The University of Akron Athletics
Akron Men’s Soccer Adds Seven to 2018 Roster
August 03 | Men's Soccer
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2018 AKRON MEN'S SOCCER SCHEDULE
AKRON, Ohio – The University of Akron men's soccer squad under the leadership of sixth-year head coach Jared Embick, has announced seven new members to a talented 2018 signing class.
Donning the Akron uniform this fall will be Ahmed Allen (Stafford, Va), Ricky Ceballos, (Mexico City, Mexico), Pol Hernandez (Teià, Spain) and Nick Sibila (Munich, Germany) as well as a trio of transfers in Marco Micaletto (Reading, England/Young Harris College), Abdi Mohamed (Westerville, Ohio/Ohio State) and Peter Zecca (Weston, Mass./St. John's).
The seven new Zips will join a group of nine student-athletes who were previously announced to the signing class in February. That group includes; Dion Akhigbe (Copley, Ohio), Colin Biros (Canton, Ohio), Nick McCausland (Akron, Ohio), Marco Milanese (Isernia, Italy), Ivan Nikolic (Toronto, Ontario), Daniel Oliveira (Lisbon, Portugal), Diogo Pacheco (Lisbon Portugal), Carlo Ritaccio (Westbury, N.Y.) and Sam Tojaga (Erie, Pa.).
The signing class features a pair of players ranked among the top 150 players nationally in the Boys IMG Academy 150 as rated by TopDrawerSoccer.com in Biros (No. 44) and Ritaccio (No. 65).
College Soccer News rates Ritaccio (No. 53) and Tojaga (No. 112) among its list of the top 150 players in the United States.
A native of Stafford, Va., Allen, a center back, gained valuable experience playing in the U.S. Development Academy with Bethesda SC in Maryland. Allen garnered trials with numerous clubs in Holland, including prestigious club Ajax Amsterdam.
Embick on Allen – "Ahmed is a promising center back who has great size and strength and good physical abilities. I am looking forward to working with him in our system as he can bring a great presence to our team."
A native of Mexico City, Mexico, Ceballos, a goalkeeper, played in net for the prestigious club Club de Fútbol Universidad Nacional A.C., commonly known as Pumas de la UNAM in Mexico where he was starting goalkeeper for the Mexican U-20 team.
Embick on Ceballos – "Another strong goalkeeper that comes from a great youth program in Pumas in Mexico. He is very quick and great with his feet. He adds to a very strong group of goalkeepers that will be a great battle to watch in training camp."
A native of Teià, Spain, Hernandez, a defender, played for the U-18 RCD Espanyol in the division de honor before gaining valuable playing experience with CF Girona U-19 in Spain.
Embick on Hernandez – "Pol has a high soccer IQ and he understands the game very well from a tactical view. He is a left back that is very technical and makes great decisions going forward. We are very excited about how he fits in with our style of play as a left back."
A native of Reading, England, Micaletto, a midfielder, played his first three campaigns at Young Harris College, where as a junior he started all 20 games for the Mountain Lions en route to posting team-high marks in goals (10), points (21), shots (67), shots on goal (29) and game-winners (4) and was named a 2018 United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division II All-Southeast Region first-team selection, a first-team D2CCA NCAA Division II All-Southeast Region honoree and an All-Peach Belt Conference first-team award winner. Additionally, he was a member of PDL divisional championship squads with Charlotte Eagles and South Georgia Tormenta FC in 2016 and 2018, respectively and rated 24th on the 2018 PDL Top Prospects list. He recently was named a first-team All-PDL selection.
Embick on Micaletto – "Marco is a transfer that brings experience and outstanding offensive abilities to our program. He has great vision and sees the passes very well and is very good in the final third as he is a dual threat to score and assist plays. He can play as a winger or midfielder."
A native of Westerville, Ohio, Mohamed, a midfielder, spent the past three years as a member of the men's soccer team at Ohio State. A year ago, he started all 19 games for the Buckeyes registering team-high marks in goals (4), assists (5), points (13), shots (40), shots on goal (15) and game-winners (3) en route to earning All-Big Ten accolades for the third time as well as being named a United Soccer Coaches Great Lakes Region third-team and All-Ohio first-team honoree and a Big Ten Tournament All-Tournament selection. He previously was selected as a second team All-Big Ten honoree in 2016 and an all-freshman team member in 2015.
Embick on Mohamed – "Abdi is a transfer from Ohio State, who has been recognized by the Big Ten as one of their better performers over the last three years. We are fortunate to have him here for his senior year. He is very balanced player, one that can defend and attack very well. He has great endurance and can play box to box and is a great addition that can really help move our team."
