EVANSVILLE - Building off one of the best late season runs in recent memory, the University of Evansville men's soccer team has added a group packed with talent for the 2022 campaign.

20 new faces will grace the pitch for Evansville in 2022, featuring 11 domestic signees and nine international student-athletes joining the Aces. 

Ellis Amo · Midfielder · Lothian, MD · Southern High School
 
Ellis comes to Evansville after a strong career for Southern High School and Maryland United FC. He contributed 18 goals and 8 assists during his senior campaign. A 4-year varsity player, Amo led Southern HS in scoring his junior and senior seasons. A long-time member of Maryland United FC, Ellis helped lead the team to a first place in their U18/19 ECNL regional division. 
 
Son of Shelia & Eric … 1 brother, Elijah … chose UE because it's a great opportunity for me to continue both my academic and athletic career … Majoring in Finance
 
Tobias Bak · Defender · Taastrup, Denmark · Akron University
 
A native of Taastrup, Denmark, Tobias comes to Evansville after stops at Muskegon CC and University of Akron. Bak garnered Second Team All-American accolades after producing 5 goals and 3 assists in spring of 2021 for the Jayhawks. He helped lead Muskegon to a banner year, making it to the NJCAA National Tournament for the first time in school history. At Akron, Tobias played 419 minutes over the course of 13 games with 2 starts. His second start came in the NCAA 1^st Round Tournament game against Santa Clara. Tobias was teammates with current Purple Ace, Oliver Hald, at Muskegon CC. 
 
Chose UE because of the relationship with Coach Ray over the course of 2 years and the exciting direction of the program … Majoring in Criminal Justice
 
Aidan Montoure · Goal Keeper · Farmington, WI · Presbyterian College 
 
Aidan becomes a Purple Ace after a 2-year career at Presbyterian College. He appeared in 13 matches, while starting 12, amassing a 6-4-2 record as a starter. In spring 2021, Aidan had a GAA of .90 and a GAA of 1.38 in fall 2021, making 40 saves. He was named Big South Defensive Player of the Week after a standout performance against High Point. During his prep career for HS of Health and Sciences and SC Wave, Aidan was a 2x all conference and 2x all-state selection. At Presbyterian, he was also a member of SAAC. 
 
Son of Aaron & Libby … 1 sister, Kaylee … chose UE because of the small class size and academic pathway UE offers for graduate school … Majoring in Medical Biochemistry
 
Ola Arntsen · Midfield · Trondheim, Norway · Strinda Videregående Skole
 
Ola joins the Aces after a youth career with Rosenborg BK, the most storied youth academy in Norway, and with Kolstad Fotball this past season. With Rosenborg, Ola helped win the top u18 division and the Norway Cup final. Additionally, he has experience playing against top teams from around Europe, such as Ajax.
 
Son of Frode … 1 brother, Jakob & 1 sister, Thea … chose UE because of school possibilities and soccer program … Majoring in Exercise Science  
 
Nacho Diaz Barragan · Striker · Almería, Spain · University of Almería
 
Nacho comes to Evansville after a storied youth career in Spain. He grew up in the Villarreal CF youth system and appeared 19 times for the Spanish youth national teams at the U17, U18, and U19 levels notching 4 goals. Nacho's youth career culminated with appearances at the U17 Euros and U17 World Cup. Nacho helped lead Spain to the U17 Euro title, where he scored a late equalizer against England, and an appearance in the U17 World Cup Final. Nacho joins Evansville after recently appearing for CD Usaria in the Tercera División RFEF. 
 
Son of Ignacio Diaz Abellan & Cristina Barragan Moreno … 1 sister, Cristina … chose UE to finish a degree and progress soccer career … Majoring in Exercise Science
 
Brayden Doll · Midfielder · Noblesville, Indiana · Noblesville HS
 
Brayden comes to the River City from Noblesville High School and Indiana Fire Juniors. For Noblesville HS, Brayden won a State Championship while scoring 21 goals and contributing 35 assists on his way to being named All District and All State. Additionally, he won the Mental Attitude Award, was named Academic All State, and is a TDS 3 Star Recruit. As a member of Indiana Fire Juniors, Brayden appeared in the USYS National Semi-Final and the Semi-Final of the Dallas Cup. 
 
Son of Ian & Amanda … siblings … chose UE because he values great academics and playing at a high level … Majoring in Marketing
 
Tancredi Fadda · Striker · Monza, Italy · Liceo Carlo Porta Monza
 
Tancredi joins the Purple Aces after competing for FC Rhodense in the Serie D. Tancredi came to FC Rhodense from Vis Nova after a youth career with AC Monza. Between FC Rhodense and Vis Nova, he has 24 appearances with 3 goals and 3 assists in Serie D, the 4^th highest level of soccer in Italy. A target player, Tancredi excels with his back to goal and is a natural finisher in the box. 
 
