UCLA men’s soccer brings in four transfers ahead of 2024 season

UCLA men’s soccer head coach Ryan Jorden has announced four additions to the program’s incoming recruiting class for the fall season.

The group of four includes three Division I graduate transfers, and one European graduate transfer. Alphabetically, the four newcomers are Edrey Caceres (Marquette), Nico Cavallo (Davidson), Sveinn Hauksson (University of Iceland), and Youri Senden (Drexel).

The 2024 season is fast approaching, as the Bruins open the new campaign with a home exhibition against Cal State Bakersfield (Aug. 12), followed by an away exhibition at CSUN (Aug. 17). UCLA opens the regular season at LMU on August 22, before hosting James Madison on August 25 for the teams’ home opener.

Edrey Caceres – Midfielder – Houston, Texas – Marquette

Caceres comes to UCLA as a central midfielder with top technical quality and defensive workrate who has been involved in first team training with the Houston Dynamo of MLS and with the El Salvadorian U23 National Team … A three-time All-Big East second-team honoree, Caceres appeared in 50 games for Marquette and started 47 games … Tallied 11 goals and 14 assists for 36 points across three seasons, including a career-high seven assists during the 2022 campaign … Recorded two goals in the 2023 season opener against Drake and added a goal and two assists in a 3-1 win over Big Ten opponent Wisconsin … During the 2022 season had a hat trick of assists in Marquette’s 5-2 win over Milwaukee … A standout student in the classroom Caceres also earned Big East All-Academic team honors in 2022 … As a freshman in 2021 Caceres earned all-Big East second team honors while starting in 15 of the 16 games he played in … He finished third on the team in minutes played with 1,258, while adding three goals and three assists during the season.

Nico Cavallo – Defender – Richmond, Va. – Davidson College

Cavallo comes to Westwood as a left-sided defender with terrific athleticism, and great technical quality which will help the team on both the attacking and defending sides of the ball … He appeared 58 times for Davidson College, making 56 starts over four seasons … Scored once for the Wildcats, while tallying an additional eight assists, with five of those coming in 2021 … Was elected as one of three team captains his senior year in 2023 where he appeared in all 16 games and made 15 starts … Scored his first collegiate goal in a 3-1 win over Furman … Helped Davidson allow the second-fewest goals in the Atlantic-10 … Was a preseason all-conference selection in 2022 and started every game on the backline as a junior… As a sophomore in 2022 he started all 17 games he appeared in … Tied for the team lead in assist with five … Played in nine games as a freshman in 2021, making eight starts.

Sveinn Hauksson – Forward – Dalvik, Iceland – University of Iceland

Having recently completed his undergraduate degree from the University of Iceland, Hauksson comes to UCLA having played for club KA Akureyri in the Icelandic Premier League … An attacking player, Hauksson has the ability to create goals and a tactical maturity to influence the team … He has appeared in 130 matches for KA Akureyri, scoring 20 goals and adding 11 assists for the club … Hauksson highlights from his time in Iceland include appearing in the UEFA Europa Conference Leauge Qualifiers in 2023, and being called up to the U21 Iceland National Team for the European U21 Championships Qualifying round against Czechia in September of 2022.

Youri Senden – Defender – Voerendaal, Netherlands – Drexel

A native of Voerendaal, Netherlands, Senden is an elegant defender whose passing quality and experience will add to the leadership of the team … He appeared in and started 50 games for Drexel over the course of three seasons … Concluded a decorated career for the Dragons in 2023 when he was named CAA Defensive Player of the Year and earned All-CAA First Team honors … Academically he secured CSC Academic All-District and All-America honors in 2023 … Helped Drexel accrue their highest winning percentage since 1990 after finishing the season with a 9-2-5 record in 2023 … Started and played in all 16 games and played for a team-high 1457 minutes in 2023, and tallied his first career goal against NJIT (September 26) … As a sophomore in 2022 he earned All-CAA First Team designation after starting all 18 games he saw action in … Tallied the second-most minutes on team with 1,368 and helped the backline hold opponents to a .102 shot percentage and 1.13 goals per game average … As a freshman Senden was Named to All-CAA third team and to the CAA All-Rookie team while starting in all of his 16 appearances in 2021.