University of North Carolina Athletics
UNC Welcomes Newcomers At First Training Session Of 2017
August 9, 2017 | Men's Soccer
CHAPEL HILL - A new season brings new faces and a new training ground in 2017, but the same expectations are still there for the fourth-ranked North Carolina men's soccer team. The campaign officially got underway on Wednesday morning with a training session that lasted just shy of two hours under a bright blue sky at the new practice facility off Old Mason Farm Road.
The Tar Heels boast a strong nucleus of returning talent that reached the College Cup last fall, while mixing in a batch of newcomers that are eager to fit into head coach Carlos Somoano's successful system. Now in his seventh season, Somoano leads all Division I coaches with a sparkling .758 winning percentage.
One of the top players back from last year's club is Cam Lindley, a midfielder that was named on the preseason MAC Hermann Trophy watch list earlier this week.
"It's great to be back here with the guys," said Lindley. "I've been waiting since we last played against Stanford (in the College Cup). The new guys look great. We have a bunch of new faces that will make an impact. It's just good to be out there with Carlos and the rest of the guys on the pitch."
David October is going through his last training camp with the Tar Heels. After spending the summer working in the finance district of New York City, he was eager to get back with his teammates after a long summer away.
"You can just see the excitement, from the start of warmup, that everyone is rearing to go today. We had a fantastic first session," October said. "For the seniors it's our last go around and we want to make sure we end on a win."
Carolina has 11 newcomers for the 2017 season. Both College Soccer News and Top Drawer Soccer rank the class No. 2 in the nation.
The Tar Heels spanned the globe to bring in the finest talent to enroll at this world-class university. Members of the class represent four continents - Africa, Europe, North America and Oceania - and five countries: England, Ghana, Lithuania, New Zealand and the United States.
Four of the signees rank among the top-20 players in the 2017 class. John Nelson (Medina, Ohio) is ranked No. 1 by College Soccer News, Lucas del Rosario (Durham, North Carolina) is No. 2 by O When The Yanks, Alex Rose (Cary, North Carolina) is No. 7 by College Soccer News and Raul Aguilera (Sanford, Florida) checks in 13th by O When The Yanks.
Raul Aguilera • CM • 5-10/155 • Sanford, Florida • Seminole HS/Orlando City SC Academy
Ranked the No. 13 player in the 2017 class by O When the Yanks • No. 19 by College Soccer News • No. 42 by TopDrawerSoccer • 2015 NSCAA Youth Boys All-America selection • Participated with the U-15, U16 and U-18 U.S. National Teams • Earned all-conference honors in the U15/16 Development Academy East Conference.
Prince Agyai • CB • 6-1/175 • Takoma Park, Maryland • High Point HS (Md.)/D.C. United Academy
Played for the U17/18 D.C. United Academy team during the 2016-17 season • Previously competed with Barca FC (2015-16), Maryland United (2014-15), MFC Falcons (2012-14) and MFC Tigers (2009-12) • Born in Ghana.
Lucas del Rosario • F/M • 5-11/150 • Durham, North Carolina • Jordan HS/Capital Area Railhawks Academy
Ranked the No. 2 player in the 2017 class by O When The Yanks • No. 15 by College Soccer News • No. 25 by TopDrawerSoccer • NSCAA Youth Boys All-America selection in both 2015 and 2016 • U.S. National Team participant since age 14 • U-17 U.S. National Team Residency program member • 2016-17 Capital Area Railhawks Academy team captain.
Charlie Forecast • CB • 6-1/180 • Melton Mowbray, England • Wigan Athletic
Captained the U18 Wigan Athletic side • Made several reserve team appearances at Wigan Athletic • Joined Wigan Athletic after previously playing with Nottingham Forest from 2007-15 • Also played rugby and ran track & field.
Julius Momkus • CF • 6-0/165 • Vilnius, Lithuania • Vilnius Senvage Gymnasium/FK Zalgiris
Competed with club team FK Zalgiris since 2014 • Top scorer in 2015 season with 20 goals and nine assists in 29 appearances • Scored 20 goals and nine assists in 25 appearances in 2016 • Previously played with FM Vilnius from 2012-14 • Named best match player at the Riga Cup '13 in Latvia.
John Nelson • LB/LM • 5-9/160 • Medina, Ohio • Medina HS/Internationals SC (Ohio) Academy
Ranked the No. 1 player in the 2017 class by College Soccer News • No. 2 by O When The Yanks • No. 11 by TopDrawerSoccer • NSCAA Youth Boys All-America selection in both 2015 and 2016 • U.S. National Team participant since age 14 • Competed in 2015 U17 World Cup in Chile • U-17 U.S. National Team Residency program member • Competed for seven seasons in Development Academy, with Internationals SC going back to 2010-11• Was rewarded with a U19 U.S. National Team call in December 2016.
