The University of Akron Athletics
Akron Men's Soccer Announces Talented Newcomer Class
January 30 | Men's Soccer
2026 AKRON MEN'S SOCCER SPRING ROSTER
AKRON, Ohio – The University of Akron men's soccer squad under the leadership of 14th-year head coach Jared Embick, has announced a talented nine-member newcomer class that will hit the pitch for the Zips during the 2026 spring campaign.
Donning the Akron uniform this spring will be Aiden Benitez (Westfield, Ind.), Idahir Deanda (Columbus, Ohio), Angel Lopez Martin (Seville, Spain), Nolan McGuire (St. Louis, Mo.), Leo Morana (Strongsville, Ohio), Johan N'Ganzadi Ndumbi (Brussels, Belgium), Londen Sears (New Albany, Ohio), Noa Testa (La Sarraz, Switzerland) and Kam Warnke (Aurora, Ohio).
"I am really pleased with our spring newcomers," said Embick. "I felt we did a good job of bringing some experienced transfers and talented freshman. It's a nice balance positionally between creative dynamic attacking players and tough defenders. We improved our depth in most positions and have brought in players in that can potentially make an immediate impact. We have seven starters coming back and I felt we needed to add competition to this group to push this team to the next level. It is an exciting time to be a Zip soccer fan.
A native of Westfield, Ind., Benitez, a forward comes to Akron after gaining valuable playing experience at Butler. Benitez appeared in 16 games this past season en route to registering a team-high four goals, four assists, 12 points and three game-winning goals on the strength of a team-best 28 shots, including 11 on goal, and was tabbed a Third-Team All-BIG EAST selection. He was honored by TopDrawerSoccer.com to its Postseason Top 100 Freshman squad checking in at No. 26. He gained valuable playing experience at Sporting Kansas City, where he scored 32 goals, helping his squad advance to the MLS NEXT playoffs and the GA Cup quarterfinals. Additionally, he earned a call-up to El Salvador's U20 team for CONCACAF and was a three-star recruit according to TopDrawerSoccer.com.
A native of Columbus, Ohio, Deanda, a defender comes to Akron after playing with Indy Eleven. Deanda is a three-star recruit according to TopDrawerSoccer.com.
A native of Seville, Spain, Martin, a forward comes to Akron after playing his freshman year at Coastal Carolina. Lopez Martin appeared in 12 games a season ago, including nine starts, and recorded five goals, three assists and 12 points on the strength of 19 shots, with eight on goal, and tallied a pair of game-winning goals. He gained valuable playing experience with Sevilla FC (2019-22) and Real Betis Balompie (2024-25) in the Spanish Third Federation League. He helped guide Real Betis Balompie to a league championship in 2025.
A native of St. Louis, Mo., McGuire, a defender, arrives at Akron after playing his first two campaigns at DePaul. He appeared in 31 games, including 25 starts, as a Blue Demon recording a goal and two assists on the strength of 14 shots, with two coming on net. This past season, he played in 17 matches, including 13 starts. McGuire gained valuable playing experience with St. Louis City 2 in MLS NEXT pro over the last two campaigns en route to appearing in 28 games, including 15 starts, posting one goal.
A native of Strongsville, Ohio, Morana, a midfielder, was a four-year letterwinner at Strongsville High School. He led his squad to a district title as a senior on the strength of registering 29 goals in 10 games. A three-star recruit according to TopDrawerSoccer.com, he rated as the No. 25 prospect in the Great Lakes Region. He gained valuable playing experience with Cleveland Force FC.
A native of Brussels, Belgium, Ndumbi, a defender comes to Akron after gaining valuable playing experience with Sporting Hasselt.
A native of New Albany, Ohio, Sears, a midfielder/defender, was four-year letterwinner at New Albany High School where he finished his prep career recording 58 goals and 67 assists. A two-time All-America honoree, he was named as the Ohio Player of the Year in each of his final two campaigns. He led his squad to a state title as a senior after advancing to the title game as a sophomore. Twice named an All-Region honoree and District Player of the Year, he was tabbed to compete in the 2025 All-America game. A three-star recruit according to TopDrawerSoccer.com, he gained valuable playing experience with Ohio Premier club team.
A native of La Sarraz, Switzerland, Testa, a midfielder, competed with Lausanne Sport in Switzerland earning First-Team All-League accolades a season ago. He gained valuable playing experience with Lausanne Sport club team.
A native of Aurora, Ohio, Warnke, a defender, comes to Akron after playing his senior season at Aurora High School. He helped lead his squad to a state runner-up finish a year ago on the strength of recording 22 goals and 13 assists. He garnered First-Team All-Conference, All-County and All-Greater Cleveland accolades in 2025. A three-star recruit according to TopDrawerSoccer.com, he rated as the No. 41 prospect in the Great Lakes Region. Warnke gained valuable playing experience with Cleveland Force FC.
2026 Akron Men's Soccer Signing Class
Aiden Benitez, F, 5-9, So., Westfield, Ind. (Blue Valley West/Butler)
Idahir Deanda, D, 5-9, Fr., Columbus, Ohio (Ohio Connections Academy)
Angel Lopez Martin, F, 6-3, So., Seville, Spain (IES Maria Galiana/Coastal Carolina)
Nolan McGuire, D, 5-9, Jr., St. Louis, Mo. (St. Louis City/DePaul)
Leo Morana, MF, 6-0, Fr., Strongsville, Ohio (Strongsville)
Johan N'Ganzadi Ndumbi, D, 5-9, Fr., Brussels, Belgium (College Notre-Dame La Paix)
Londen Sears, MF/D, 6-2, Fr., New Albany, Ohio (New Albany)
Noa Testa, MF, 5-8, Fr., La Sarraz, Switzerland (Lausanne Sport)
Kam Warnke, D, 5-10, Fr., Aurora, Ohio (Aurora)
AKRON, Ohio – The University of Akron men's soccer squad under the leadership of 14th-year head coach Jared Embick, has announced a talented nine-member newcomer class that will hit the pitch for the Zips during the 2026 spring campaign.
