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Clemson Paralympic Soccer prepares for first

The Clemson Paralympic Soccer team gathers outside the Clemson Soccer practice facility in their new uniforms to prepare for the historic match on April 19. Download image April 10, 2025April 10, 2025 By Griffin Barfield Clemson professor of sport and recreation management in the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management (PRTM), Skye Arthur-Banning, was […]

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Clemson Paralympic Soccer prepares for first

Soccer players posing in uniforms at Clemson facility

The Clemson Paralympic Soccer team gathers outside the Clemson Soccer practice facility in their new uniforms to prepare for the historic match on April 19.

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By Griffin Barfield

Clemson professor of sport and recreation management in the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management (PRTM), Skye Arthur-Banning, was at the London Paralympic Games in 2012 with a group of students when an idea came to him. 

Five years later, that idea would form Clemson Paralympic Soccer, the only collegiate program of its kind in the nation. Now, on April 19 at 11 a.m., the team will be playing their first-ever match in front of a crowd at Historic Riggs Field. 

History of Clemson Paralympic Soccer

Many Clemson Paralympic Soccer players receive national team call-ups by the U.S. Men’s CP National Team, where they play around the country and even across the globe.

Arthur-Banning was a soccer referee in 2012 working various professional leagues and U.S. Open cup games. Following the 2012 Paralympic Games, he decided to devote his time to Para soccer, seeing the high performance of blind and cerebral palsy (CP) soccer players during that time.

“Instantly, I knew that was my next step,” he said. “There’s my next opportunity to continue refereeing but also begin to support those with disabilities in sport environments. 

Felipe Tobar, assistant professor in the PRTM department, is head coach of the team. Arthur-Banning took notice of Tobar in 2021 while he was assistant coach for Daniel High School’s varsity soccer team.

“They needed a coach, so they needed structured training sessions,” Tobar recalled. “Since I was doing that at Daniel, he invited me to join the program as a head coach. I immediately said yes.”

Strength through adversity 

Strength through adversity is the team’s motto. Tobar encourages the team to play and live by this every day.

Felipe Tobar has been coaching the Clemson Paralympic Soccer team for four years.

Currently, the team is made up of six players who have cerebral palsy, a neurological condition that can affect movement and posture. They also welcome players who have suffered a stroke or any severe brain injury. 

Tobar has a connection with brain injury through his mother who had a stroke in 2011. He took care of her for eight years in Brazil before moving to the U.S. to earn his Ph.D. in parks, recreation and tourism management at Clemson.

“I saw what a stroke can do to a person, and I empathize with the players,” he said. “I had this background with my mom in which you can’t treat them as victims, you have to really see them as equals.”

Tobar pushes his players with drills and feedback three mornings a week. 

“We keep the sessions intense and I don’t treat them differently,” he said. 

The players expend three times the amount of energy on the field as able-bodied soccer players due to quicker muscle fatigue – therefore, their recovery process takes longer.

Goalkeeper Max Alberici is the team’s starter who saw an opportunity to play sports at the collegiate level and joined Clemson Paralympic Soccer.

For goalkeeper Max Alberici, who has spastic diplegia which affects more than one limb, he burns almost four times more energy than the average player. Alberici is a senior sports communication major who grew up playing lacrosse but saw this as an opportunity to continue playing sports in college, which was his dream.

“I hadn’t played organized soccer since eighth grade and I just go ‘okay, I’m doing this,’” Alberici said when he first heard about the program. 

Now as the team’s starting goalkeeper, he embraces the training sessions and their intensity. 

“There is definitely an intensity that I do enjoy and I had to learn to enjoy,” Alberici said. “But I think overall, I think having a game to work towards is going to make this a lot easier, mentally, for me.”

Because this program at Clemson is unique, four of the team’s six players are also part of the player pool for the U.S. Men’s CP National Team, where they are regularly picked to play. 

Midfielder Chile Chitulangoma, a junior mechanical engineering major, is one of those players who joined in the fall of 2022. He is hemiplegic on the left side of his body affecting his strength and coordination but takes advantage of playing quickly to overcome these obstacles. He describes the practices as tactical.

Chile Chitulangoma is a defensive midfielder that has been with the team for three years, becoming a regularly called-up player on the U.S. Men’s CP National Team.