A native of Munich, Germany, Sibila, a goalkeeper, is well educated after playing several years for world famous FC Bayern Munich and then in both the youth Oberliga and Regionalliga for FC Deisenhofen.
Embick on Sibila – "Nick comes from a great youth program in Bayern Munich. A very well-rounded goalkeeper, we expect him to fit in very well. I am excited to see him challenge for the job."
A forward, Zecca, a native of Weston, Mass., was redshirted as a member of the St John's University soccer team as a freshman in 2017. A four-year varsity letter-winner at The Rivers School, he netted 32 career goals, including 15 as a senior and nine as a junior and was named second-team all-conference as a senior. Garnered valuable club soccer experience playing with Global Premier Soccer.
Embick on Zecca – "Peter is another transfer player from St. Johns, who we tried to get out of high school. He is a high-energy player that is very good off the ball. We expect him to thrive in our pressing game and helps us open up the opponents in our attack."
2018 Akron Men's Soccer Signing Class (July 2018)
Ahmed Allen, defender, Stafford, Va. (North Stafford)
Ricky Ceballos, goalkeeper, Mexico City, Mexico (Instituto Educativo Olinca)
Pol Hernandez, defender, Teià, Spain (Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona)
Marco Micaletto, midfielder, Reading, England (Bradfield College/Young Harris College)
Abdi Mohamed, midfielder, Westerville, Ohio (Westerville Central/Ohio State)
Nick Sibila, goalkeeper, Munich, Germany (Theodolinden-Gymnasium)
Peter Zecca, forward, Weston, Mass. (Rivers School/St. John's)
2018 Akron Men's Soccer Signing Class (Feb. 2018)
Dion Akhigbe, winger/forward, Copley, Ohio (Internationals Academy)
Colin Biros, winger/forward, Canton, Ohio (Crew SC Academy)
Nick McCausland, defender, Akron, Ohio (Internationals Academy)
Marco Milanese, center back, Isernia, Italy (Isernia)
Ivan Nikolic, forward, Toronto, Ontario (Sigma FC)
Daniel Oliveira, defender, Lisbon, Portugal (Sporting SP)
Diogo Pacheco, winger/forward, Lisbon, Portugal (G.S. Loures/A.C.CACEM)
Carlo Ritaccio, center back, Westbury, N.Y. (BW Gottschee Club)
Sam Tojaga, defensive midfielder, Erie, Pa. (Real Salt Lake)
Purchase 2018 Men's Soccer Season and Single-Game Tickets Click Here
2018 AKRON MEN'S SOCCER SCHEDULE
AKRON, Ohio – The University of Akron men's soccer squad under the leadership of sixth-year head coach Jared Embick, has announced seven new members to a talented 2018 signing class.
Donning the Akron uniform this fall will be Ahmed Allen (Stafford, Va), Ricky Ceballos, (Mexico City, Mexico), Pol Hernandez (Teià, Spain) and Nick Sibila (Munich, Germany) as well as a trio of transfers in Marco Micaletto (Reading, England/Young Harris College), Abdi Mohamed (Westerville, Ohio/Ohio State) and Peter Zecca (Weston, Mass./St. John's).
The seven new Zips will join a group of nine student-athletes who were previously announced to the signing class in February. That group includes; Dion Akhigbe (Copley, Ohio), Colin Biros (Canton, Ohio), Nick McCausland (Akron, Ohio), Marco Milanese (Isernia, Italy), Ivan Nikolic (Toronto, Ontario), Daniel Oliveira (Lisbon, Portugal), Diogo Pacheco (Lisbon Portugal), Carlo Ritaccio (Westbury, N.Y.) and Sam Tojaga (Erie, Pa.).
The signing class features a pair of players ranked among the top 150 players nationally in the Boys IMG Academy 150 as rated by TopDrawerSoccer.com in Biros (No. 44) and Ritaccio (No. 65).
College Soccer News rates Ritaccio (No. 53) and Tojaga (No. 112) among its list of the top 150 players in the United States.
A native of Stafford, Va., Allen, a center back, gained valuable experience playing in the U.S. Development Academy with Bethesda SC in Maryland. Allen garnered trials with numerous clubs in Holland, including prestigious club Ajax Amsterdam.
Embick on Allen – "Ahmed is a promising center back who has great size and strength and good physical abilities. I am looking forward to working with him in our system as he can bring a great presence to our team."
A native of Mexico City, Mexico, Ceballos, a goalkeeper, played in net for the prestigious club Club de Fútbol Universidad Nacional A.C., commonly known as Pumas de la UNAM in Mexico where he was starting goalkeeper for the Mexican U-20 team.
