University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Mennell and UNC Asheville Men’s Soccer Unveil Newest Bulldogs
02.09.2018 | Men's Soccer
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – UNC Asheville men's soccer head coach Mathes Mennell has officially unveiled the newest members of the program.
The latest UNC Asheville men's soccer signing class includes an impressive nine from the state of North Carolina. In total, the 11-man class features nine from North Carolina, one from Georgia and one from Virginia.
The 11-man class also includes three in Ben Katt, Evan Lewis and Izaiah Vignali who joined the UNC Asheville men's soccer program already by enrolling for the 2018 spring semester.
"This 2018 class is one that is significant for a couple of reasons," Mennell said. "It is our fourth, which means that we are about to graduate our first recruiting class. It features four players from Highland Football Club here in Asheville, four players from NCFC, two brothers of UNC Asheville men's soccer players (one current, one alum), the son of a two-time MLS Cup winner and nine of the 11 attended our 'Train Like a Bulldog.' Also, this class has each played with at least one of their new teammates either in club or high school, which means that they are very familiar with each other."
Mennell knows once again that this class shows high-quality players are seeing what is being built with UNC Asheville men's soccer.
"This class has been three years in the making and to see the hard work of the staff come to a pinnacle on Signing Day is special," Mennell said.
UNC Asheville men's soccer welcomes Tanner Gilliam out of Hendersonville High School in Hendersonville, N.C. The 6-foot, 165-pound defender/midfielder played his club soccer for HFC 00 Red. Gilliam was the Hendersonville High School Most Valuable Player in 2017 and he was an all-conference selection in 2015, 2016 and 2017.
"Tanner is a leader - plain and simple," Mennell said. "He is the team captain for his high school and for his HFC 00 Red team. He is a rugged defender who has the ability to put his stamp on a match in a variety of ways. Tanner is a player that I have had my eye on since I arrived in Asheville and to sign a player of his caliber who has developed his game in our town means so much. There are players that you just know are going to be so positive for your team on and off the field and Tanner is one of these players."
Nate Evans makes his way to Asheville out of Decatur High School in Decatur, Ga. The Concord Fire ECNL/Development Academy product is a 6-foot-1, 160-pound forward/midfielder.
"Nate is a player who has tremendous potential," Mennell said. "He can play as true forward, but also can play wide. He has good pace and is able to play in a variety of styles. He is a former teammate of Lane Carroll and he attended 'Train Like a Bulldog,' which has allowed our staff to become very familiar with his game."
A winger/forward out of Raleigh, N.C., Miles Peay joins the UNC Asheville men's soccer program from Green Hope High School. The NCFC Academy product, who is the son of Clint Peay, who won four NCAA titles with Virginia, played on the 1996 US Olympic team and was also a two-time MLS Cup winner with D.C. United, comes into the program listed at 6-foot-1 and 160 pounds.
"Miles is a player that we are very excited about," Mennell said. "He has grown up around the game at the highest level and he comes from a fantastic club environment playing for NCFC's U-19 Development Academy team. He is very smooth on the ball and runs well at players in transition. He is really starting to come into his own and I am excited to work with him."
Alex Payne makes his way to Asheville out of Fuquay-Varina High School in Fuquay-Varina, N.C. Payne was named the Raleigh Sports Club Player of the Month during his time at Fuquay-Varina and he was also an all-conference selection. The defensive Most Valuable Player for his team in 2015 and 2016, the 5-foot-10, 160-pound defender was chosen as the team's Most Valuable Player this past season. Payne was a member of the NCFC 00 Elite team that was both the North Carolina state champions and the USYS 2017 Region III Premier League Champions.
"Alex is a young man who is 100 percent committed to being a Bulldog," Mennell said. "He has been committed for a long time and we are so excited that we are finally getting him on campus. He can play all across the back and has a great mind for the game. He, along with Jalen Duran, play for an excellent team in NCFC 00 Elite, which will allow them to make the jump to NCAA Division I immediately."
Grant Stidham joins UNC Asheville men's soccer out of Cary, N.C. He plays his high school soccer for Panther Creek High School and his club soccer for NCFC 99 Elite. The 6-foot, 160-pound goalkeeper was an all-conference and all-academic selection and he was also the team captain. His team won the 2017 North Carolina Premier League title.
