University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville Men’s Soccer Completes 2019 Class With Addition of Three
02.08.2019 | Men's Soccer
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – UNC Asheville men's soccer head coach Mathes Mennell recently announced the addition of three to the 2019 Bulldog roster.
The three new additions are Owen Bauer (forward), Giacomo "Jack" Boccuzzi (midfielder) and Noe Varner (midfielder). The three newest Bulldogs make their way to Asheville from three different states in California, New York and North Carolina.
The trio join an impressive grouping of a total of nine that will suit up for the Bulldogs in the 2019 campaign, which includes UNCG transfer Tyson Hichman (forward), Jarrett Payne (goalkeeper), Andrew Rossetti (midfielder/forward), Kaleem Shabout (defender), Larsen Hackworth (midfielder) and Nate Holladay (goalkeeper).
Hichman and Payne joined the Bulldogs as mid-year enrollees in January of 2019, while the rest including the newest trio will join UNC Asheville in preparation for the upcoming season in August of 2019.
"I don't know that we set out to have a class this big to be honest, but assistant coaches Matt Tellez and Mick Giordano did such a good job of identifying players that we really felt that they could make a difference," Mennell said of the 2019 class. "Adding Jarrett and Tyson at the semester has been fantastic and to add players like Owen, Jack and Noe has been great. They are all really kind of unique and were highly sought-after by other programs. It was awesome for them to come and visit and to see that Asheville is the place for them.
"I think our group is poised to be pretty good, and while I know every coach probably says that this time of year, I like where we are. Certainly, the main issue for us last year was that we could not score goals and with Owen, Noe and Jack, we have added pieces that will make goalscoring a little bit easier."
A 5-foot-8, 150-pound forward, Bauer joins the Bulldogs out of Baldwinsville High School in Baldwinsville, N.Y. Bauer plays his club soccer for Empire United in the US Soccer Development Academy where he was the top scorer on this team. He currently ranks in the top-10 in the East in the 2018-19 Development Academy season.
"Owen is a goalscorer," Mennell said. "He has a big engine and has a relentless approach to creating chances for himself and others. He is a soccer junkie and the type of player that coaches love to coach and players want to play with. I am excited to add him into our team and I think he will make an impact immediately."
A product of Coto de Caza, Calif., Boccuzzi joins the Bulldogs out of Santa Margarita High School. He plays his club soccer LA Galaxy OC '00 Premier. The 6-foot-4, 195-pound midfielder was the team captain for his school team where he was chosen All-Trinity in 2018 and 2019.
"Jack is a really exciting signing as he is a different type of midfield player," Mennell said. "He has the physique of a center back, and this athleticism allows him to be very rangy and creative in the final third. He plays in an excellent club setting at LA Galaxy OC under a fantastic coach in Matt Tutton. He also comes from a storied high school program that has produced five players that I have recruited and coached at the Division I level. He is going to be an excellent addition to our program and the UNC Asheville community."
Varner is a 5-foot-11, 160-pound midfielder out of Cary, N.C. The Panther Creek High School product plays his club soccer for NCFC 00/01 ECNL. Varner put together an incredibly impressive prep career where he was named first-team All-State and All-Metro as a junior. As a sophomore he was chosen first-team All-Conference and first-team All-Region. He finished his sophomore campaign with the most points as a midfielder in North Carolina 4A. He missed his senior season due to injury.
"Noe is a dynamic midfielder who is very goal dangerous," Mennell said. "He has the ability to change games in all the ways you want. He has a great engine, can pick a pass and likes to score goals. Noe is a player that we have been recruiting for a while and we are very pleased he has decided to continue his career at UNC Asheville. I am excited to add him into our team and I think he will a very exciting player for the Bulldogs."
To learn more about UNC Asheville men's soccer, please visit uncabulldogs.com. You can also learn more about UNC Asheville's November 2018 additions HERE and the addition of Hichman HERE.
The three new additions are Owen Bauer (forward), Giacomo "Jack" Boccuzzi (midfielder) and Noe Varner (midfielder). The three newest Bulldogs make their way to Asheville from three different states in California, New York and North Carolina.
The trio join an impressive grouping of a total of nine that will suit up for the Bulldogs in the 2019 campaign, which includes UNCG transfer Tyson Hichman (forward), Jarrett Payne (goalkeeper), Andrew Rossetti (midfielder/forward), Kaleem Shabout (defender), Larsen Hackworth (midfielder) and Nate Holladay (goalkeeper).
Hichman and Payne joined the Bulldogs as mid-year enrollees in January of 2019, while the rest including the newest trio will join UNC Asheville in preparation for the upcoming season in August of 2019.
"I don't know that we set out to have a class this big to be honest, but assistant coaches Matt Tellez and Mick Giordano did such a good job of identifying players that we really felt that they could make a difference," Mennell said of the 2019 class. "Adding Jarrett and Tyson at the semester has been fantastic and to add players like Owen, Jack and Noe has been great. They are all really kind of unique and were highly sought-after by other programs. It was awesome for them to come and visit and to see that Asheville is the place for them.
"I think our group is poised to be pretty good, and while I know every coach probably says that this time of year, I like where we are. Certainly, the main issue for us last year was that we could not score goals and with Owen, Noe and Jack, we have added pieces that will make goalscoring a little bit easier."
A 5-foot-8, 150-pound forward, Bauer joins the Bulldogs out of Baldwinsville High School in Baldwinsville, N.Y. Bauer plays his club soccer for Empire United in the US Soccer Development Academy where he was the top scorer on this team. He currently ranks in the top-10 in the East in the 2018-19 Development Academy season.
"Owen is a goalscorer," Mennell said. "He has a big engine and has a relentless approach to creating chances for himself and others. He is a soccer junkie and the type of player that coaches love to coach and players want to play with. I am excited to add him into our team and I think he will make an impact immediately."
A product of Coto de Caza, Calif., Boccuzzi joins the Bulldogs out of Santa Margarita High School. He plays his club soccer LA Galaxy OC '00 Premier. The 6-foot-4, 195-pound midfielder was the team captain for his school team where he was chosen All-Trinity in 2018 and 2019.
"Jack is a really exciting signing as he is a different type of midfield player," Mennell said. "He has the physique of a center back, and this athleticism allows him to be very rangy and creative in the final third. He plays in an excellent club setting at LA Galaxy OC under a fantastic coach in Matt Tutton. He also comes from a storied high school program that has produced five players that I have recruited and coached at the Division I level. He is going to be an excellent addition to our program and the UNC Asheville community."
Varner is a 5-foot-11, 160-pound midfielder out of Cary, N.C. The Panther Creek High School product plays his club soccer for NCFC 00/01 ECNL. Varner put together an incredibly impressive prep career where he was named first-team All-State and All-Metro as a junior. As a sophomore he was chosen first-team All-Conference and first-team All-Region. He finished his sophomore campaign with the most points as a midfielder in North Carolina 4A. He missed his senior season due to injury.
"Noe is a dynamic midfielder who is very goal dangerous," Mennell said. "He has the ability to change games in all the ways you want. He has a great engine, can pick a pass and likes to score goals. Noe is a player that we have been recruiting for a while and we are very pleased he has decided to continue his career at UNC Asheville. I am excited to add him into our team and I think he will a very exciting player for the Bulldogs."
To learn more about UNC Asheville men's soccer, please visit uncabulldogs.com. You can also learn more about UNC Asheville's November 2018 additions HERE and the addition of Hichman HERE.
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