LOWELL, Mass. – UMass Lowell men's soccer head coach Kyle Zenoni has announced the addition of 14 new players that will join the River Hawks for the 2023 season.
Three freshmen and 11 transfers will round out the 28-man roster. The incoming class features local players from the United States as well all around the world from nations such as Japan, Argentina, France, Cape Verde, Canada, and the Netherlands.
"I am thrilled about this incoming class," said Zenoni. "It brings experience as well as youth to a returning group of guys that are hungry to get results. We worked extremely hard last year to fill needs to compete at the highest level. We have a returning group of guys that are truly bought in. It is always important to me that we bring in players that are good players but even better people. This class demonstrates that and will fit in really nicely with our returning players. I can't wait to get everyone here and see how we can put it all together."
Meet the Players
Name: Rui Aoki
Previous School: Barton Community College
Hometown/High School: Hyogo, Japan/Ashiya Gakuen
Position: Back
Height: 6-2
Weight: 167
Major/Minor: Liberal Arts/Health Studies
PREVIOUS SCHOOL: Played two seasons at Barton Community College … Appeared in 27 games, making 17 starts … Scored his first career goal against Iowa Lakes Community College … Totaled seven shots, including three on goal, for a .429 shot on goal percentage … Tabbed KJCCC First Team All-Conference
HIGH SCHOOL: Played soccer at Ashiya Gakuen High School … Was a regional champion as a sophomore.
PERSONAL: Son of Shouichi and Yuka … Has one sibling (Meimi) … Names Barcelona as his favorite professional team and Ronald Araujo as his favorite sports figure … chose to attend UMass Lowell because "They have a great program here and I felt I wanted to be a part of the team here."
Name: Santiago Delfino
Previous School: Salt Lake Community College
Hometown/High School: Cordoba, Argentina/Gobernador Justo Páez Molina
Position: Midfield
Height: 6-0
Weight: 175
Club Team: Instituto de Cordoba
Major/Minor: Liberal Arts/Architecture and Graphic Design Studies
PREVIOUS SCHOOL: Played three seasons at Salt Lake Community College … Appeared in 42 games, making 22 starts … Scored five goals and added three assists for 13 points … Logged 32 shots, including 14 on goal, for a .438 shot on goal percentage … Totaled 2020 minutes of playing time.
HIGH SCHOOL: Played soccer at Gobernador Justo Páez Molina.
PERSONAL: Has two siblings (Facundo and Constanza) … Nicknamed Santi … Names Friends as his favorite TV show … Lists River Plate as his favorite professional sports team and Messi as his favorite sports figure … Chose to attend UMass Lowell because of the "great soccer program."
Name: Daniele Di Giorgio
Hometown/High School: Montréal, Quebec/Vincent Massey Collegiate
Position: Goalkeeper
Height: 5-10
Weight: 165
Club Team: A.S. Blainville
Major/Minor: Pharmaceutical Sciences
HIGH SCHOOL: Played soccer, tennis, and ran track at Vincent Massey Collegiate … Tabbed the Vincent Massey Collegiate Athlete of the Year his senior year … Named the GMAA Futsal League MVP, GMAA Soccer League MVP, and the GMAA Soccer Championship Final MVP his senior, junior, and sophomore years …. Made the academic honor roll all four years … Quebec Cup Champions during his senior year.
PERSONAL: Son of Johnny and Carmelina … Has one brother (Franco) … Lists golf, basketball, and traveling as some of his hobbies and interests … Names Family Guy and Prison Break as his favorite TV shows … Says his favorite professional sports team is Chelsea FC … Names his greatest sports moment as leading his underdog high school team to a provincial final his senior year, marking the first time ever his school reached a provincial final … Choose to attend UMass Lowell because of "its high academic standards, its high success rate for its students post-graduations and mainly because of the project put forward by Coach Kyle and Coach Jason for the success of the men's soccer team as well as the values and standards that the coaches preach to their student-athletes on and off the field."
Name: Adam Henry
Previous School: University of Missouri-Kansas City
Hometown/High School: Fort Meyers, Fl./Cypress Bay
Position: Goalkeeper
Height: 6-2
Weight: 187
Club Team: Weston FC
Major/Minor: Economics/Business
PREVIOUS SCHOOL: Played two seasons at the University of Missouri-Kansas City … Appeared in two games, making one start … Made his first career start in a 1-1 draw against Central Arkansas … Totals two career saves for a .667 save percentage.
HIGH SCHOOL: Played soccer at Cypress Bay High School … Member of Weston FC Developmental Academy his junior, sophomore and freshman year … Participated in DECA … Volunteered at Harry Chapin Food Bank.
PERSONAL: Son of Kevin Henry … Has one sibling (Rebecca) … Father played football at UCF and his mother played tennis at Maryland … Names Blacklist as his favorite TV show … Lists Liverpool FC and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as his favorite professional sports teams … Chose UMass Lowell because "I really enjoyed my meetings with the coaching staff about where the program is headed and having the opportunity to come in and compete day in and day out."