"Grant is a goalkeeper who will develop nicely here at UNC Asheville," Mennell said. "He shows great leadership on and off the field. His club team, NCFC 99 Elite, is one of the best teams in the state and he is a major part of their success. I am excited to add him into our corps of goalkeepers and I think he is ready to transition to the demands of the college game immediately."
A midfielder/defender, Liam O'Dowd joins the UNC Asheville men's soccer program from Panther Creek High School as well. The Cary, N.C. native was an all-conference and all-academic selection as well as a team captain. The 5-foot-10, 160-pound O'Dowd played his club soccer for the TUSA Gold, who were the 2017 Adidas Cup winners and in 2016 won the prestigious Jefferson Cup title.
"Liam is a player who is completely familiar with UNC Asheville as his brother, Brendan O'Dowd, was part of my first class here at UNC Asheville," Mennell said. "This is the fourth time in my coaching career where I have had a pair of brothers on the roster and it always makes for a special situation for the team and the players. Liam is a bit more defensive-minded but like Brendan, he is a really versatile player who can help a group in bunch of ways."
Lane Carroll is a midfielder/forward who joins UNC Asheville men's soccer out of Virginia High School. The Bristol, Va. native played his club soccer for FC Dallas Tri. Listed at 5-10, 150 pounds, Carroll was an all-region selection in 2016 and 2017 and all-state selection in 2016 and 2017. He also garnered honors for his play on the gridiron as he was named to the all-district and all-region teams in 2017, racking up over 600 yards and four touchdowns as wide receiver.
"Lane is a young man who came to our attention at 'Train Like a Bulldog,'" Mennell said. "He is going to be an exciting attacking player. He can play in a variety of positions and is a proven goal scorer. He and Izaiah Vignali will be a very entertaining duo as they have very similar approaches to the game."
Jalen Duran is a defender out of Roseville High School. The Raleigh, N.C. native was selected as the Most Outstanding Player for Roseville High School in 2017 and he was an all-conference and all-region selection in 2017. The 5-foot-6, 140-pound Duran was also a member of the 2017 North Carolina state champion and 2017 Region III Premier League title-winning squad.
"Jalen is a player we are very familiar with as he plays on the same club team as Alex Payne and also attended 'Train Like a Bulldog,'" Mennell said. "He can play in a variety of defending positions and is a really smart player. I think he will be in the mix for an outside back position, which is an important part of our system."
A 6-foot-2, 170-pound midfielder, Ben Katt joined the Bulldogs in January of 2018 out of Tuscola High School. The Waynesville, N.C. native was an all-conference and all-region selection last year.
"Ben is a player that we are really quite pleased about signing," Mennell said. "He is a very rangy midfielder who has the ability to impact the game both on and off the ball. He also has a charismatic, positive personality that really adds quality to any group he is a part of. His brother, Chris Katt, was a standout player here and Ben has the potential to be that type of player and then some."
A 5-foot-11, 155-pound defender/midfielder, Evan Lewis joined the UNC Asheville men's soccer program in January of 2018 out of Asheville, N.C. The T.C. Roberson product was all-conference and all-region last year and in 2016 he was tabbed to the Citizen-Times All-Western North Carolina Team.
"Evan is a player that you love to identify, recruit and eventually matriculate into your program," Mennell said. "He has a great engine, is left footed, is keen to play wide and loves to grind. He is going to be a nice addition to our team as a versatile left-sided player. I am always excited when we are able to add talented players from Asheville to our roster and Evan is exactly that."
Izaiah Vignali was one of the most decorated recruits to ever join the UNC Asheville men's soccer program when he enrolled in January of 2018. The 5-foot-11, 170-pound midfielder from Fairview, N.C. is a 2017 United Soccer Coaches Association All-American and he was the 2017 North Carolina High School Soccer Coaches Player of the Year. An all-state selection, the A.C. Reynolds product was the 2017 WMAC Co-Player and the 2017 Citizen-Times Western North Carolina Player of the Year. Vignali also was a member of the inaugural squad for Asheville City Soccer Club in 2017.
"Izaiah is a special player," Mennell said. "He possesses all the attributes you can wish for. Great athletic ability, superb pace, fantastic technical ability, excellent tactical savvy and a palpable desire to compete are all hallmarks of his game. He has garnered a lot of honors in his young career and we think he is just getting started. We are beyond excited to work with him here at UNC Asheville."