Alex Rose • CF • 6-2/155 • Cary, North Carolina • Green Hope HS/Capital Area Railhawks Academy
Ranked the No. 7 player in the 2017 class by O When The Yanks • No. 19 by TopDrawerSoccer • No. 32 by College Soccer News • Nominee for Top Drawer Soccer National Player of the Year • A prolific goal scorer that had over 90 career academy goals for Capital Area Railhawks Academy in four years (U16 through U18) • Had at least 25 goals each of the last three seasons, including 26 goals in 2015-16 and 30 goals in 2014-15 • Rewarded with a U19 U.S. National Team call in November 2016 • Scored a goal for U19 MNT in a win over Xolos (10/7/16) • U16 Eastern Conference Player of the Year (2014-15) in USSDA.
Mark Salas • CB • 5-10/150 • Dallas, Texas • Lone Star HS/FC Dallas Academy
Ranked No. 50 in the 2017 class by O When The Yanks • No. 52 by TopDrawerSoccer • Joined FC Dallas Academy at the age of six • Team captain for USSDA U16 championship side, as well as Copa Chivas and NPL U15 championship clubs • Has attended USMNT camps • Older brother, Martin, is a current member of the North Carolina men's soccer team.
Alec Smir • GK • 6-1/170 • Greensboro, North Carolina • Greensboro Day School/NC Fusion Academy
Ranked the No. 72 player in the 2017 class by College Soccer News • No. 111 by TopDrawerSoccer • Enrolled at UNC in 2017 spring semester • NC Fusion Academy keeper for U14, U16 and U18 teams from 2013-16 • Captain for the 2016 U18 NC Fusion side • Selected for U18 USMNT training camp in January 2017 • Previously attended MNT camps in 2015 & '16.
Liam Williams • CB • 6-1/185 • Taupo, New Zealand • Hamilton Wanderers
Member of the U20 New Zealand World Cup squad in 2016 • Trained with New Zealand MNT in 2016 • Guided New Zealand to Round of 16 at the FIFA U17 World Cup in Chile, 2015 • New Zealand U17 side won the 2015 Oceania Football Championship • Most recently competed with Hamilton Wanderers, a club in the Stirling Sports Premiership • Previously played with Western Springs, winning the U19 club title • Finalist for the New Zealand College Sports Young Sportsperson of the Year while attending Saint Kentigern's College • Older brother, Jevon, is a current member of the Francis Marion men's soccer team.
Mason Wittman • CB • 6-0/165 • Palo Alto, California • Palo Alto Senior HS/Juventus SC
Team captain at Juventus Sports Club for the 2016-17 season • Previously competed with San Jose Earthquakes Academy from 2013-16 for coach Chris Leitch, a member of the 2001 UNC national championship team • Helped guide San Jose to a West Regional title at MLS Generation Adidas Cup in 2015-16 • Parents, Drew and Vanessa, are Carolina alumni; Vanessa played tennis at UNC from 1985-89 • Older brother, Parker, currently attends North Carolina.
The Tar Heels boast a strong nucleus of returning talent that reached the College Cup last fall, while mixing in a batch of newcomers that are eager to fit into head coach Carlos Somoano's successful system. Now in his seventh season, Somoano leads all Division I coaches with a sparkling .758 winning percentage.
One of the top players back from last year's club is Cam Lindley, a midfielder that was named on the preseason MAC Hermann Trophy watch list earlier this week.
"It's great to be back here with the guys," said Lindley. "I've been waiting since we last played against Stanford (in the College Cup). The new guys look great. We have a bunch of new faces that will make an impact. It's just good to be out there with Carlos and the rest of the guys on the pitch."
Skills were on display this morning. ??????#UNCXI pic.twitter.com/jlzQp54dFQ
— UNC Men's Soccer (@UNCmenssoccer) August 9, 2017
David October is going through his last training camp with the Tar Heels. After spending the summer working in the finance district of New York City, he was eager to get back with his teammates after a long summer away.
"You can just see the excitement, from the start of warmup, that everyone is rearing to go today. We had a fantastic first session," October said. "For the seniors it's our last go around and we want to make sure we end on a win."
Carolina has 11 newcomers for the 2017 season. Both College Soccer News and Top Drawer Soccer rank the class No. 2 in the nation.
The Tar Heels spanned the globe to bring in the finest talent to enroll at this world-class university. Members of the class represent four continents - Africa, Europe, North America and Oceania - and five countries: England, Ghana, Lithuania, New Zealand and the United States.
Four of the signees rank among the top-20 players in the 2017 class. John Nelson (Medina, Ohio) is ranked No. 1 by College Soccer News, Lucas del Rosario (Durham, North Carolina) is No. 2 by O When The Yanks, Alex Rose (Cary, North Carolina) is No. 7 by College Soccer News and Raul Aguilera (Sanford, Florida) checks in 13th by O When The Yanks.
Raul Aguilera • CM • 5-10/155 • Sanford, Florida • Seminole HS/Orlando City SC Academy
Ranked the No. 13 player in the 2017 class by O When the Yanks • No. 19 by College Soccer News • No. 42 by TopDrawerSoccer • 2015 NSCAA Youth Boys All-America selection • Participated with the U-15, U16 and U-18 U.S. National Teams • Earned all-conference honors in the U15/16 Development Academy East Conference.
