LOWELL, Mass. – UMass Lowell Men's Soccer Head Coach
Kyle Zenoni has announced the addition of 11 new players that will join the River Hawks for the 2022 campaign.
Seven freshmen and four transfers will round out the 27-man roster. Zenoni has bolstered the unit with players whose roots stem from the States, but also abroad from nations such as Ireland, Sweden, Spain, Argentina and Norway.
"I am extremely excited to welcome this incoming class to a returning group of guys that are hungry for success," said Zenoni. "The team had a strong spring season with a smaller roster and we added players that will complement the current squad. The incoming class will push the team and create a lot of competition within the squad, which is something needed to compete for championships. We have a team that will be hardworking on the field, but just a good group of guys off the field. I have said this before, but I am excited about the new era of this program. We are working to compete for championships on and off the field and this incoming group of players along with the returners will do just that."
The additions to the River Hawks will help support the team's efforts in all facets of the game, comprising of three forwards, four midfielders and four backs.
INCOMING CLASS
Name: Aksel Kjelsmark Battal
Hometown/High School: Stora Hoga, Sweden / Katrinelundsgymnasiet
Position: Back
Height: 5'10"
Weight: 155
Club Team: Stenungsunds IF
Major/Minor: Exercise Science
HIGH SCHOOL/CLUB SPORTS ACCOLADES: Selected to all district team (Distriktslaget) as a sophomore … made list of league's talented young players.
PERSONAL: Son of Caroline Kjelsmark and Turgut Battal … has two siblings, Milas and Iris … enjoys fitness, playing basketball, and traveling … favorite TV show is La casa de papel … names FC Barcelona and BK Hacken as his favorite sports teams … lists Christian Eriksen and Michael Jordan as favorite athletes … favorite personal sporting moment was making his debut for the first team at Stenungsunds IF … chose UMass Lowell because "It seems like a great place to develop as a soccer player and person. I also felt a good connection with the coaches."
Name: Daragh Reilly
Hometown/High School: Navan, Ireland / St. Patrick's Navan
Position: Back
Height: 6'0"
Weight: 180
Club Team: St. Patrick's Athletic
Major/Minor: Marketing/Business
HIGH SCHOOL/CLUB SPORTS ACCOLADES: Clinched four league titles at the Airtricity u15, u17 (2x), and u19 levels with St. Patrick's Athletic … won both the league and cup titles with u15 squad in 2018 … selected to Irish International teams at U15-19 levels.
PERSONAL: Son of Ruth and Martin Reilly … has three siblings – Orlaith, Caolan, Lesleyann … enjoys watching movies, playing pool, and going on drives … favorite TV shows are Narcos, Power, and Breaking Bad … names Manchester United as his favorite sports team … lists Lionel Messi as his favorite athlete … favorite personal sporting moment is representing Ireland as a member of their national teams … chose UMass Lowell because, "It's a brilliant college with great opportunities to progress."
Name: Iñaki Esnaola
Hometown/High School: Junin, Argentina / Instituto Secundario Padre Respuela
Position: Forward
Height: 5'8"
Weight: 143
Club Team: Sarmiento de Junín
PERSONAL: Son of Cristina Vanesa Gatti and Jose Luis Esnaola … has two siblings, Fermin and Valentina … enjoys cooking and watching pro soccer and basketball … favorite TV shows are Friends, Vikings, and Game of Thrones … lists Lionel Messi, Stephen Curry, and Diego Maradona as favorite athletes … chose UMass Lowell because it, "…gives me the opportunity for a better life."
Name: Javier Torres
Hometown/High School: Málaga, Spain / El Romeral
Previous College: University of South Carolina Upstate
Position: Forward
Height: 5'9"
Weight: 168
Club Team: Málaga CF
Major/Minor: Management & Information Systems / Business Administration
PREVIOUS SCHOOL ACCOLADES: Scored 8 goals and added 9 assists at USC Upstate … netted 6 goals as a senior to earn second team all-conference selection … Big South runner-up as junior … enjoyed volunteering time working with those with disabilities.
PERSONAL: Son of
Javier Torres and Luisa Serano … has older sister, Eloisa … enjoys cooking, playing video games, and reading … favorite TV show is Money Heist … names Real Madrid as his favorite sports team … lists Christiano Ronaldo as his favorite athlete … favorite personal sporting experience has been traveling for competitive soccer, visiting Korea, Italy, Denmark, and Morocco … chose UMass Lowell to earn his master's degree in Business Analytics.
Name: Kacper Skonieczny
Hometown/High School: North Haven, Conn. / North Haven
Previous College: Central Connecticut State University
Position: Midfielder
Height: 6'0"
Weight: 180
Club Team: Bridgeport
Major/Minor: Finance
PREVIOUS SCHOOL ACCOLADES: Started 13 of 20 total appearances in two seasons with Central Connecticut … scored 3 goals, adding 1 assist … generated 28 shooting chances, 11 on goal … NEC Academic Honor Roll.
PERSONAL: Son of Jolanta Skonieczna and Henry Skonieczny … has two brothers, Jacob and Philip … enjoys hiking, biking, and going to the gym … names Arsenal as his favorite sports team … lists Matty Cash as favorite athlete … chose UMass Lowell because of the high academic standard, great soccer program, and coaching staff.
