Anteaters Add 13 Newcomers to the 2017 Roster
August 06, 2017 | Men's Soccer
IRVINE, Calif. --- Men's soccer brings aboard a deluge of talent from across the globe to add to the veteran experience returning to the program.
New Head Coach Yossi Raz hit the ground running with the task of building the program into one that can challenge atop the Big West Conference once again. "Coming to UC Irvine, we felt like we can strengthen the program in certain areas. My staff and I worked diligently to bring talent in that we believe have bright futures and can impact the program immediately. We inherited great talent, and the newcomers will compliment them well to build a good unit that can represent the school and community well."
Axel Adler | Freshman | Midfielder | 6-0 | 147 | Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong | Victor Segalen School
Adler was born in London, raised in a French family, and grew up in Hong Kong where he attended a French International School from seventh to 12th grade. He played four seasons with the Biu Chun Rangers football club along with a brief stint with Biu Chun Glory Sky.
Ateno Ajeakwa | Freshman | Midfielder | Gardena, Calif. | Connections Academy Capistrano
Ajeakwa is 1 of 2 incoming players that hails from the L.A. Galaxy Academy primarily playing in the defensive midfield. Before that, he played with the U.S. Boys National Team.
Christian Bond-Flasza | Freshman | Defender | 5-9 | 154 | Laguna Niguel, Calif. | Aliso Niguel HS
Bond-Flasza (pronounced Bond-flash-ah) is from right nearby in Laguna Niguel. He played a couple seasons with Strikers FC, was a member of a Cal South ODP championship squad, and earned All-CIF in high school. In addition, he comes into UC Irvine as a computer game science major.
Carlos Contreras | Freshman | Goalkeeper | North Hollywood, Calif. | Birmingham HS
Contreras will be a goalkeeper for the Anteaters after splitting time as a keeper and forward in high school. He helped Birmingham Charter HS to a pair of Ralph Brandt Tournament titles, and also played four years with LA Premier LAFA.
Guy Dankovich | Freshman | Defender | 5-11 | 167 | Ramat-Gan, Israel | Maccabim Reut Mor HS
Dankovich was born and raised in Israel where he attended Maccabim Reut Mor High School and playing youth soccer with Ironi Modi'in football club. His last three years have been spent serving in the Israeli military.
Victor Falck | Sophomore | Midfielder | 6-0 | 175 | Landvetter, Sweden | University of Virginia
Falck brings his talents across the country after spending his freshman season at the University of Virginia. He played three matches registering an assist. Prior to that, he played for Richmond United for a couple seasons after coming over from Sweden in 2012 where he participated in one of the highest divisions there with Örgryte IS under-17 club as a 14-year-old.
Erick Gallinar | Freshman | Defender / Midfielder | Los Angeles, Calif. | Animo South Los Angeles HS
Gallinar is the second L.A. Galaxy Academy alum spending two seasons with them along with a brief stint with L.A. Galaxy II primarily as a defender. He spent three seasons with Chivas USA Academy prior to that.
Haakon Heltne | Sophomore | Defender | 6-4 | 190 | Sandvika, Norway | Hofstra University
Heltne is another transfer who spent his freshman season at Hofstra University. He played eight matches starting six where he was a defender and added one assist. He grew up in Norway where he captained the Norwegian College of Elite Sport for two seasons along with club soccer with Baerum SK Jrs. and Stabaek.
Nick Lagotta | Freshman | Defender / Midfielder | San Diego, Calif. | Cathedral Catholic HS
Lagotta comes from San Diego where he played three seasons with San Diego Surf starting 67 of 70 matches primarily as a defender.
Alvaro Quezada | Freshman | Midfielder | Lancaster, Calif. | Highland HS
Quezada played under Savio Silveira for LA Premier FC for four seasons in the midfield.
Ben Reveno | Freshman | Defender | San Jose, Calif. | Leigh HS
Reveno is a defender that has gone through the San Jose Earthquakes Academy for the last three seasons. He scored three times primarily as a defender, and prior to that played two seasons with De Anza Force.
Jose Soto | Junior | Defender | Ontario, Calif. | Peninsula College
Soto joins the program after two years at Peninsula College in Washington under current Anteater assistant Cale Rodriguez. Soto manned the backline being named a conference All-Star and academic standout. He scored seven goals in two years there and helped the squad reach the NWAC quarterfinals as part of a 16-1-2 season last year. Prior to that, he grew up in Southern California playing at Ontario High School being named All-Region as a senior and three times All-CIF.
Lawrence Yamaguchi | Freshman | Forward | Tokyo, Japan | Christian Academy Japan
Yamaguchi signed his National Letter of Intent earlier this year, and has joined the team from Japan where he grew up under Japanese and Nigerian parents. He attended Christian Academy of Japan from sixth to 11th grades, and played three seasons each with youth clubs Verdy S.S. Ajunt and FC Toripletta.
"We feel like there is a mix of experience and youth from all different positions and skill sets. Some are quick, technical, crafty that are really beautiful on the eyes that the crowd can enjoy watching. Others are hard-nosed ball-winners that can fit well in the Big West and help us to be a well-rounded team. We are very excited about the diversities in the group, and feel like they will be able to represent the program for many years to come."
