Utah Valley men's soccer head coach Kyle Beckerman has announced the addition of 13 players who are joining the team for the upcoming 2024 season. This brings the total of newcomers to 17, joining the previous four who joined the squad in the spring.
Of the 13, six are transfers and seven are freshmen. The transfers are Gilles Aurelien, Manuel Cordeiro, Jacob Deng, Souley Diouf, Nate Kovalcik, and Austin Valdez. The incoming freshmen are Tyson Carter, Isaac Emojong, Ariel Martinez, Jackson Medina, Naime Odeh, Owen Pereira, and Sharif Sayawu.
Aurelien, a junior midfielder from Bracknell, England, played last season at Salt Lake CC, where he helped lead the Bruins to a Region 18 title and a fifth-straight NJCAA national semifinal berth, posting four goals and five assists in 10 games played. Prior to SLCC, Aurelien played one season at Otero College, where he played under UVU assistant Ty O'Connor.
Cordeiro, a junior midfielder from Serra Del Rei, Portugal, spent the last two seasons at Monroe College in New Rochelle, New York. Cordeiro helped lead the Mustangs to back-to-back NJCAA national titles, and was named first team All-American following the 2023 season.
Deng, a redshirt junior defender from Juba, South Sudan, joins the program after spending the last three seasons as a practice player in the Central Arkansas and Gardner-Webb programs. Deng prepped at Justice HS in Falls Church, Virginia, and played his club soccer at the Villarreal Virginia Academy, which is partnered with La Liga club Villarreal CF.
Diouf, a senior forward from Thies, Senegal, spent the 2023 season at George Mason of the Atlantic 10 conference, picking up five goals and three assists in 15 games played. Prior to GM, Diouf spent the 2021 and 2022 seasons at Otero College, the latter of which he played under O'Connor. Diouf scored 10 goals and added six assists that season.
Kovalcik, a senior defender from Redlands, Calif., comes to UVU after spending the last two years at D-II Biola University. Kovalcik appeared in 26 games with 19 starts, contributing a goal and two assists in 1,773 minutes of action. Kovalcik helped lead Biola to its first PacWest title in program history in 2022.
Valdez, a redshirt sophomore goalkeeper from Seattle, Wash., spent the last two years at Denver, where he did not see any action. Valdez played his club soccer for the Barca Residency and Seattle Sounders academies, and participated in the MLS Next Cup with the Barca academy.
Carter, a forward from Saratoga Springs, Utah, prepped at Cedar Valley HS and the RSL Academy in Herriman. Carter was a two-time 5A All-State honoree, leading the classification in goals in both years. Carter made his professional debut with the Real Monarchs.
Emojong, a midfielder from Davis, Calif., prepped at the ASU Prep Academy and played his club soccer for Sacramento United and USL side Sacramento Republic FC.
Martinez, a goalkeeper from Santa Ana, Calif., prepped at Hunter HS in West Valley, Utah. At Hunter, Martinez earned 5A first team All-State honors, and set school records in shutouts and assists by a goalkeeper. Martinez played his club soccer for the Utah Redwolves.
Medina, a goalkeeper from Heber City, Utah, prepped at Wasatch HS, where he helped lead the Wasps to three state titles in four years. Medina was twice named goalkeeper of the year, and was named to the Utah Best XI following his senior season. Medina finished his HS career ranking second in the Utah record books for most career clean sheets.
Odeh, a midfielder from West Haven, Utah, prepped at Fremont HS, where he scored 17 goals and added 18 assists in 17 games played. Odeh was named All-Area MVP, first team All-State, and to the Deseret News Best XI. Odeh played his club soccer for La Roca, with whom he won the 2022 Dallas Cup.
Pereira, a midfielder from St. Louis, Missouri, prepped at Marquette HS, where he played just his freshman year. Pereira played his final three HS seasons on the MLS Next circuit with Scott Gallagher (2021-23) and Lou Fusz (2023-24). Pereira was selected to play in the MLS Next "Best Of" match last December.
Sayawu, a forward from Agona Duakwa, Ghana, prepped at Odupong Senior HS and played his club soccer at the Phoenix Academy, which has produced numerous MLS, USL, and NCAA Division I athletes since its inception in 2018. Sayawu was his team's top goal scorer in 2023 with 15, and was named the Phoenix Academy Showcase's best player in 2024.
Utah Valley opens the regular season on Thursday, Aug. 22 at Sacramento State. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. MT and the match will be streamed live on ESPN+.
