University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
2025 Men's Soccer Roster
Roster
Yao, Benian
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Jersey Number 5
Benian Yao
- Position:
- Defender
- Height:
- 6-4
- Class:
- Fifth Year
- Hometown:
- Waxhaw, N.C.
- Major:
- Business
Bio
Awards & Honors
2025 Big South Conference Top Returners Watch List
2024 College Sports Communicators Academic All-District
2024 Big South Conference All-Conference Second Team
Big South Conference Defensive Player of the Week (Oct. 2, 2023)
2024 Season (Senior) - Appeared in all 15 matches as a senior making 11 starts...Tallied two goals from the back line for four points...Scored the game-winner at Davidson (Sept. 14) and also scored at Longwood (Oct. 26)...Played all 90 minutes five times and was instrumental to a Division I era program record six shutouts this season...Big South Conference All-Conference Second Team selection...College Sports Communicators Academic All-District.
2023 Season (Junior) - Appeared in 16 matches, making nine starts...Scored his first NCAA goal as the game-winner at Longwood (Sept. 30)...Totaled seven shots on the season...Played 90 minutes three times on the season...Named Big South Conference Defensive Player of the Week (Oct. 2, 2023).
Prior to Asheville - Has played in 35 games with 36 starts, eight goals & two assists at Viterbo...2022 CAC All-Conference...2022 CAC All-Tournament Team...2022 Viterbo Player of the Year...Captain of Viterbo College 2022...Advanced to the NAIA National Tournament both in 2021 and 2022...Three-time CAC Defensive Player of the Week in his time at Viterbo.
Personal - Business major...Favorite professional club is Chelsea...Favorite food is steak...favorite TV show is Suits...His favorite football memory to date is the 2023 Big South Conference semifinal game-winner.
2025 Big South Conference Top Returners Watch List
2024 College Sports Communicators Academic All-District
2024 Big South Conference All-Conference Second Team
Big South Conference Defensive Player of the Week (Oct. 2, 2023)
2024 Season (Senior) - Appeared in all 15 matches as a senior making 11 starts...Tallied two goals from the back line for four points...Scored the game-winner at Davidson (Sept. 14) and also scored at Longwood (Oct. 26)...Played all 90 minutes five times and was instrumental to a Division I era program record six shutouts this season...Big South Conference All-Conference Second Team selection...College Sports Communicators Academic All-District.
2023 Season (Junior) - Appeared in 16 matches, making nine starts...Scored his first NCAA goal as the game-winner at Longwood (Sept. 30)...Totaled seven shots on the season...Played 90 minutes three times on the season...Named Big South Conference Defensive Player of the Week (Oct. 2, 2023).
Prior to Asheville - Has played in 35 games with 36 starts, eight goals & two assists at Viterbo...2022 CAC All-Conference...2022 CAC All-Tournament Team...2022 Viterbo Player of the Year...Captain of Viterbo College 2022...Advanced to the NAIA National Tournament both in 2021 and 2022...Three-time CAC Defensive Player of the Week in his time at Viterbo.
Personal - Business major...Favorite professional club is Chelsea...Favorite food is steak...favorite TV show is Suits...His favorite football memory to date is the 2023 Big South Conference semifinal game-winner.
Highlights || Men's Soccer || #2 UNC Asheville at #1 High Point (Big South Championship)
Monday, November 13
Highlights || Men's Soccer || #2 UNC Asheville vs #3 Winthrop (Big South Championship Semifinal)
Monday, November 06
Highlights || Men's Soccer || UNC Asheville vs USC Upstate
Monday, November 06
Highlights || Men's Soccer || UNC Asheville at Winthrop
Monday, October 30
