group consists of six true freshmen, one grad transfer, four transfers from four-year colleges, three international additions, and newcomers from each position on the pitch.
"We're extremely excited for the roster we're assembling for this upcoming year," head coach Yossi Raz said of his team. "Not only do we have a growing group that is extremely talented and ranked among college soccer's best in 2019 and have matured and equipped with the understanding for the demands of college soccer, we have also brought a talented recruiting class that is a mixture of transfers and true freshmen that can play to the highest level of the game."
| Student-Athlete | Ht | Year | Position | Hometown | School / Clubs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samuel Atiye | 5-11 | Sophom*ore | Midfielder | Dusseldorf, Germany | Monroe College / Lessing Gymnasium /elbert 02 |
| Kellan Barry | 5-11 | Sophom*ore | Midfielder | San Luis Obispo, Calif. | SMU / San Luis Obispo HS / Santa Barbara Soccer Club |
| Justin Conyers | 6-0 | Freshman | Midfielder | Moorpark, Calif. | Moorpark HS / LAFC So Cal Youth |
| Nolan DiCenzo | 6-2 | Freshman | Defender | Sherman Oaks, Calif. | Valley International Prep HS / LA Surf |
| Connor Manning | 6-0 | RS-Freshman | Midfielder | London, England | UCLA / Westminster School / Hanworth Villa |
| Robert Mejia | 5-7 | Graduate Student | Forward | Denair, Calif. | UC Davis / Central Catholic HS / Milan FC |
| Diego Otoya | 6-2 | Freshman | Forward | San Francisco, Calif. | Mission HS / San Jose Earthquakes Academy |
| Agaton Pourshahidi | 6-0 | Freshman | Forward | Stockholm, Sweden | Sjolins Gymnasium Sodermalm / Djurgardens IF |
| Isaac Powell | 5-7 | Freshman | Midfielder | San Diego, Calif. | Motivated Youth Academy / San Diego Surf |
| Alexander Shields | 6-1 | Freshman | Goalkeeper | El Cajon, Calif. | Steele Canyon HS / San Diego Surf |
"We feel that we have strengthened the organization in key positions all around the field and we have talent that has played at the highest level on the international landscape as well as proven talents that were already successful in the Big West. When we look at the board, we see great talent, depth, and a lot of tools that allows us to play the game in many ways. We must remember that this is all in preparation for the season and there is a lot hard work that still needs to be invested into gelling together and understanding the expectations that we're all going to play in building a successful year. Nevertheless, we are looking forward to the challenge and are very excited for what's to come."
Samuel Atiye - So., MF| Here with the program since the spring, Samuel Atiye is ready for his sophom*ore season as an Anteater. The midfielder grew up in Germany playing youth soccer with Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Monchengladbach youth teams from ages 13 to 19. Atiyealso made stints with the German under-15 team and the Togo under-20 squad which he has ties with. He came to the states linking up with junior college Monroe College where he played seven matches in the midfield. After earning four President's List honors and twice on the Dean's List, he's already made the Dean's List twice as an Anteater.
Kellan Barry - So., MF| Another four-year transfer joins the midfield as Kellan Barry returns to California as an Anteater. Barry grew up in San Luis Obispo winning three league titles with San Luis Obispo High School and attending Santa Barbara Soccer Club. He earned his way onto the SMU roster where he attended for two season playing just three matches total and earning All-Academic honors from the American Athletic Conference.
Justin Conyers - Fr., MF | A freshman out of the midfield comes from winning at Moorpark High School that was the No. 1 team in Division II last season along with the No. 1 academic school. He provided 13 goals and 16 assists of that winning helping toward multiple accolades from his senior and junior seasons. Conyers was heralded with the school's Scholar Athlete of the Year as well. On the club scene, he's spent the last nine years with LAFC So Cal with multiple titles and finalist finishes. He's also trained with AS Roma Academy National Selection in the states and over in Italy
Nolan DiCenzo - Fr., DEF | The defender from the Los Angeles area brings plenty of fire and tenacity to the program.Between multiple high schools, DiCenzo played just one high school season taking home Defender of the Year honors that season, and added accolades on the club scene for LA Surf.
Connor Manning - RS-Fr., MF | A midfielder out of London, England, Manning has been selected to play on the Independent Schools FA National Team while also captaining his club side, Hanworth Villa FC. He was previously a member of Chelsea's Developmental Squad. He came to UCLA from the prestigious Westminster School, a historic institution in London immediately next to Westminster Palace. In his one season at UCLA, he did not see any time while making the Director's Honor Roll twice.As a midfielder, Manning has very good technique, a strong tactical flexibility, and has a great ability to drive his team forward from different positions and score goals.
Robert Mejia - Grad., FWD | One of the most accomplished newcomers is graduate transfer Robert Mejia. The dynamic midfielder was named Big West Midfielder of the Year and to the Big West All-Freshman Team in his five seasons at UC Davis. He finished his career of 49 matches and 29 starts he produced nine goals, five game-winners, and 12 assists with five goals and six assists in 2021. Mejia helped guide the Aggies to the NCAA Tournament in 2019 as well. The Northern California-native hails from Denairwhere he succeeded on the club level with Milan FC and at Central Catholic High School. Mejia joins the program off a biological sciences degree and plans to pursue is master's in innovation management and entrepreneurship.
Diego Otoya - Fr., FWD | A high profile newcomer joins the squad from Northern California in Diego Otoya. One of the highest-rated youth players, Otoya has been training with San Jose Earthquakes Academy and playing the MLS Next Pro League where he's scored twice and connected on 73% of his passes in nine matches this season. Otoya also has international ties having trained and played with the Peruvian national under-15 and under-20 teams including training this year with the senior national team.
Agaton Pourshahidi - Fr., FWD | A swedish striker joins the 'Eaters this season in Agaton Pourshahidi.He's been with the program since the winter earning a pair of Dean's List accolades and was named a UC Irvine Scholar-Athlete. While in Sweden, Pourshahidi scored a pair of Swedish titles and a Nordic title with his school Sjolins Gymanasium and clubs Sodermalm and Djurgardens IF.
Isaac Powell - Fr., MF | Another San Diego standout joins the midfield in Isaac Powell. One of six children, Powell has excelled with his club team, San Diego Surf. He comes from a winning pedigree after his father, Tracy, won a Division II title with Cal State San Bernardino.
Alex Shields - Fr., GK | Out of El Cajon, Calif. and Steele Canyon High School, Shields joins the rising goalkeeper room. His presence was massive in the high school's Division IV State title in 2022 while adding a CIF runner-up status and a 2021 CIF Division III title. His club tenure has included Hotspurs soccer club, Albion San Diego, and most recently San Diego Surf winning a pair of cup championships
Print Friendly Version