Embick on Ceballos – "Another strong goalkeeper that comes from a great youth program in Pumas in Mexico. He is very quick and great with his feet. He adds to a very strong group of goalkeepers that will be a great battle to watch in training camp."
A native of Teià, Spain, Hernandez, a defender, played for the U-18 RCD Espanyol in the division de honor before gaining valuable playing experience with CF Girona U-19 in Spain.
Embick on Hernandez – "Pol has a high soccer IQ and he understands the game very well from a tactical view. He is a left back that is very technical and makes great decisions going forward. We are very excited about how he fits in with our style of play as a left back."
A native of Reading, England, Micaletto, a midfielder, played his first three campaigns at Young Harris College, where as a junior he started all 20 games for the Mountain Lions en route to posting team-high marks in goals (10), points (21), shots (67), shots on goal (29) and game-winners (4) and was named a 2018 United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division II All-Southeast Region first-team selection, a first-team D2CCA NCAA Division II All-Southeast Region honoree and an All-Peach Belt Conference first-team award winner. Additionally, he was a member of PDL divisional championship squads with Charlotte Eagles and South Georgia Tormenta FC in 2016 and 2018, respectively and rated 24th on the 2018 PDL Top Prospects list. He recently was named a first-team All-PDL selection.
Embick on Micaletto – "Marco is a transfer that brings experience and outstanding offensive abilities to our program. He has great vision and sees the passes very well and is very good in the final third as he is a dual threat to score and assist plays. He can play as a winger or midfielder."
A native of Westerville, Ohio, Mohamed, a midfielder, spent the past three years as a member of the men's soccer team at Ohio State. A year ago, he started all 19 games for the Buckeyes registering team-high marks in goals (4), assists (5), points (13), shots (40), shots on goal (15) and game-winners (3) en route to earning All-Big Ten accolades for the third time as well as being named a United Soccer Coaches Great Lakes Region third-team and All-Ohio first-team honoree and a Big Ten Tournament All-Tournament selection. He previously was selected as a second team All-Big Ten honoree in 2016 and an all-freshman team member in 2015.
Embick on Mohamed – "Abdi is a transfer from Ohio State, who has been recognized by the Big Ten as one of their better performers over the last three years. We are fortunate to have him here for his senior year. He is very balanced player, one that can defend and attack very well. He has great endurance and can play box to box and is a great addition that can really help move our team."
A native of Munich, Germany, Sibila, a goalkeeper, is well educated after playing several years for world famous FC Bayern Munich and then in both the youth Oberliga and Regionalliga for FC Deisenhofen.
Embick on Sibila – "Nick comes from a great youth program in Bayern Munich. A very well-rounded goalkeeper, we expect him to fit in very well. I am excited to see him challenge for the job."
A forward, Zecca, a native of Weston, Mass., was redshirted as a member of the St John's University soccer team as a freshman in 2017. A four-year varsity letter-winner at The Rivers School, he netted 32 career goals, including 15 as a senior and nine as a junior and was named second-team all-conference as a senior. Garnered valuable club soccer experience playing with Global Premier Soccer.
Embick on Zecca – "Peter is another transfer player from St. Johns, who we tried to get out of high school. He is a high-energy player that is very good off the ball. We expect him to thrive in our pressing game and helps us open up the opponents in our attack."
2018 Akron Men's Soccer Signing Class (July 2018)
Ahmed Allen, defender, Stafford, Va. (North Stafford)
Ricky Ceballos, goalkeeper, Mexico City, Mexico (Instituto Educativo Olinca)
Pol Hernandez, defender, Teià, Spain (Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona)
Marco Micaletto, midfielder, Reading, England (Bradfield College/Young Harris College)
Abdi Mohamed, midfielder, Westerville, Ohio (Westerville Central/Ohio State)
Nick Sibila, goalkeeper, Munich, Germany (Theodolinden-Gymnasium)
Peter Zecca, forward, Weston, Mass. (Rivers School/St. John's)
2018 Akron Men's Soccer Signing Class (Feb. 2018)
Dion Akhigbe, winger/forward, Copley, Ohio (Internationals Academy)
Colin Biros, winger/forward, Canton, Ohio (Crew SC Academy)
Nick McCausland, defender, Akron, Ohio (Internationals Academy)
Marco Milanese, center back, Isernia, Italy (Isernia)
Ivan Nikolic, forward, Toronto, Ontario (Sigma FC)
Daniel Oliveira, defender, Lisbon, Portugal (Sporting SP)
Diogo Pacheco, winger/forward, Lisbon, Portugal (G.S. Loures/A.C.CACEM)
Carlo Ritaccio, center back, Westbury, N.Y. (BW Gottschee Club)
Sam Tojaga, defensive midfielder, Erie, Pa. (Real Salt Lake)
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