ORLANDO, Fla. – The 2022 season is set to get underway soon and this edition of the UCF men's soccer team has some exciting returning stars and new arrivals to bolster the midfield and aid the attacking threat. The 2022 team is made up of seven midfielders and eight forwards, with seven of those being newcomers. The offense in 2021 was never dull as the Knights averaged 2.53 goals per game, ranking fifth in the nation. Under head coach Scott Calabrese, the Black and Gold are one of the most potent offenses in the country, three times ranking in the top 11 in scoring.
MIDFIELDERS
Mauricio Villalobos Vega (fifth year) is back as captain in his fifth year at UCF. Villalobos has been a captain for three years running following a brilliant 2021 campaign where he notched two goals and five assists, both career highs. He was named to the American Athletic Conference's All-Conference Second Team, a season after placing on the Conference's All-Tournament Team. Villalobos Vega has been a constant feature in the squad, recording 4,727 minutes in his four years thus far at UCF.
Beto Ydrach (redshirt junior) is back for his fourth year with the Knights. The Orlando native has competed in 27 matches, starting in 15 over both the 2020-21 and 2021 seasons. Last year, Ydrach scored his first collegiate goal in a road game via a header against Memphis (9/18) and was also honored to represent the Puerto Rican National Team in two matches during their 2022-2023 CONCACAF Nations League play.
Robbie Soronellas (senior) returns for his second season at UCF, following his transfer from North Florida after his sophomore year. In 2021, Soronellas featured in all 17 matches, starting in 13 following his 2020-21 campaign where he scored two goals in his first season with the Knights. Entering his third year in Orlando, Robbie is following in the footsteps of his father, Frank Soronellas, who also played for three years at UCF from 1981-83.
Josiah Ramirez (redshirt junior) is back for his fourth year with the Knights. Ramirez has tallied 67 minutes over five matches over his three seasons in Orlando. In 2021, he scored a wonder goal against North Florida (8/29), the bicycle kick being his first collegiate goal.
Three new additions arrive at the midfield in 2022, one being Oregon State transfer Ousmane Ba (sophomore). Ba joins the Knights after appearing in three matches over his two seasons with Oregon State. The Pout, Senegal native was named to the Fall Pac-12 Academic Honor Roll in 2021. The second transfer, AJ Seals (redshirt senior) joins the Knights from North Carolina State, where he appeared in 33 matches. He notched a pair of assists in 2021 and played the full 110 on Oct. 8 against Syracuse. The Orlando native played in the Orlando City SC Pro Academy from 2013-17. The lone freshman is Oscar Hough from Wellington, New Zealand. Hough has featured in the U-20 New Zealand Men's training squad and was a 2019 Central League Champion.
FORWARDS
Gino Vivi (senior) enters his fourth year at UCF. In 2021, he was second on the team in points, scoring seven and assisting six, adding to his 22 points (10 goals / 12 assists) in his first two years with the Knights. The San Jose, Costa Rican native and former Deportivo Saprissa U17 and U20 Captain's goal and assists tally is just as abundant as his honors. He's been named to the American Athletic Conference All-Conference First, Second, and Rookie Teams in his three seasons. Vivi's averaged either a goal or assist every 122 minutes, starting every single UCF match since he's arrived.
Lucca Dourado (junior) is back for his third year in Orlando. His 2021 season was incredible, named Second Team All-East region and unanimously First Team All-Conference in the American. Dourado led the team with 28 points, a new career high, tallying 13 goals and two assists. His clutch nature was on display, as six of his goals were game-winning. Those six ranked him third nationally and first in the conference. The Sao Paulo, Brazil native and Montverde Academy graduate has averaged either a goal or assist every 86 minutes in his 30 matches at UCF.
Lucas Mauro (junior) enters his second year with the Knights after transferring from Cowley College after his freshman year. In 2021, he was named to the American Athletic Conference All-Rookie Team after playing in 16 matches, starting in three. Mauro scored his first goal at the DI level against North Florida (8/29).
Kevin Andrews (sophomore) is back for his sophomore year at UCF. The standout Freshman was named to the American Athletic Conference All-Rookie Team in 2021, recording three assists in his first season in Orlando. Andrews played for the Houston Dynamo U13/14 and Sporting KC U16/17 teams before joining the Knights.
Four Freshmen join the exciting Forward group in 2022. Emmanuel Bam enters his career with the Knights after becoming the program's first Right to Dream acquisition. The Accra, Ghana native scored 61 goals and assisted 36 in his two years at the academy. Fedrico Tafur comes from Club Sport Cartagines in Cartago, Costa Rica. After doing a gap year to play at the highest level of Costa Rican soccer, he had the opportunity to make his professional debut. Junior Trucillo was a member of the Charlotte Soccer Academy before coming to UCF. During his senior season at Fort Mill High School in Tega Cay, South Carolina, Trucillo scored 21 goals and was named to TopDrawer Soccer's ECNL National Showcase Best XI. The last freshman is Joey Mueller from Creekside High School in St John's County, Florida. He scored 29 and assisted 13 his senior year and received a nod to the All-Conference Team. Mueller also competed in the 1600m, 800m, and 4x800 relays on the Track & Field team.
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