University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Men’s Soccer announces 12 signees for 2022 season
06.17.2022 | Men's Soccer
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – UNC Asheville Men's Soccer will have a much different look next season, as head coach Mick Giordano announced the addition of 12 players to the fall roster on Friday.
"First off, I want to thank the staff for all of the hard work they did to sign one of the most exciting recruiting classes to date for our program," Giordano said. "Former assistant coach, Jordan Valentine, started us off well in the Fall and current assistants, Joe LaCasto and Ronnie Hreha helped seal this important group. Our best signing this offseason was the ability to bring Joe back on staff as our top assistant in January. The relationship he has been able to build with our current group, recruits and incoming players has been remarkable, especially being done in such a short space of time. Without him, our signing class would not be so talented."
The 12 signings will join the five mid-year transfers to give the Bulldogs 17 newcomers on the 2022 roster.
A.J. Bengds – North Carolina FC Youth – Goalkeeper – 6'6", 215, Raleigh, NC
Bengds had a decorated club resume, competing for the North Carolina FC Elite Clubs National League (ECNL) since 2018, helping his team to a U15 fifth-place finish and a U17 round of 16 appearance. In addition to earning three varsity letters at Wakefield High School from his freshman to junior years, Bengds was named North Carolina Olympic Development Program (ODP) from 2017-19 and was a 2017 ODP Region III Tournament honoree.
Patrick Dye – Virginia Union ECNL – Goalkeeper – 6'4", 190, Sterling, VA
The starting goalkeeper for the Virginia Union ECNL U17 and U19 squads, Dye was named Second Team ECNL Mid-Atlantic and helped his team qualify for the U17 USYS Eastern Regional appearance and an ECNL Playoff appearance last summer. Dye, who competed for McLean 04 before the club merged into Virginia Union, was also named ECNL All-Conference in 2020-21.
William Gregory – Manukau United FC Men's 1st team/Saint Kentigern College 1st XI – Defender – 6'1", 175, Auckland, New Zealand
In New Zealand, Gregory was a Secondary School's U19 Representative in 2021, a National Age Group Tournament Team member (2019), Auckland Football Fed Rep (2017-19), Winners New Zealand AGT (2019). Gregory helped his team claim the Auckland Schools Premier Division title in 2020 and 2021 and a New Zealand National U15 Federation Championship in 2019.
Landin Grzelewski – Elizabethtown High School/Javanon 04 Black – Defender – 6'2", 165, Elizabethtown, KY
A Captain and key member of the back line for his squads, Grzelewski was named Kentucky All-Area Defensive Player of the Year in 2021. Grzelewski has been touted as one of the best center backs in the state of Kentucky for the 2022 class. Additionally, Grzelewski helped his team win the Kentucky Youth State Championship in 2021 and finish 3rd within the USYS Great Lakes Division in 2021-2022.
Brendan Herb – Oregon State – Junior – Midfielder – 5'11", 165, Corvallis, OR
Herb spent his first two years at Oregon State, where he posted a 3.85 GPA and made the Honors list every term. Herb has been a starter for the OVF Alliance in the USL2 league and was the Portland Timbers Academy starting center midfielder during his youth career.
Sammy Kilimann – Cedarville University – Graduate – Midfielder – 5'10", 175, Colorado Springs, CO
Prior to his injury in 2021, Kilimann was named to the 2020 NCAA All-America Third Team, NCAA All-Midwest Region Team, the 2020 Great Midwest Athletic Conference (GMAC) First Team and Academic Team. In 2019, Kilimann earned NCAA All-America First Team Status, D2CCA Midwest Region Second Team, NCAA All-Midwest First Team, GMAC First Team and All-Ohio Division I/NAIA First Team as well as Academic Team honors.
Evan Lupo – Dallas Texans Academy – Defender – 6'3", 170, Frisco, Texas
Competing for Wakeland High School in his senior year of high school, Lupo helped his team claim the 2022 Texas 5A State Championship. For his efforts, he was named Dallas Morning News Second Team All-Area and First Team All-District 9-5A. Additionally, Lupo spearheaded one of the best defending teams in the ECNL helping his team make the 2021 ECNL National Semifinal and the 2021 Disney Soccer Showcase Final.
Keegan Peat – Wilmington Hammerheads ECNL National – Midfielder – 5'8", 155, Wilmington, NC
Playing for the Hammerheads in the ECNL, Peat scored 14 goals in competition. Peat represented perennial powerhouse Ashley High School in his first three years of high school. Along the way, he picked up First Team All-Conference, First Team All-Coastal Preps, First Team StarNews All-Area, 4A North Carolina All-State and a team Captain and team MVP.
Stewart Patnaud – Wake FC MLS – Forward/Midfielder – 5'8", 150, Cary, NC
Patnaud made a name for himself with Wake FC in the National Premier League (NPL), helping his team to both the NPL National Final and U.S. Youth Soccer (USYS) Southern Regional Final in the summer of 2021. The success continued as he helped lead the Wake FC MLS Next U19 team to becoming the only undefeated team in the league with a perfect Southeast Division record in 2021-22. This summer, Patnaud will be playing alongside current Bulldogs, AJ DeVivo and Sean McGinty, for Wake FC in United Soccer League Two (USL2) once his MLS Next season is completed.
Sam Pitts-Eckersall – Coventry City – Midfielder – 5'11", 170, Stratford-upon-Avon, UK
Sam is coming from a highly decorated academy in the UK. Pitts-Eckersall was a two-year scholar at Coventry City, serving as a U18 Vice Captain and made 10 appearances for U23 squad. After completing his time at Coventry, Sam joined the historic Solihull Moors FC completing his youth career.
Luca Nelson – Doncaster Rovers/Billingham Town FC – Forward – 5'11", 165, Sunderland, UK
A two-year scholar at Doncaster Rover in the United Kingdom, Nelson netted nine goals in just 11 games before COVID ended the season. Nelson presents an unfathomable and relentless work rate. He joined Billingham Town FC after finishing his time at Doncaster to complete his youth career.
Orlando Zinn – Chapel Hill High School/Tobacco Road FC – Midfielder/Defender – 6'2", 185, Chapel Hill, NC
In 2019, Zinn helped TUSA Gold win the NCYSA State Cup. In 2021, Zinn racked up numerous accolades during his time for Chapel Hill High School, being named North Carolina High School All-State, All-Region and First Team All-Conference for Chapel Hill High School. Additionally, Zinn was the 2021 DAC-VII Conference Player of the Year and was selected for the North Carolina East vs. West All-Star game. This summer, Zinn is competing for Tobacco Road FC (USL2).
More from Mick
"First and foremost, we feel that we have brought in wonderful people," Giordano said of the group. "Our number one goal was to ensure that we continued to improve our team by signing competitive and high-character young men. Every one of the incoming players have shown a dedication to their academics and to their football. Their experience and ability on the field is something our staff and current players are all excited to work with. Combining all three traits (academics, athletics and character) will help raise the standard of UNC Asheville Men's Soccer. Stay tuned for the release of the 2022 UNC Asheville Men's Soccer schedule in the coming weeks!"