Name: Liam Ireland
Previous School: Rhode Island
Hometown/High School: Yarmouth, Maine/Yarmouth
Position: Midfield
Height: 5-11
Weight: 150
Club Team: Seacoast ME
Major/Minor: Economics
PREVIOUS SCHOOL: Played one season at Rhode Island … Made 11 appearances including one start … Registered two shots in 200 minutes of playing time.
HIGH SCHOOL: Played soccer, tennis, and hockey at Yarmouth High School … Named the Class B Player of the Year his senior year … Tabbed the Yarmouth High School Fall Athlete of the Year … Won the state championship his senior, sophomore, and freshman year.
PERSONAL: Son of Sean and Merritt … Has two siblings (Madeline and Grace) … His dad Sean ran DI cross country at UNH … Mother Merritt was a professional sailor, including sailing in America's Cup … Enjoys fly fishing and hunting in his free time … Names River Monsters as his favorite TV show … Lists Crystal Palace and the Celtics as his favorite professional sports teams … Says winning the state championship three times is his greatest sports moment … Choose to attend UMass Lowell because of "the excellent academics and athletics."
Name: Yanis Lakhlifi
Previous School: Northeast Texas Community College
Hometown/High School: La Crau, France/Lycée Costebelle
Position: Forward
Height: 6-1
Weight: 189
Club Team: Hyeres FC
Major/Minor: Economics/Business
PREVIOUS SCHOOL: Played one season at Northeast Texas Community College and one season at Prairie State College … Totaled 32 goals in 31 games … Added 12 assists for 76 total points … Named the Skyway Player of the Year and tabbed to the First Team All-Region while playing at Prairie State.
HIGH SCHOOL: Played soccer at Lycée Costebelle.
PERSONAL: Son of Abdelrhni and Malika … Has three siblings (Reda, Manel and Rayan) … Lists some of his favorite hobbies as watching sports and discovering new places … Names Olympique de Marseille as his favorite professional sports team and Muhammad Ali as his favorite sports figure … Chose to attend UMass Lowell because "When I spoke with the coaches I felt as if it was a rational and perfect choice for me. Everything is gathered to perform in all fields, whether sporting or academic."
Name: Owen Marshall
Hometown/High School: Waukesha, Wis./Marquette University High
Position: Midfield
Height: 6-0
Weight: 160
Club Team: Bavarian United SC U19 MLS Next
Major/Minor: Finance
HIGH SCHOOL: Played soccer and basketball at Marquette University High School … Tabbed to the First Team All-Region as a senior and the First Team All-Conference his senior and junior year … Named the Greater Metro Conference Player of the Year and United Soccer Coaches High School All-American as a senior … Won the Wisconsin Division I State Championship as a junior … Was also a member of the Best Buddies Club and was a volunteer soccer and basketball camp coach.
PERSONAL: Son of Adam and Molly … Has one sibling (Andrew) … His dad played soccer at the University of Connecticut, his uncle played soccer at Marquette University, his uncle wrestled at the University of Wisconsin – Madison, and his aunt played soccer at Marquette University … enjoys golfing, fishing and hunting in his free time … Names Kobe Bryant and Cristiano Ronaldo as his favorite sports figures … Chose to attend UMass Lowell because "of the great environment, the coaching staff, and the location provides and opportunity for me to grow and develop as a student, an athlete and a person."
Name: Daniele Mastroianni
Hometown/High School: Montréal, Quebec/Loyola
Position: Forward
Height: 5-11
Weight: 155
Club Team: Soccer Saint Laurent
Major/Minor: Finance
HIGH SCHOOL: Played soccer, hockey, and ran track at Loyola High School … As a senior his team was U17 National Champions and U18 Provincial Champions … Named soccer team captain and MVP … Won the Sportsmanship & Ability Award as a member of the hockey team … DI League Champions in soccer his sophomore year … DI League and Provincial Champions in hockey his freshman year.
PERSONAL: Son of Dino and Jean … Has one sibling (Emma) … Likes to listen to music and go biking in his free time … Names F1 Drive to Survive as his favorite TV show … Lists AC Milan and the Montreal Canadiens as his favorite professional teams … Says his greatest sports moment was winning the 2022 U17 Canadian National Championship … Chose to attend UMass Lowell because "It was the right fit academically and athletically, as well as my coach believes in me."
Name: Justin Milovanov
Previous School: St.Francis
Hometown/High School: Sheepshead Bay, N.Y./James Madison
Position: Midfield
Height: 6-0
Weight: 185
Club Team: Champs Academy
Major/Minor: Exercise Science
HIGH SCHOOL: Played soccer at James Madison High School … Scored 11 goals and led his team to the quarterfinals as a junior … Division Champions and made it to the quarterfinals as a sophomore … Member of the Soccer Club and Restoration Club.
PERSONAL: Son of Eugene and Tanya … Has two siblings (Kyle and Eva) … His cousins Nico and Franco played soccer at the University of New Haven … His cousin Daniella played soccer at the University of Wesleyan and for the Peruvian National Team … Lists Peaky Blinders, The Office and Top Boy as his favorite TV shows … Chose to attend UMass Lowell because "It was the best option for me to study exercise science and continue to play the sport I love at a very competitive level."