Donning the Akron uniform this spring will be Aiden Benitez (Westfield, Ind.), Idahir Deanda (Columbus, Ohio), Angel Lopez Martin (Seville, Spain), Nolan McGuire (St. Louis, Mo.), Leo Morana (Strongsville, Ohio), Johan N'Ganzadi Ndumbi (Brussels, Belgium), Londen Sears (New Albany, Ohio), Noa Testa (La Sarraz, Switzerland) and Kam Warnke (Aurora, Ohio).
"I am really pleased with our spring newcomers," said Embick. "I felt we did a good job of bringing some experienced transfers and talented freshman. It's a nice balance positionally between creative dynamic attacking players and tough defenders. We improved our depth in most positions and have brought in players in that can potentially make an immediate impact. We have seven starters coming back and I felt we needed to add competition to this group to push this team to the next level. It is an exciting time to be a Zip soccer fan.
A native of Westfield, Ind., Benitez, a forward comes to Akron after gaining valuable playing experience at Butler. Benitez appeared in 16 games this past season en route to registering a team-high four goals, four assists, 12 points and three game-winning goals on the strength of a team-best 28 shots, including 11 on goal, and was tabbed a Third-Team All-BIG EAST selection. He was honored by TopDrawerSoccer.com to its Postseason Top 100 Freshman squad checking in at No. 26. He gained valuable playing experience at Sporting Kansas City, where he scored 32 goals, helping his squad advance to the MLS NEXT playoffs and the GA Cup quarterfinals. Additionally, he earned a call-up to El Salvador's U20 team for CONCACAF and was a three-star recruit according to TopDrawerSoccer.com.
A native of Columbus, Ohio, Deanda, a defender comes to Akron after playing with Indy Eleven. Deanda is a three-star recruit according to TopDrawerSoccer.com.
A native of Seville, Spain, Martin, a forward comes to Akron after playing his freshman year at Coastal Carolina. Lopez Martin appeared in 12 games a season ago, including nine starts, and recorded five goals, three assists and 12 points on the strength of 19 shots, with eight on goal, and tallied a pair of game-winning goals. He gained valuable playing experience with Sevilla FC (2019-22) and Real Betis Balompie (2024-25) in the Spanish Third Federation League. He helped guide Real Betis Balompie to a league championship in 2025.
A native of St. Louis, Mo., McGuire, a defender, arrives at Akron after playing his first two campaigns at DePaul. He appeared in 31 games, including 25 starts, as a Blue Demon recording a goal and two assists on the strength of 14 shots, with two coming on net. This past season, he played in 17 matches, including 13 starts. McGuire gained valuable playing experience with St. Louis City 2 in MLS NEXT pro over the last two campaigns en route to appearing in 28 games, including 15 starts, posting one goal.
A native of Strongsville, Ohio, Morana, a midfielder, was a four-year letterwinner at Strongsville High School. He led his squad to a district title as a senior on the strength of registering 29 goals in 10 games. A three-star recruit according to TopDrawerSoccer.com, he rated as the No. 25 prospect in the Great Lakes Region. He gained valuable playing experience with Cleveland Force FC.
A native of Brussels, Belgium, Ndumbi, a defender comes to Akron after gaining valuable playing experience with Sporting Hasselt.
A native of New Albany, Ohio, Sears, a midfielder/defender, was four-year letterwinner at New Albany High School where he finished his prep career recording 58 goals and 67 assists. A two-time All-America honoree, he was named as the Ohio Player of the Year in each of his final two campaigns. He led his squad to a state title as a senior after advancing to the title game as a sophomore. Twice named an All-Region honoree and District Player of the Year, he was tabbed to compete in the 2025 All-America game. A three-star recruit according to TopDrawerSoccer.com, he gained valuable playing experience with Ohio Premier club team.
A native of La Sarraz, Switzerland, Testa, a midfielder, competed with Lausanne Sport in Switzerland earning First-Team All-League accolades a season ago. He gained valuable playing experience with Lausanne Sport club team.
A native of Aurora, Ohio, Warnke, a defender, comes to Akron after playing his senior season at Aurora High School. He helped lead his squad to a state runner-up finish a year ago on the strength of recording 22 goals and 13 assists. He garnered First-Team All-Conference, All-County and All-Greater Cleveland accolades in 2025. A three-star recruit according to TopDrawerSoccer.com, he rated as the No. 41 prospect in the Great Lakes Region. Warnke gained valuable playing experience with Cleveland Force FC.
2026 Akron Men's Soccer Signing Class
Aiden Benitez, F, 5-9, So., Westfield, Ind. (Blue Valley West/Butler)
Idahir Deanda, D, 5-9, Fr., Columbus, Ohio (Ohio Connections Academy)
Angel Lopez Martin, F, 6-3, So., Seville, Spain (IES Maria Galiana/Coastal Carolina)
Nolan McGuire, D, 5-9, Jr., St. Louis, Mo. (St. Louis City/DePaul)
Leo Morana, MF, 6-0, Fr., Strongsville, Ohio (Strongsville)
Johan N'Ganzadi Ndumbi, D, 5-9, Fr., Brussels, Belgium (College Notre-Dame La Paix)
Londen Sears, MF/D, 6-2, Fr., New Albany, Ohio (New Albany)
Noa Testa, MF, 5-8, Fr., La Sarraz, Switzerland (Lausanne Sport)
Kam Warnke, D, 5-10, Fr., Aurora, Ohio (Aurora)
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