Name: Love Lindborg
Hometown/High School: Stockholm, Sweden / Hersby Gymnasium
Previous College: American International University
Position: Back
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 185
Club Team: IFK LIDINGÖ FK
Major/Minor: International Business/Business Administration
AS A FRESHMAN (at American International): Set program record for most games played in a season (21) … NE10 All-Rookie Team selection … NE10 All-Conference Third Team … netted 1 goal.
HIGH SCHOOL/CLUB SPORTS ACCOLADES: Selected as team captain all four years of high school … selected as team MVP as a junior.
PERSONAL: Son of Björn and Charlotta … has two siblings, Maximilian and Molly … enjoys watching movies, listening to music, and traveling … favorite TV show is Swedish show "Solsidan" … names Djurgårdens IF as his favorite sports teams … lists Thiago Silva as favorite athlete … favorite personal sporting moment was spending time in America in his first season with AIC … chose UMass Lowell because of its strong academics and soccer program.
Name: Mauro Fernandez
Hometown/High School: Fitchburg, Mass. / Fitchburg
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5'8"
Weight: 155
Club Team: FC Stars
Major/Minor: Electrical Engineering
HIGH SCHOOL/CLUB SPORTS ACCOLADES: Picked for New England Revolution soccer academy … captained high school team as junior and senior … led team in assists as junior, goals as a senior … Central Massachusetts All-Star … received "Golden F" for high GPA across all four-years … joined Interact Club … ran a school stand for workshop days.
PERSONAL: Son of Natalia and Pablo … has younger brother, Tomas … enjoys spending time with family and friends, watching TV, and listening to music … favorite TV shows are Friends and Peaky Blinders … names FC Barcelona and Peñarolas his favorite sports teams … lists Lionel Messi and Rocky as favorite athletes … favorite personal sporting moment was Celebrating a hard fought win to reach nationals with my Fc Stars team … "I chose Umass Lowell because of the community I saw since I was introduced to UML. Whether it's the athlete or the student life, I saw myself succeeding in that community as both and seeing that I had a spot on the soccer team just finished it off for me."
Name: Michael Oliveri Jr.
Hometown/High School: West Islip, N.Y. / Islip
Position: Forward
Height: 6'0"
Weight: 155
Club Team: Met Oval Academy
Major/Minor: Business Administration
HIGH SCHOOL/CLUB SPORTS ACCOLADES: Netted 27 goals and 12 assists in two seasons with Met Oval Academy … reached MLS Next playoffs under coach Giuseppe Rossi as a junior, placed first as a senior … 2022 MLS Next Northeast Conference Champions … advanced to Round of 16 at national playoffs in Dallas, Texas … National Honors Society member … World Language Honors Society member … Buccaneer University mentor.
PERSONAL: Son of Gina and Michael Oliveri … has younger sister, Mia … enjoys spending time with family and friends, as well as attending car shows … favorite TV show is Family Feud … names FC Barcelona and the New York Yankees as his favorite sports teams … lists Christiano Ronaldo and Michael Jordan as favorite athletes … favorite personal sporting moment was scoring the game-winning PK to clinch MLS Next Northeast Conference title … chose UMass Lowell because "I feel it will be a great fit both academically and athletically for me and my family."
Name: Oliver Holmstrom
Hometown/High School: Gävle, Sweden / Borgarskolan
Position: Midfielder
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 176
Club Team: Gefle IF
Major/Minor: Business Administration
HIGH SCHOOL/CLUB SPORTS ACCOLADES: Three-time U19 District Champion with Gefle IF … selected team captain of U19 Gefle IF squad junior year … competed with Gif Sundsvall (highest Swedish division) … started eight matches in Swedish Division 2 as a senior
PERSONAL: Son of Pernilla and Johan … has two siblings, Julia and Ebba … enjoys playing Padel, golf, and traveling … favorite TV show is Prison Break … names Manchester United as his favorite sports team … lists Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Wayne Rooney as favorite athletes … chose UMass Lowell because it gave a great impression both academically and of the coaching staff.
Name: Oscar Perez
Hometown/High School: Sagunto, Spain / Sagunto
Position: Back
Height: 6'0"
Weight: 163
Club Team: Alboraya UD
HIGH SCHOOL/CLUB SPORTS ACCOLADES: Played for three seasons in the Alboraya Division of Honor … selected as first captain as a senior … played freshman season in Levante Youth B group.
PERSONAL: Son of María Ángeles Dolz and Luis Vicente Pérez … has younger brother Jon … enjoys spending time with family and friends … likes watching sports and Netflix … names FC Barcelona as favorite sports team … lists Lionel Messi, Sergio Ramos, and Gerard Pique as his favorite athletes … favorite personal sporting moment is his time competing in the Division of Honor … chose UMass Lowell because "I believe I can compete very well with our soccer program and learn a lot through the school."
Name: Viljar Byrkjeland
Hometown/High School: Norheimsund, Norway / Telemark Toppidrett Gymnas
Previous College: Missouri State
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5'7"
Club Team: Odd BK
HIGH SCHOOL/CLUB SPORTS ACCOLADES: Claimed silver medal at the Norwegian final as a junior … played on Regional Team from 2014-2018.