“A lot has to do with technical ability being refined with your technique on the ball,” Chitulangoma said. “So, a lot of the work we do has to do with a lot of different passing patterns and precise movements.”

In the beginning years of the program, the team would practice at local recreational fields like Nettles Park and the Snow Family Outdoor Fitness and Wellness Complex. Since 2024, the team practices at Clemson Soccer’s men’s and women’s practice facilities with help from Clemson Athletics. 

“Athletics has given a lot of support to us,” Tobar said. “That elevated the level of our training sessions.”

As the only U.S. school with this type of program, Clemson allots eight scholarships that allow out-of-state players to pay in-state tuition — the only university in the world that does so for CP soccer.  

The Match

Tobar describes the upcoming match as a debut for everyone — the first time Clemson Paralympic Soccer will play against other Paralympic soccer players from across the country for a trophy. 

“We hope this game will bring attention to our program and the University,” Tobar said.

Players who have recently been admitted to play for the Tigers next season will also be on this all-star team of contenders. The captain of the U.S. Men’s CP National Team, Josh Burnais, will be coaching the opposing team. 

CP soccer rules are slightly different from traditional soccer rules. The game will be played in two halves, each 30 minutes long. Compared to soccer’s standard 11-on-11 format, CP soccer is played 7-on-7 with field dimensions and goal sizes a little smaller.

Throw-ins can change to simply rolling the ball in underhand. If the ball unintentionally hits the CP-impacted hand in a natural position, there is no handball offense. These changes were made based on how the body functions for a CP player. 

The team is gearing up for its first-ever match on April 19 at Historic Riggs Field at 11 a.m. They practice three times a week to prepare (photo by Natalie Bell).

The event on April 19 will also be open to children with disabilities in the Upstate to have a one-hour clinic with the team from 9 to 10 a.m. to meet and play together. During the starting lineups, they will enter the field with the players. 

“We want them to see their future on the pitch, so they can reflect and see that although there are barriers that they are going to face, it’s still possible to strive and succeed,” Tobar said. 

For many of the players, it is a dream come true. Alberici grew up wanting to play in a stadium, and now his dream is becoming a reality. 

My main goal was always to be a college athlete. The soccer piece was much later than almost every single one of my teammates, but I’d never thought I’d play college sports in a college stadium.

Max Alberici, goalkeeper, Clemson Paralympic Soccer

Meanwhile, for players like Chitulangoma, educating the public about overcoming adversity is what is most exciting. 

“I think it’s a very unique opportunity to [educate about my disability] with a game of soccer,” Chitulangoma said. “I don’t think there’s a better way we could show our game and our disability to the community.”

Clemson Athletics is supporting the event. The day will see several Clemson Men’s and Women’s Soccer players making an appearance, with some taking part in halftime promotions.

Tobar also plans to auction signed soccer balls and other items to fundraise for the team. 

That same weekend, Clemson Adaptive Sports and Recreation will be hosting the Palmetto Games, a regional adaptive sport event featuring track and field, swimming and air rifle competitions. 

“We want to have as many people as possible,” Tobar said.  “There are no other sports that are going to be playing that morning, so it’s a full day of Para sports.”

With kickoff set for 11 a.m. on April 19, Arthur-Banning, Tobar and the team are ready for their first organized CP game in program history, hoping to spread more awareness about Para sports and the work that the players have put in. 

“I think this game provides that opportunity for them to showcase all the hard work that they’ve put in, all the skill and talent that they have and, hopefully, be able to do that in front of not only their Clemson peers, but their community at large,” Arthur-Banning said.

“This gives them that opportunity to show that off a little bit and feel like this is their payback, if you will. This is their moment.”

Arthur-Banning and Tobar are faculty fellows of the Robert H. Brooks Sports Science Institute at Clemson, sponsor of the trophy for the historic Paralympic soccer match.