New Head Coach Yossi Raz hit the ground running with the task of building the program into one that can challenge atop the Big West Conference once again. "Coming to UC Irvine, we felt like we can strengthen the program in certain areas. My staff and I worked diligently to bring talent in that we believe have bright futures and can impact the program immediately. We inherited great talent, and the newcomers will compliment them well to build a good unit that can represent the school and community well."
Axel Adler | Freshman | Midfielder | 6-0 | 147 | Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong | Victor Segalen School
Adler was born in London, raised in a French family, and grew up in Hong Kong where he attended a French International School from seventh to 12th grade. He played four seasons with the Biu Chun Rangers football club along with a brief stint with Biu Chun Glory Sky.
Ateno Ajeakwa | Freshman | Midfielder | Gardena, Calif. | Connections Academy Capistrano
Ajeakwa is 1 of 2 incoming players that hails from the L.A. Galaxy Academy primarily playing in the defensive midfield. Before that, he played with the U.S. Boys National Team.
Christian Bond-Flasza | Freshman | Defender | 5-9 | 154 | Laguna Niguel, Calif. | Aliso Niguel HS
Bond-Flasza (pronounced Bond-flash-ah) is from right nearby in Laguna Niguel. He played a couple seasons with Strikers FC, was a member of a Cal South ODP championship squad, and earned All-CIF in high school. In addition, he comes into UC Irvine as a computer game science major.
Carlos Contreras | Freshman | Goalkeeper | North Hollywood, Calif. | Birmingham HS
Contreras will be a goalkeeper for the Anteaters after splitting time as a keeper and forward in high school. He helped Birmingham Charter HS to a pair of Ralph Brandt Tournament titles, and also played four years with LA Premier LAFA.
Guy Dankovich | Freshman | Defender | 5-11 | 167 | Ramat-Gan, Israel | Maccabim Reut Mor HS
Dankovich was born and raised in Israel where he attended Maccabim Reut Mor High School and playing youth soccer with Ironi Modi'in football club. His last three years have been spent serving in the Israeli military.
Victor Falck | Sophomore | Midfielder | 6-0 | 175 | Landvetter, Sweden | University of Virginia
Falck brings his talents across the country after spending his freshman season at the University of Virginia. He played three matches registering an assist. Prior to that, he played for Richmond United for a couple seasons after coming over from Sweden in 2012 where he participated in one of the highest divisions there with Örgryte IS under-17 club as a 14-year-old.
Erick Gallinar | Freshman | Defender / Midfielder | Los Angeles, Calif. | Animo South Los Angeles HS
Gallinar is the second L.A. Galaxy Academy alum spending two seasons with them along with a brief stint with L.A. Galaxy II primarily as a defender. He spent three seasons with Chivas USA Academy prior to that.
Haakon Heltne | Sophomore | Defender | 6-4 | 190 | Sandvika, Norway | Hofstra University
Heltne is another transfer who spent his freshman season at Hofstra University. He played eight matches starting six where he was a defender and added one assist. He grew up in Norway where he captained the Norwegian College of Elite Sport for two seasons along with club soccer with Baerum SK Jrs. and Stabaek.
Nick Lagotta | Freshman | Defender / Midfielder | San Diego, Calif. | Cathedral Catholic HS
Lagotta comes from San Diego where he played three seasons with San Diego Surf starting 67 of 70 matches primarily as a defender.
Alvaro Quezada | Freshman | Midfielder | Lancaster, Calif. | Highland HS
Quezada played under Savio Silveira for LA Premier FC for four seasons in the midfield.
Ben Reveno | Freshman | Defender | San Jose, Calif. | Leigh HS
Reveno is a defender that has gone through the San Jose Earthquakes Academy for the last three seasons. He scored three times primarily as a defender, and prior to that played two seasons with De Anza Force.
Jose Soto | Junior | Defender | Ontario, Calif. | Peninsula College
Soto joins the program after two years at Peninsula College in Washington under current Anteater assistant Cale Rodriguez. Soto manned the backline being named a conference All-Star and academic standout. He scored seven goals in two years there and helped the squad reach the NWAC quarterfinals as part of a 16-1-2 season last year. Prior to that, he grew up in Southern California playing at Ontario High School being named All-Region as a senior and three times All-CIF.
Lawrence Yamaguchi | Freshman | Forward | Tokyo, Japan | Christian Academy Japan
Yamaguchi signed his National Letter of Intent earlier this year, and has joined the team from Japan where he grew up under Japanese and Nigerian parents. He attended Christian Academy of Japan from sixth to 11th grades, and played three seasons each with youth clubs Verdy S.S. Ajunt and FC Toripletta.
"We feel like there is a mix of experience and youth from all different positions and skill sets. Some are quick, technical, crafty that are really beautiful on the eyes that the crowd can enjoy watching. Others are hard-nosed ball-winners that can fit well in the Big West and help us to be a well-rounded team. We are very excited about the diversities in the group, and feel like they will be able to represent the program for many years to come."
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