New UMO men's soccer inks large recruiting class

By UMO Media Relations
Published in Sports on July 8, 2016 1:48 PM

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UMO Media Relations

MOUNT OLIVE -- First-year University of Mount Olive head men's soccer coach Sean Brennan has signed a large recruiting class for the 2016-17 season.

Brennan inked 14 freshmen and three transfers.

Among the freshmen are Raeford native Justin Bellamy, a two-time N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association Class 2-A all-state selection who helped lead Fayetteville Academy to three state championships.

* Jonathan Alexandersson started 20 of 26 games and tallied 10 goals for his club team -- Torslanda IK last season.

* A center attacking midfielder, Dakota Casale earned Most Valuable Player honors at Matanzas (Fla.) High School. He participated in four all-star games and received all-state, all-area and all-conference accolades during his prep career.

* A goalie from Louisiana, Briley Dronet set the state record for shutouts (25) while playing at Beau Chene HS. Dronet was named the team's defensive MVP, and made the all-district and all-state teams.

* Layne Garrett garnered Greater Neuse River Conference first-team all-league honors on three occasions. He led the team in scoring for three consecutive years, and was selected as the East Wake HS male sophomore-of-the-year in 2013-14.

* Andrew Martin played forward/midfield at Mooresville HS, and finished the season with 44 points -- 11 goals and 22 assists. Martin was named all-county, all-conference, offensive MVP and a first-team Class 4-A all-region selection for North Carolina.

* A forward/outside back from Lakeland, Tim Ober led Winter Haven (Fla.) HS in assists during his junior year, and was the team's second-leading scorer as a sophomore and junior.

* Zach Smith is a defensive back/midfielder who also was a two-time letter-winner in track at Wilmington Ashley HS.

* A defenseman from Cherry Point, Scott Wright attending Western Alamance HS and was named to the all-conference team.

* Anthony Wren, from Hope Mills, played attacking midfielder at South View HS. He finished as the Mid-South Conference's top goal scorer this past season and was a two-time M-SC first-team all-conference pick.

* Lewis Xiberras is a midfielder from Newcastle, England. He attended Monkseaton High School and was a part of the 2015 national championship team in 2015.

* Kathleen (Fla.) HS grad Andrew Yarnell emerged as the No. 1 goal scorer in the Sunshine State with 42 goals and 23 assists. He ended up sixth nationally in goals scored.

* Anton Lund is a center back transfer from the University of Hawaii at Hilo and is originally from Upplands Vasby, Sweden. He was a Dean's List member during the 2014-15 year. Lund scored his first collegiate goal three minutes into his first game.

* Bernando Mendez, from Richmond, Va., is a transfer from Wilmington University. As a goalie, Mendez assisted his high school team as a two-time all-conference goalkeeper of the year and team MVP. He was selected as a two-time all-region and was also named all-state.

* Matheus Napolitano is a Sao Bernardo do Campo, Brazil native at center back. He is a transfer from Rowan College at Burlington County. While there he was named to the all-region team.

Mount Olive launches its 2016 campaign Sept. 3 at Francis Marion (S.C.) University.

Kickoff is 7 p.m.