IRVINE, Calif. --- Head Coach Yossi Raz and his UC Irvine Anteaters have returned to campus and will start training for the upcoming 2018 season on Wednesday, and he brings with him nine signees each with their unique addition to the program
 

Student-Athlete	Year	Pos.	Hometown	Previous School
Beto Alvarenga	Fr.	M	Canoga Park, Calif.	Taft HS
Jalani Ambrose	RS-So.	M	San Pedro, Calif.	Santa Clara University
Oscar Delgado	Fr.	M / F	Moreno Valley, Calif.	Citrus Hill HS
Darren Hamilton	Sr.	D	Wallsend, Newcastle, England	Hartwick College
Jordan Martinez	Fr.	GK	Richmond, Calif.	Hercules HS
Luca Mastrantonio	Jr.	D	Ciampino, Rome, Italy	Rockhurst University
Jack Monach	Fr.	M	San Juan Capistrano, Calif.	San Juan Hills HS
Kelvin Neumetzler	Fr.	F / M	Aachen, Germany	Int'l School of Düsseldorf
Michael Orozco	Fr.	D	La Crescenta, Calif.	Crescenta Valley HS

"We are excited to recruit such a talented group that reflects the rich talent in Southern California. With local talent representing quality clubs in our area as well as elite players from the California Development Academy system, we believe the future of UC Irvine soccer is bright."

Coach Raz has dug into the community to add the best and brightest introducing six players that hail from California:

Beto Alvarenga
5'8", Freshman, Midfielder

Leonel Alberto "Beto" Alvarenga slides down the 405 from Canoga Park to join the 'Eaters. He attended Taft High School and starred on the club scene at both Real So Cal and LA Galaxy Academy while training with the U.S. Youth National Team primarily as a midfielder

Jalani Ambrose
5'11", RS-Sophomore, Midfielder

Jalani, a native of San Pedro, returns to Southern California where he was three times named all-league at Brea Olinda High School along with five seasons with club Fullerton Rangers. Ambrose is one of three transfers in this class as he spent two seasons at Santa Clara University where he started off as a WCC All-Freshman Team member in 2016 despite missing part of the season with an injury. He redshirted in 2017, and now joins the Anteaters as a midfielder by trade, but with experience on the backline with the Broncos

Oscar Delgado
5'9", Freshman, Midfielder/Forward

Oscar represents the Inland Empire in this class growing up in Moreno Valley and attending Citrus Hill High School. The versatile freshman helped his school to a Division V title in his junior campaign, and built on that scoring 24 times and adding 21 assists in 30 matches as a senior

Jordan Martinez
6'1", Freshman, Goalkeeper

Jordan is the lone Northern California native in the class much like current keepers Alex Waldron and Greg Patenaude. He joins a hearty goalkeeper collective which also has talented second-year player Carlos Contreras. Martinez hails from Hercules and Hercules High School, stomping grounds of new women's soccer player, Maddy Chavez

Jack Monach
5'11", Freshman, Midfielder

The shortest trip to his new home will lie with freshman Jack Monach who comes to the program from San Juan Capistrano and San Juan Hills High School where he captained the squad putting up eight goals and nine assists in 12 matches last season. He's made an impact at the LA Galaxy Academy as well in addition to the Cal South Olympic Developmental Pool where he was influential as a defender as well.

Michael Orozco
6'1", Freshman, Defender

A lengthy first-year defender, Michael used that to his advantage as he played soccer and volleyball in high school at Crescenta Valley HS. He's made a mark over the last three years with club FC Golden State playing 100 matches and contributing seven goals in them from the backline.

"In addition to them, we have recruited three accomplished and mature student-athletes from overseas that can help shape the culture of our organization."

Coach Raz added to his current squad which already has support from Japan in Lawrence Yamaguchi, Hong Kong in Axel Adler, and Sweden in Victor Falck, and now he's welcomed another trio of international players ready to join the Anteater ranks

Darren Hamilton
6'2", Senior, Defender

Darren is a seasoned veteran entering his final collegiate season as a backline menace. Hamilton came to the states from Newcastle, England taking part in cross country, track and field, cricket, and rugby in addition to soccer, and landed in Missouri at East Central Community College where he earned All-American honors as a freshman. After two seasons, he made the jump to Division I at Hartwick College playing 13 matches with the Hawks in 2017. Hartwick made the downshift out of Division I over the offseason allowing Hamilton to search another Division I program without the penalty of sitting out a season, and he joins the 'Eaters looking to make an immediate impact

Luca Mastrantonio
6'2", Junior, Defender

Luca, like Darren, has been well-traveled as of late starting his journey in a town just outside Rome in Italy before joining up with the University of Northwestern Ohio in the NAIA ranks. There, he helped the team advance to the NAIA Quarterfinals with a 19-2-3 record as he scored seven times from the backline in 23 matches to score all-conference honors. His sophomore year would lead Mastrantonio to Division II program Rockhurst University based in Missouri, and they would rise to a 16-2-3 mark and a spot in the Division II semifinals where he was named to the All-Tournament and All-Region squads. He collected three goals after playing 1,900 minutes as a defender earning National Player of the Week honors once. Mastrantonio's talents will not be displayed until the 2019 season as he must sit out a season adhering to transfer rules

Kelvin Neumetzler
6'2", Freshman, Forward/Midfielder

Kelvin Neumetzler (pronounced NOY-mets-lurr) make his United States debut as an Anteater trekking from Aachen, Germany, a town on the far west side of the country near the borders of Belgium and the Netherlands. Kelvin appeared with youth club Ratingen 04/19 as well as championing the International School of Düsseldorf helping them to four Northwest European Council of International Schools (NECIS) titles since 2010 receiving MVP honors four times in that span as well. The attacker has averaged nearly 25 goals per season over his last five years playing for the school where he's led the league in scoring five times

"We are confident that the new additions to our program are well-rounded individuals that can represent our department well off the field in the community as well as enhance our performance on the field. We cannot wait to share our new team with our supporters."