Son of Gianfranco Fadda & Giovanna Ferraresi … 1 brother, Manilo … chose UE for the sporting project, academic plan, and campus life … Majoring in Business
 
Matthew Hawkins · Midfield · Louisville, Kentucky · Male High School
 
Matthew joins UE after playing for Javanon FC, Louisville City Academy, and Louisville Male High School. For Male HS, Matthew was named All-District, All-Region, All-State, and Region VII Defensive Player of the Year, as well as Male High School's Player of the Year. For Javanon FC, he captained them to a Kentucky State Championship in 2019 before moving on to Louisville City Academy. At Lou City, Matthew captained the '04 boys to the ECNL playoffs in 2021. 
 
Son of Mark & Pam Hawkins … 1 brother, Robbie … chose UE because it felt like home … Majoring in Physical Therapy
 
Andrew Holmes · Midfield · St. Cloud, Minnesota · St. Cloud Tech HS
 
Andrew comes to Evansville from St. Cloud Tech. Due to COVID, Andrew was only able to play two years of high school soccer, but earned All-Conference, All-State, All-Tournament, and All-State Academic honors his senior year in Minnesota. Additionally, he was named Saint Cloud Metro Player of the Year. He scored 12 goals with 28 assists over two seasons. No stranger to Evansville and the MVC, Andrew's father, Sean, coached at UE for 4 seasons before becoming the head coach at Drake University. Andrew also competed for Minnesota Eclipse.
 
Son of Sean & Carrie Holmes … 2 brothers, Matthew & Sam (Paralympic NT player) … chose UE for the engineering opportunities, the family connection to UE through my dad, the soccer program and the support system … Majoring in Engineering
 
John Jeffus · Goal Keeper · Louisville, Kentucky · Collegiate High School
 
John joins UE from Louisville City's Academy and Collegiate High School. For Collegiate HS, John started all 3 years and earned All-District, All-Region, and All-State honors from KHSAA. John led Collegiate to 2 district and region championships. Before joining Louisville City, he won a USYS National League Division, as well as a National League Nationals appearance. With Louisville City, John won the ECNL Ohio Valley championship and earned a quarter final appearance at ECNL nationals. 
 
Son of Tim & Kerstin Jeffus … 1 sister, Lily & 1 brother, James … chose UE because of the dynamic of the team, direction of the program, small class sizes, and the community feel on campus … Majoring in Business
 
Kai Phillip · Striker · Diego Martin, Trinidad & Tobago · Salt Lake CC
 
Kai joins the Purple Aces after a successful junior college career at Salt Lake Community College. Kai scored 20 goals over 2 seasons in Salt Lake. He helped SLCC to a Junior College national championship in 2020, a program first, and led a return to the national title game in 2021. Kai was named to the All Region 18 team. Prior to SLCC, Kai starred for Trinity Moka College in his home country of Trinidad and Tobago. He was named to the full Trinidad and Tobago national team training camp prior to the pandemic. 
 
Son of Kathy Paul & Clement Phillip … 3 brothers, Marcus, Kya & Justin & 1 sister, Tneal ... chose UE because of bond with coaches and their knowledge of my upbringing … Majoring in Business Communications
 
Nate Roberts · Midfield · Las Vegas, Nevada · Bishop Gorman High School
 
Nate comes to the River City from Las Vegas. At the club level, Nate represented Heat FC ECNL, the same club as current Purple Ace, Landon Amick, and Bishop Gorman at the high school level. A versatile central midfielder, Nate was named All-League, All-State, and team captain, producing 12 goals and 5 assists his senior year. He was also a member of the 2019 State Championship team at Bishop Gorman. For Heat FC, Nate was a part of one state championship and two ECNL playoff appearances. 
 
Son of Jeff Roberts & Stacey Giannaccini … 1 sister, Victoria … chose UE because of the small classes, personal attention, great academics, and the soccer program … Majoring in Finance 
 
Max Roberts · Defender · Olathe, Kansas · Monmouth Regional HS
 
Max joins UE after a club career for Kansas Rush and Cedar Stars Academy in the MLS Next. As a member of Rush, Max was a Rush Select National Team choice ('20-'21) and a Kansas State Cup Champion ('18 & '19). With Olathe West, Max won a KSHSAA 6A State Championship in 2019. Building off his success in Kansas, Max joined prominent Northeast academy, Cedar Stars, who was coming off of an MLS Next Playoff appearance. 
 