Prince Agyai • CB • 6-1/175 • Takoma Park, Maryland • High Point HS (Md.)/D.C. United Academy
Played for the U17/18 D.C. United Academy team during the 2016-17 season • Previously competed with Barca FC (2015-16), Maryland United (2014-15), MFC Falcons (2012-14) and MFC Tigers (2009-12) • Born in Ghana.
Lucas del Rosario • F/M • 5-11/150 • Durham, North Carolina • Jordan HS/Capital Area Railhawks Academy
Ranked the No. 2 player in the 2017 class by O When The Yanks • No. 15 by College Soccer News • No. 25 by TopDrawerSoccer • NSCAA Youth Boys All-America selection in both 2015 and 2016 • U.S. National Team participant since age 14 • U-17 U.S. National Team Residency program member • 2016-17 Capital Area Railhawks Academy team captain.
Charlie Forecast • CB • 6-1/180 • Melton Mowbray, England • Wigan Athletic
Captained the U18 Wigan Athletic side • Made several reserve team appearances at Wigan Athletic • Joined Wigan Athletic after previously playing with Nottingham Forest from 2007-15 • Also played rugby and ran track & field.
Julius Momkus • CF • 6-0/165 • Vilnius, Lithuania • Vilnius Senvage Gymnasium/FK Zalgiris
Competed with club team FK Zalgiris since 2014 • Top scorer in 2015 season with 20 goals and nine assists in 29 appearances • Scored 20 goals and nine assists in 25 appearances in 2016 • Previously played with FM Vilnius from 2012-14 • Named best match player at the Riga Cup '13 in Latvia.
John Nelson • LB/LM • 5-9/160 • Medina, Ohio • Medina HS/Internationals SC (Ohio) Academy
Ranked the No. 1 player in the 2017 class by College Soccer News • No. 2 by O When The Yanks • No. 11 by TopDrawerSoccer • NSCAA Youth Boys All-America selection in both 2015 and 2016 • U.S. National Team participant since age 14 • Competed in 2015 U17 World Cup in Chile • U-17 U.S. National Team Residency program member • Competed for seven seasons in Development Academy, with Internationals SC going back to 2010-11• Was rewarded with a U19 U.S. National Team call in December 2016.
Alex Rose • CF • 6-2/155 • Cary, North Carolina • Green Hope HS/Capital Area Railhawks Academy
Ranked the No. 7 player in the 2017 class by O When The Yanks • No. 19 by TopDrawerSoccer • No. 32 by College Soccer News • Nominee for Top Drawer Soccer National Player of the Year • A prolific goal scorer that had over 90 career academy goals for Capital Area Railhawks Academy in four years (U16 through U18) • Had at least 25 goals each of the last three seasons, including 26 goals in 2015-16 and 30 goals in 2014-15 • Rewarded with a U19 U.S. National Team call in November 2016 • Scored a goal for U19 MNT in a win over Xolos (10/7/16) • U16 Eastern Conference Player of the Year (2014-15) in USSDA.
Mark Salas • CB • 5-10/150 • Dallas, Texas • Lone Star HS/FC Dallas Academy
Ranked No. 50 in the 2017 class by O When The Yanks • No. 52 by TopDrawerSoccer • Joined FC Dallas Academy at the age of six • Team captain for USSDA U16 championship side, as well as Copa Chivas and NPL U15 championship clubs • Has attended USMNT camps • Older brother, Martin, is a current member of the North Carolina men's soccer team.
Alec Smir • GK • 6-1/170 • Greensboro, North Carolina • Greensboro Day School/NC Fusion Academy
Ranked the No. 72 player in the 2017 class by College Soccer News • No. 111 by TopDrawerSoccer • Enrolled at UNC in 2017 spring semester • NC Fusion Academy keeper for U14, U16 and U18 teams from 2013-16 • Captain for the 2016 U18 NC Fusion side • Selected for U18 USMNT training camp in January 2017 • Previously attended MNT camps in 2015 & '16.
Liam Williams • CB • 6-1/185 • Taupo, New Zealand • Hamilton Wanderers
Member of the U20 New Zealand World Cup squad in 2016 • Trained with New Zealand MNT in 2016 • Guided New Zealand to Round of 16 at the FIFA U17 World Cup in Chile, 2015 • New Zealand U17 side won the 2015 Oceania Football Championship • Most recently competed with Hamilton Wanderers, a club in the Stirling Sports Premiership • Previously played with Western Springs, winning the U19 club title • Finalist for the New Zealand College Sports Young Sportsperson of the Year while attending Saint Kentigern's College • Older brother, Jevon, is a current member of the Francis Marion men's soccer team.
Mason Wittman • CB • 6-0/165 • Palo Alto, California • Palo Alto Senior HS/Juventus SC
Team captain at Juventus Sports Club for the 2016-17 season • Previously competed with San Jose Earthquakes Academy from 2013-16 for coach Chris Leitch, a member of the 2001 UNC national championship team • Helped guide San Jose to a West Regional title at MLS Generation Adidas Cup in 2015-16 • Parents, Drew and Vanessa, are Carolina alumni; Vanessa played tennis at UNC from 1985-89 • Older brother, Parker, currently attends North Carolina.
Players Mentioned
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