Vermont men’s soccer signs 16 newcomers for anticipated Spring 2021 season

BURLINGTON, Vt. – University of Vermont head men’s soccer coach Rob Dow has announced the addition of 16 newcomers for the anticipated 2021 spring season, including 11 members of the Class of 2024, four transfers, and one Team IMPACT signee.

“I want to thank our coaching staff, especially Adrian DuBois, for the tireless work in bringing these 16 young men to our Catamount family,” Dow said. “When we started recruiting this class, we prioritized leadership, character, and work ethic. This class strongly represents all three qualities and will wear the green and gold with pride.”

The newcomers include:

Bjarni Adalsteinsson
Hometown: Akureyri, Iceland
Height/Weight: 5-11/180 lbs.
Club: Knattspyrnufélag Akureyrar (KA)

• Joins fellow club team members Ymir Geirsson and Brynjar Ingi Bjarnason at UVM
• Made eight appearances and logged over 500 minutes for KA in 2020

Zach Barrett
Hometown: Phoenixville, Pa.
Height/Weight: 6-1/185 lbs.
Club: Lehigh Valley United

• A two-time All-Area First Team selection at The Hill School
• 2019 U.S. Youth Soccer national champion

Brynjar Ingi Bjarnason
Hometown: Akureyri, Iceland
Height/Weight: 6-6/ 190 lbs.
Club: Knattspyrnufélag Akureyrar (KA)

• Had two goals in eight appearances for KA in the first division of Icelandic soccer
• Selected to the Iceland Youth National Team

Leland Gazo
Hometown: Colchester Vt.
Height/Weight: 6-2/180 lbs.
Club: Nordic Soccer Club
Previous School: Saint Michael’s College
Highlight: http://go.uvm.edu/gazohighlights

• Named the 2016 Vermont Gatorade Player of the Year
• Was a NSCAA All-American and Vermont State Player of the Year
• Selected as the 2016 Burlington Free Press Player of the Year
• Voted a two-year team captain at St. Michael’s
• Ranked No. 10 in the country with the Purple Knights in saves per game

Ymir Mar Geirsson
Hometown: Akureyri, Iceland
Height/Weight: 5-10/158 lbs.
Club: Knattspyrnufélag Akureyrar (KA)
Highlight: http://go.uvm.edu/geirssonhighlights

• Helped IF Magni in its promotion to the Icelandic B-League
• Voted Most Promising Player at IF Magni
• Current member of KA Akureyri in the Icelandic Pepsi Max League

Jami Lashua
Hometown: Williston, Vt.
Height/Weight: 6-3/180 lbs.
Club: Farpost Soccer Club

• Helped Champlain Valley Union to back-to-back undefeated seasons
• Named to the Burlington Free Press All-State Team as a senior
• Scored 10 goals and dished out six assists during his senior year
• Member of the ODP Region 1 International Team

Max Murray
Hometown: Kennebunkport, Maine
Height/Weight: 6-5/185 lbs.
Club: GPS Massachusetts

• United Soccer Coaches All-Region selection
• 2019 Southwestern Maine Athletic Association (SMAA) Offensive Player of the Year
• SMAA All-Region Team as a junior
• Selected to the Southern Maine All-State Team

Daniel Pacella
Hometown: Montreal, Quebec
Height/Weight: 5-10/170 lbs.
Club: Montreal Impact USSDA
Highlight Video: http://go.uvm.edu/pacellahighlights

• 2014 and 2016 Team Quebec selection
• Captain of Montreal Impact USSDA U17/U19 teams

Max White
Hometown: Richmond, Vt.
Age: 10

• Joined the Catamounts in April through Team IMPACT, a national non-profit who connects children facing serious or chronic illnesses with college athletic teams, forming life-long bonds and life-changing outcomes
• Recently diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome – a disorder that affects connective tissue primarily in the skin, joints, and blood vessel walls.
• He can attend practices and games with the team

Arian Pilja
Hometown: Arlington, Mass.
Height/Weight: 6’1″/180 lbs.
Club: Seacoast United USSDA
Previous School: Endicott College

• Landed on the United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division III All-New England Third Team as a sophomore at Endicott
• Selected to the 2019 All-Commonwealth Coast Conference First Team
• Made the All- Commonwealth Coast Conference Second Team as a freshman with the Gulls

Antonio Pugliese
Hometown: Charlotte, Vt.
Height/Weight: 5-11/156 lbs.
Club: CD Castellon U23 (Spain)

• Called up to U.S. Regional Training Center seven times
• Member of the Region 1 ODP International Team from 2013-2015
• Played youth soccer with IMG Academy USSDA (Fla.) and Barca Academy USSDA (Ariz.)
• Participated in trainings with the U17 U.S. National Team while at IMG

Brian Son
Hometown: Glastonbury, Conn.
Height/Weight: 5-10/160 lbs.
Club: New England Revolution USSDA

• Called up to U.S. Regional Training Center twice
• Helped Glastonbury to a state championship as a junior

Robin Ungerath
Hometown: Rosenheim, Germany
Height/Weight: 5-10/ 170 lbs.
Club: TSV 1880 Wasserburg

• Played for TSV Bad Endorf and TSV 1880 Wasserburg in his youth career
• Team was promoted to the Bayernliga Sud in 2019, the fifth division of German soccer
• Received the league’s Goal of the Year award in 2019

Riley Urie
Hometown: West Glover, Vt.
Height/Weight: 5-9/165 lbs.
Club: Black Watch Premier Albany
Previous School: Herkimer Community College
Highlight: http://go.uvm.edu/uriehighlights

• Two-time Caledonia Record Player of the Year
• Scored 90 goals and credited with 76 assists at Lake Region Union
• Spent two seasons at Herkimer Community College where he totaled 21 goals and 17 assists
• Helped Herkimer advance to the 2019 National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division III National Championship Game

Cole Venner
Hometown: Burlington, Vt.
Height/Weight: 5’9″/146 LBS
Club: Berkshire School
Previous School: UConn

• Scored 34 Goals and 24 assists in three years at the Berkshire School
• Made the All-American Watchlist twice
• NESCAC Class A Champion
• Played in 34 total matches at UConn
• Tallied 11 points on three goals and two assists for the Huskies

Jacob Vitale
Hometown: Rochester, N.Y.
Height/Weight: 5-9/175 lbs.
Club: Empire United USSDA

• Won two New York West state championships with Empire United
• Made the 2020 DA Cup Final 8 with Empire United