To learn more about UNC Asheville men's soccer, please visit uncabulldogs.com.
The latest UNC Asheville men's soccer signing class includes an impressive nine from the state of North Carolina. In total, the 11-man class features nine from North Carolina, one from Georgia and one from Virginia.
The 11-man class also includes three in Ben Katt, Evan Lewis and Izaiah Vignali who joined the UNC Asheville men's soccer program already by enrolling for the 2018 spring semester.
"This 2018 class is one that is significant for a couple of reasons," Mennell said. "It is our fourth, which means that we are about to graduate our first recruiting class. It features four players from Highland Football Club here in Asheville, four players from NCFC, two brothers of UNC Asheville men's soccer players (one current, one alum), the son of a two-time MLS Cup winner and nine of the 11 attended our 'Train Like a Bulldog.' Also, this class has each played with at least one of their new teammates either in club or high school, which means that they are very familiar with each other."
Mennell knows once again that this class shows high-quality players are seeing what is being built with UNC Asheville men's soccer.
"This class has been three years in the making and to see the hard work of the staff come to a pinnacle on Signing Day is special," Mennell said.
UNC Asheville men's soccer welcomes Tanner Gilliam out of Hendersonville High School in Hendersonville, N.C. The 6-foot, 165-pound defender/midfielder played his club soccer for HFC 00 Red. Gilliam was the Hendersonville High School Most Valuable Player in 2017 and he was an all-conference selection in 2015, 2016 and 2017.
"Tanner is a leader - plain and simple," Mennell said. "He is the team captain for his high school and for his HFC 00 Red team. He is a rugged defender who has the ability to put his stamp on a match in a variety of ways. Tanner is a player that I have had my eye on since I arrived in Asheville and to sign a player of his caliber who has developed his game in our town means so much. There are players that you just know are going to be so positive for your team on and off the field and Tanner is one of these players."
Nate Evans makes his way to Asheville out of Decatur High School in Decatur, Ga. The Concord Fire ECNL/Development Academy product is a 6-foot-1, 160-pound forward/midfielder.
"Nate is a player who has tremendous potential," Mennell said. "He can play as true forward, but also can play wide. He has good pace and is able to play in a variety of styles. He is a former teammate of Lane Carroll and he attended 'Train Like a Bulldog,' which has allowed our staff to become very familiar with his game."
A winger/forward out of Raleigh, N.C., Miles Peay joins the UNC Asheville men's soccer program from Green Hope High School. The NCFC Academy product, who is the son of Clint Peay, who won four NCAA titles with Virginia, played on the 1996 US Olympic team and was also a two-time MLS Cup winner with D.C. United, comes into the program listed at 6-foot-1 and 160 pounds.
"Miles is a player that we are very excited about," Mennell said. "He has grown up around the game at the highest level and he comes from a fantastic club environment playing for NCFC's U-19 Development Academy team. He is very smooth on the ball and runs well at players in transition. He is really starting to come into his own and I am excited to work with him."
Alex Payne makes his way to Asheville out of Fuquay-Varina High School in Fuquay-Varina, N.C. Payne was named the Raleigh Sports Club Player of the Month during his time at Fuquay-Varina and he was also an all-conference selection. The defensive Most Valuable Player for his team in 2015 and 2016, the 5-foot-10, 160-pound defender was chosen as the team's Most Valuable Player this past season. Payne was a member of the NCFC 00 Elite team that was both the North Carolina state champions and the USYS 2017 Region III Premier League Champions.
"Alex is a young man who is 100 percent committed to being a Bulldog," Mennell said. "He has been committed for a long time and we are so excited that we are finally getting him on campus. He can play all across the back and has a great mind for the game. He, along with Jalen Duran, play for an excellent team in NCFC 00 Elite, which will allow them to make the jump to NCAA Division I immediately."
Grant Stidham joins UNC Asheville men's soccer out of Cary, N.C. He plays his high school soccer for Panther Creek High School and his club soccer for NCFC 99 Elite. The 6-foot, 160-pound goalkeeper was an all-conference and all-academic selection and he was also the team captain. His team won the 2017 North Carolina Premier League title.
"Grant is a goalkeeper who will develop nicely here at UNC Asheville," Mennell said. "He shows great leadership on and off the field. His club team, NCFC 99 Elite, is one of the best teams in the state and he is a major part of their success. I am excited to add him into our corps of goalkeepers and I think he is ready to transition to the demands of the college game immediately."