Son of Leon Roberts/Jennifer Roberts & Melissa Kropf/Rodney Morris … 1 brother, Quinn … chose UE because it gives me the platform as a Changemaker Campus to continue to grow my organization, Diversity for Change KC, as well as pursue soccer at the D1 level at a solid academic school … Majoring in Global Business
 
Andre Saucedo · Forward · Beaverton, Oregon · Int'l School of Beaverton
 
Andre becomes a Purple Ace after a 7-year stint in the Portland Timbers Academy. In those 7 years, Andre has 7 consecutive double digit goal scoring seasons. As a result of his success, he was called up to a US Youth National Team Training Camp and named Oregon ODP Player of the Year. Andre has been involved in First Team training with the Timbers and has competed for Timbers 2, now in the MLS Next Pro, on an amateur contract. 
 
Son of Hugo Saucedo & Lupe Avila … 1 brother, Alejandro … chose UE to maximize my academic potential in a small classroom setting, the coaching staff connecting with me as a player and person, and to compete at the highest collegiate level … Majoring in Business
 
Carson Thomas · Midfield · Owensboro, Kentucky · Daviess County HS
 
A local product, Carson joins UE after playing for Daviess County, Indiana Fire, and Louisville City. With Daviess County, Carson led the Panthers to a Final Four appearance in fall of 2021. Under Doug Sandifer, Carson achieved District Player of the Year Honors, an All-State selection, and USC Great Lakes All Region Team. At the club level, Carson grew up playing for Ty Stauffer at SportsTutor in Owensboro before moving on to Indiana Fire in Evansville. The last two seasons he has played with Louisville City's academy in the ECNL where the team has been ranked top 5 in the country at the ECNL level. 
 
Son of Craig & Kathy Thomas … 1 brother, Cooper … chose UE because campus felt like home and the opportunity to succeed in the classroom and on the field … Majoring in Exercise Science
 
Patrick Szankowski · Defender · Roskilde, Denmark · Roskilde Katedralskole
 
Patrick comes to Evansville after a youth career for FC Roskilde and AB Taarnby. In his final two seasons for Roskilde, Patrick amassed 4 goals and 10 assists, while being named the 18/19 Youth Player of the Year. A versatile defender, he helped Roskilde u19 to a top 3 finish in Division 1 u19 league in Denmark. Prior to coming to the states, Patrick most recently competed for AB Taarby in the 2^nd Division of Danish soccer, finishing in 1^st place. 
 
Son of Heidi & Marek Szankowski … 1 sister, Jasmin … chose UE because of the soccer program and educational opportunities … Majoring in Civil Engineering
 
Marc Vila · Defender · Vilassar de Mar, Spain · IES Pere Ribot
 
Marc joins UE after playing for Badalona FC during his youth career in Liga Nacional. He was selected 9 times in the best XI of the week while leading the team to the playoffs and a 2^nd place finish. In the 21-22 season, Marc has 1 goal and 5 assists, with 10 goals and 15 assists over the past 3 years from his defensive position. In addition to his time with the youth team, he has spent time training with the first team of Badalona FC in the 2a RFEF. 
 
Son of Joan & Myriam … 1 sister, Judith … chose UE to study and play at a competitive level … Majoring in Engineering
 
Alex Vidizzoni · Goal Keeper · Codroipo, Italy · OK Wesleyan University
 
A graduate transfer, Alex joins Evansville after an undergraduate career at Oklahoma Wesleyan University. Alex played 50 games, starting 48 times for the very successful NAIA side. In 2019, Alex was named KCAC GK of the Year and KCAC 1^st Team. In 20/21, he was All-National Tournament 1^st team as OKWU reached the NAIA National Championship Game. In 2021, he was KCAC 2^nd Team. Before OKWU, Alex was a member of Udinese's youth academy.
 
Son of Manuele Vidizzoni & Manuela Bernardis … chose UE because of the liberal arts education & dynamic men's soccer program … Master in Healthcare Administration
 
 
Nalu Wagner · Defender · Leipzig, Germany · Sportschule Halle
 
Nalu comes to Evansville after a youth career with Hallescher FC. A youth academy member since 2017, Nalu has progressed from the academy to the U17s to the u19s. A versatile defender, Nalu has 1 goal and 1 assist from his center back position while appearing 14 times and playing 2,000 minutes this season. Nalu has experience both in the u17 and u19 Bundesliga competing against teams like Wolfsburg and RB Leipzig. 
 
Son of Martin Wagner & Nais Machinek … chose UE because of the soccer program and coaching staff … Major is Undeclared 
 
Landon Zambrano · Midfielder · Wheeling, IL · Wheeling High School
 
Landon comes to UE after attending Wheeling High School and playing for Sockers FC Chicago. Landon chose not to play for his high school, and instead competed for his club's Sockers FC Chicago Top Talent program. He started every game for Top Talent, tallying 17 goals and 26 assists. With Sockers FC, Landon competed in the NPL. He joins his brother, Brian, at Evansville.
 
Son of Fernando & Sandra … 1 brother, Brian (at UE), 1 sister, Grace … chose UE for the business program, soccer team, coaching staff, and the campus … Majoring in Business 
 

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