Men’s Soccer Adds Ten for Incoming Class

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The North Florida men's soccer team inked ten student-athletes for the 2018 season during National Signing Day.

"As a staff we are very excited about this 2018 class and believe it has a lot of character," said head coach Derek Marinatos. "This class has a lot of young, talented in-state Florida players combined with a few transfer players with experience in key positions. We look forward to getting to work with this exciting class of student-athletes."

Zane Bubb
Hometown: Charlotte, N.C.
High School: Creekside
Position: Defender/Midfielder
Height: 6'4
Bio: Bubb was a four-year varsity player for Creekside High School and also played four years for Florida Elite Soccer Academy. His sister, Chanelle, plays for the UNF women's soccer team, while his father, Sean, played professionally in England. Bubb also played four years of club with Florida Elite in Jacksonville.

Head coach Marinatos: "Zane is a mentally tough, extremely competitive player. He is a local Jacksonville player, in the rich tradition for our program of recruiting local talent. He has very good size and we have seen him play in both the midfield and the back as well. He is also another UNF Presidential Scholar academically and has been the captain of both club and high school teams."

Philip D'Amico
Hometown: Voorhees, N.J.
Previous School: Daytona State
Position: Goalkeeper
Height: 6'1
Bio: D'Amico started his career at West Florida where he started all 18 games in the net and tallied a 10-5-3 record. He earned two conference freshman of the week honors, while recording five shutouts. D'Amico also held a 1.36 goals against average and a .727 save percentage. He then transferred to Daytona State where he played and started in all 16 games. D'Amico recorded 80 saves and held a 1.29 goals against average on the year. He was also named to the first team all-region.

Head coach Marinatos: "Phil is a mature goalkeeper that comes in with two years of college game experience. He has very good feet, excellent distribution and is also a solid shot stopper."

Jake Hawker
Hometown: Camberley, England
Junior College: Cowley College
Position: Forward
Height: 5'11
Bio: Hawker played junior college at Cowley College where he was a back-to-back first team all-conference player, named first team all-region, and was an offensive player of the year selection. He was also named an NJCAA third team all-American as a sophomore as well as team captain. Hawker is Cowley's all-time leading scorer and points earner.

Head coach Marinatos: "Jake is a proven goal scorer at the college level. He is a pure finisher with both feet and we expect him to come in and help our team score goals right away."

Nick Lodovico
Hometown: Sarasota, Fla.
High School: American Heritage
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5'7
Bio: Lodovico played five years of varsity soccer at American Heritage where he helped the team capture three district champions and advance to the regional finals once. He was a back-to-back all-county player as a junior and a senior. In club play for Boca United FC DA, Lodovico was a captain for two years and started every game.

Head coach Marinatos: "Nick attended our 2017 Summer ID camp. He is technically very smooth and adept both defensively and offensively as a complete midfield player. He played at a high level in the Development Academy for Boca United as one of their most prominent players and team captain."

Mirza Nevoric
Hometown: Jacksonville, Fla.
High School: Samuel W. Wolfson
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5'10
Bio: Nevoric was a four-year varsity play for Samuel W. Wolfson and was the team MVP in 2017 and 2018. He was also named to the all-conference teams in 2016, 2017 and 2018. The Jacksonville native netted a total of 110 goals in his high school career with 24 assists. He played four years of club soccer under John McLelland at Florida Elite Soccer Academy.

Head coach Marinatos: "Mirza was an exciting late addition to the 2018 class from our winter ID camp. He has a very good soccer IQ and an ability to help create and score goals coupled with a very strong work ethic. He is also an excellent student with a very high GPA and another local Jacksonville area product."

Luke Piveral
Hometown: Ocoee, Fla.
High School: Lake Brantley
Position: Midfield/Forward
Height: 5'11
Bio: Piveral was a four-year varsity player for Lake Brantley where he led the team in goals his junior and senior years, while he led the team in assists as a sophomore and senior. Over his high school career, he netted 28 goals and dished 27 assists. Piveral played club for ACYS Spirit United out of Orlando. He was part of teams that captured the Florida Cup Championship in 2016 and the FSPL League Championship and State Cup Championship in 2017, for the first time in club history.

Head coach Marinatos: "Luke is a left-footed wide player. He is one of the best crossers of the ball we have ever recruited. He is also a very good finisher and is capable of playing as a forward."

Bryson Smith
Hometown: Melbourne, Fla.
High School: Melbourne
Position: Forward
Height: 6'0
Bio: Smith started and played in every game his four years at Melbourne while scoring 59 total goals in his career. During his time there, the team captured four district championships, three Cape Coast Conference championships and one regional championship. He was named Cape Coast Conference second team as a freshman, first team as a sophomore, all-state second team as a junior and the team captain as a senior. Smith played 10 years of club ball for Brevard Soccer Alliance where they clinched the state championship in 2016 and were region 3 premier league participants.

Head coach Marinatos: "Bryson attended our 2017 Winter ID camp. Bryson can play as a forward, winger, or attacking midfield and is physically ready for the Division I level. He makes great decisions in the attacking third, and is capable of scoring goals. Bryson is also very good with his back to goal technically and makes intelligent runs and has good pace."

Ryan Stevens
Hometown: Northampton, Mass.
High School: Seminole
Position: Goalkeeper
Height: 6'2
Bio: Stevens was a four-year letter winner for Seminole High School where he was a golden glove winner and all star player of the Jesuit Tournament. He was also a Pinellas County all-star goalkeeper. Stevens played three year for Strictly Soccer Futbol Select where they were two-time Vegas Cup champions.

Head coach Marinatos: "Ryan also attended our Winter ID camp. He is good with his feet and also has good size and solid hands. He is athletic and also organizes very well."

Max Torres
Hometown: Winter Park, Fla.
High School: Bishop Moore
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5'7
Bio: Torres played four years of varsity soccer at Bishop Moore where he helped the team capture four district championships, and a regional championship with a state semi-final. He was named the team MVP as a junior and senior. During his high school career, Torres scored 39 goals with provided 32 assists. He played club for Orlando City ECNL where they were Disney Showcase runner-ups, state semi-finalists and FSPL Champions. Torres also claimed the Disney Showcase MVP.

Head coach Marinatos: "Max attended our overnight Summer Elite Camp and made a significant impression on our whole staff. He is quick and very technically clean on the ball as a creative attacking player that can play both in an attacking mid role and out wide. He makes very good decisions in possession and is a dual threat, capable of both assists and goals."

Kondjo Zebina
Hometown: Montreuil, France
Junior College: Indian Hills
Position: Defender
Height: 5'6
Bio: Zebina started his career at Indian Hills Community College before transferring to North Florida. He appeared in 18 games with 13 starts and made three assists as a freshman. Indian Hills fell in the quarter-finals of the NJCAA tournament and lost to the eventual National Champions. Zebina has also been in camps with the Martinique men's national team.

Head coach Marinatos: "Kondjo is a tough, fast left-footed defender. He is tough to beat in 1 vs 1 situations and his pace allows him to attack from his left back position."

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