A midfielder/defender, Liam O'Dowd joins the UNC Asheville men's soccer program from Panther Creek High School as well. The Cary, N.C. native was an all-conference and all-academic selection as well as a team captain. The 5-foot-10, 160-pound O'Dowd played his club soccer for the TUSA Gold, who were the 2017 Adidas Cup winners and in 2016 won the prestigious Jefferson Cup title.
"Liam is a player who is completely familiar with UNC Asheville as his brother, Brendan O'Dowd, was part of my first class here at UNC Asheville," Mennell said. "This is the fourth time in my coaching career where I have had a pair of brothers on the roster and it always makes for a special situation for the team and the players. Liam is a bit more defensive-minded but like Brendan, he is a really versatile player who can help a group in bunch of ways."
Lane Carroll is a midfielder/forward who joins UNC Asheville men's soccer out of Virginia High School. The Bristol, Va. native played his club soccer for FC Dallas Tri. Listed at 5-10, 150 pounds, Carroll was an all-region selection in 2016 and 2017 and all-state selection in 2016 and 2017. He also garnered honors for his play on the gridiron as he was named to the all-district and all-region teams in 2017, racking up over 600 yards and four touchdowns as wide receiver.
"Lane is a young man who came to our attention at 'Train Like a Bulldog,'" Mennell said. "He is going to be an exciting attacking player. He can play in a variety of positions and is a proven goal scorer. He and Izaiah Vignali will be a very entertaining duo as they have very similar approaches to the game."
Jalen Duran is a defender out of Roseville High School. The Raleigh, N.C. native was selected as the Most Outstanding Player for Roseville High School in 2017 and he was an all-conference and all-region selection in 2017. The 5-foot-6, 140-pound Duran was also a member of the 2017 North Carolina state champion and 2017 Region III Premier League title-winning squad.
"Jalen is a player we are very familiar with as he plays on the same club team as Alex Payne and also attended 'Train Like a Bulldog,'" Mennell said. "He can play in a variety of defending positions and is a really smart player. I think he will be in the mix for an outside back position, which is an important part of our system."
A 6-foot-2, 170-pound midfielder, Ben Katt joined the Bulldogs in January of 2018 out of Tuscola High School. The Waynesville, N.C. native was an all-conference and all-region selection last year.
"Ben is a player that we are really quite pleased about signing," Mennell said. "He is a very rangy midfielder who has the ability to impact the game both on and off the ball. He also has a charismatic, positive personality that really adds quality to any group he is a part of. His brother, Chris Katt, was a standout player here and Ben has the potential to be that type of player and then some."
A 5-foot-11, 155-pound defender/midfielder, Evan Lewis joined the UNC Asheville men's soccer program in January of 2018 out of Asheville, N.C. The T.C. Roberson product was all-conference and all-region last year and in 2016 he was tabbed to the Citizen-Times All-Western North Carolina Team.
"Evan is a player that you love to identify, recruit and eventually matriculate into your program," Mennell said. "He has a great engine, is left footed, is keen to play wide and loves to grind. He is going to be a nice addition to our team as a versatile left-sided player. I am always excited when we are able to add talented players from Asheville to our roster and Evan is exactly that."
Izaiah Vignali was one of the most decorated recruits to ever join the UNC Asheville men's soccer program when he enrolled in January of 2018. The 5-foot-11, 170-pound midfielder from Fairview, N.C. is a 2017 United Soccer Coaches Association All-American and he was the 2017 North Carolina High School Soccer Coaches Player of the Year. An all-state selection, the A.C. Reynolds product was the 2017 WMAC Co-Player and the 2017 Citizen-Times Western North Carolina Player of the Year. Vignali also was a member of the inaugural squad for Asheville City Soccer Club in 2017.
"Izaiah is a special player," Mennell said. "He possesses all the attributes you can wish for. Great athletic ability, superb pace, fantastic technical ability, excellent tactical savvy and a palpable desire to compete are all hallmarks of his game. He has garnered a lot of honors in his young career and we think he is just getting started. We are beyond excited to work with him here at UNC Asheville."
To learn more about UNC Asheville men's soccer, please visit uncabulldogs.com.
Players Mentioned
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