Name: Shunnosuke Nakajima
Previous School: Cowley County Community College
Hometown/High School: Yokohama, Japan/Toin
Position: Midfield
Height: 5-7
Weight: 150
Club Team: Toin FC
Major/Minor: Economics/Business
PREVIOUS SCHOOL: Played two seasons at Cowley County Community College … Appeared in 34 games, including 24 starts … Totals two goals and four assists for eight career points … Tallied his first career goal as a freshman against Neosho County Community College … Tabbed to the First Team All-Conference and All-Region … Named a co-captain.
HIGH SCHOOL: Played soccer at Toin High School … Named team captain and made nationals his junior year … Tabbed to the Yokohama City select-team as a freshman.
PERSONAL: Son of Yuji and Yoshimi … Nicknamed Shun … Enjoys listening to music and watching movies in his free time … Names Manchester City as his favorite professional sports team and Kevin De Bruyne as his favorite sports figure … Chose to attend UMass Lowell because of the "great academics and soccer program."
Name: Kotaro Natsume
Previous School: Barton Community College
Hometown/High School: Toyohashi, Aichi, Japan/Hamamatsu Kaiseikan
Position: Back
Height: 5-6
Weight: 143
Major/Minor: Economics
PREVIOUS SCHOOL: Played two seasons at Barton Community College … Appeared in 25 games, including 19 starts … Totaled two goals and two assists for six points … Added eight shots, including three on goal, for a .375 shot on goal percentage … Named the KJCCC West Defensive Player of the Year and tabbed to the First Team All-KJCCC West Division as well as the Second Team All-Region VI Division I.
HIGH SCHOOL: Played soccer at Hamamatsu Kaiseikan.
PERSONAL: Son of Yusuke and Utako … Has two siblings (Shintaro and Kantaro) … Lists traveling, shopping, listening to music and cooking as some of his favorite hobbies … Names Real Madrid as his favorite professional team and Cristiano Ronaldo as his favorite sports figure … Chose to attend UMass Lowell because "It can help me become a professional soccer player and it is an environment where I can grow as a human being."
Name: Patrick Pires
Previous School: Chicago State
Hometown/High School: Santo Añtao, Cape Verde/Bridgton Academy
Position: Back
Height: 6-1
Weight: 160
Club Team: Bruno United
Major/Minor: Business Administration
PREVIOUS SCHOOL: Played one season at Chicago State University … Started in 13 of the team's 16 matches … Recorded over 1000 minutes of playing time.
HIGH SCHOOL: Played soccer at Bridgton Academy.
PERSONAL: Son of Antonio and Lisiane … Has four siblings (Patricia, Isa, Amani, and Elaina) … nicknamed Patty … Enjoys fishing … Lists Power as his favorite TV show …. Names Real Madrid as his favorite professional sports team and Ronaldo as his favorite sports figure … Says his greatest sports moment is winning the state championship … Chose UMass Lowell because of "the great community with great coaches, professors, and it is overall a great school."
Name: Calvin Scholten
Previous School: Coffeyville Community College
Hometown/High School: Hengelo, Netherlands/Avila College
Position: Midfield
Height: 6-0
Weight: 163
Club Team: Hvv Tubantia
Major/Minor: Business Administration
PREVIOUS SCHOOL: Played one season at Coffeyville Community College … Appeared in 15 games, including 14 starts … Totaled five goals and five assists for 15 points … Scored his first career goal against Rich Mountain … Tallied two goals against Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College and Kansas City Kansas Community College.
HIGH SCHOOL: Played soccer at Avila College
PERSONAL: Son of Roeland and Danielle … Has one sibling (Romee) … Enjoys fishing and shopping in his free time … Names Ajax as his favorite professional sports team and Cristiano Ronaldo as his favorite sports figure … His greatest sports moment was making his debut for the First Team at FC Twente … Chose to attend UMass Lowell because "it's a really good school and also allows him to make a step up."
Name: Eric Armijos
Hometown/High School: East Hampton, N.Y./East Hampton
Position: Forward
Height: 5-7
Weight: 140
Club Team: Southampton Town United
Major/Minor: Undeclared Liberal Arts
HIGH SCHOOL: Played soccer at East Hampton High School … Named All-Region and All-State selection his senior year … League MVP as a senior … Led his team in goal contributions with 15 goals and 15 assists … Reached the State Cup Final with Southampton Town United as a junior … New York Final Four winner with Southampton Town United as a freshman.
PERSONAL: Son of Freddy and Jessica … Has one sibling (Jonathan) … Loves to spend time with family and friends in his free time … Names Suits as his favorite TV show … Lists Real Madrid and Manchester United as a his favorite professional sports teams … Says his greatest sports moment was reaching the State Cup Final with his club team … Chose to attend UMass Lowell because "both my parents and I believed this was a great fit for me both academically and athletically."