Clemson Paralympic Soccer Match

April 19 at 11 a.m. at Historic Riggs Field
Free soccer clinic for children with disabilities, 9-10 a.m.
115 Alpha Beta Circle, Clemson, SC 29634

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College Sports

Former Cardinal Ally Cook Joining Wheeling Athletics as Full

Story Links Wheeling, W. Va. – For six seasons, Ally Cook has been a member of the Wheeling University Women’s Soccer team, helping the team to the first two Mountain East Conference (MEC) Tournament appearances in the programs history. On Thursday, it was announced that Cook will continue her work with the Athletics Department, being named […]

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Former Cardinal Ally Cook Joining Wheeling Athletics as Full

Wheeling, W. Va. – For six seasons, Ally Cook has been a member of the Wheeling University Women’s Soccer team, helping the team to the first two Mountain East Conference (MEC) Tournament appearances in the programs history. On Thursday, it was announced that Cook will continue her work with the Athletics Department, being named a Full-Time Athletic Trainer on the Cardinal’s medical staff. She will work alongside Wheeling University Head Athletic Trainer Christy Schoolcraft to support all 22 Wheeling University Varsity sports programs. 

“I’m so excited to be stepping into this role as a full-time Athletic Trainer at Wheeling University,” said Cook. “It is an amazing opportunity to work in a familiar environment alongside colleagues who have always supported me, while continuing to grow as an autonomous clinician.” 

While Cook was starring on the Soccer field, she was also a stand-out student in the university’s Athletic Training program. During her studies, she was president of the Athletic Training Club, while also being a member of the Honors Society for Athletic Training. Just this past year, Cook got the opportunity to present at the 2025 West Virginia Athletic Trainer’s Association Student Oral presentation where her and fellow Wheeling University Alumnus Bre’ya Clopper presented their work titled, “Lower Extremity Factors and Their Effects on ACL injuries in Female College Athletics”. They were one of two presentations to be awarded for their work at the event alongside fellow athletic trainers from across the state of West Virginia. 

Stepping into the role of Full-Time Athletic Trainer, Cook is already familiar with several of the Wheeling University Athletic programs. During her time in the university’s athletic training program, she got the chance to work with the Wheeling Football, Men’s Basketball, Women’s Basketball, Wrestling, Men’s Lacrosse, Women’s Lacrosse, and Softball team over her six years. Along with her work on campus, Cook has taken her experience to the local community, where she has gotten the chance to work with Wheeling Park High School’s football team. After working as a mentor to Cook as a student for the last six years, Schoolcraft is excited to welcome her into the Athletic training family as a full-time colleague. 

“Ally will help us in the prevention, recognition, treatment, and rehabilitation of athletic injuries on campus,” said Schoolcraft. “Ally has shown how knowledgeable and caring she is as a student in our program so I’m excited to welcome her on as a full-time staff member.” 

 While attending Wheeling University, Cook played as a member of the Wheeling Women’s Soccer team, where she played from 2019-2023. She appeared in 30 games for the Cardinals, starting 29, mostly as a defender. She recorded one goal and one assist in her career, totaling three points, while putting seven of the 10 shots she took in her career on net. Cook was a leader on the soccer field for the Cardinals, helping lead the team to their first-ever MEC Tournament appearance during the 2022 season. 

Cook graduated from Wheeling University in May with a bachelor’s degree in athletic training as a member of the Athletic Trainer’s National Honors Society. 

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Men's Soccer Announces 2025 Schedule

CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. – Head men’s soccer coach Bob Thompson announced the Eagles’ 2025 schedule on Thursday. The 15-game slate features six opponents that made the 2024 NCAA Tournament and includes 10 home matches to be played on the Newton campus. Boston College opens the season with back-to-back home contests. The Eagles take on Binghamton in the […]

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Men's Soccer Announces 2025 Schedule

CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. – Head men’s soccer coach Bob Thompson announced the Eagles’ 2025 schedule on Thursday. The 15-game slate features six opponents that made the 2024 NCAA Tournament and includes 10 home matches to be played on the Newton campus.
 
Boston College opens the season with back-to-back home contests. The Eagles take on Binghamton in the season-opener on Thursday, Aug. 21 before facing Siena the following Monday.
 
The first road match of the season sees the Eagles travel to Providence on Aug. 29 for a 7 p.m. kickoff.
 
BC returns to its home pitch on Sept. 2 against local foe Northeastern. ACC competition gets underway as Boston College hosts California on Sept. 7 in the first-ever meeting between the two sides.
 
The first road conference test is slated for Sept. 14 against Virginia Tech. The Eagles are back home for the next two contests, taking on NC State (Sept. 19) and Boston University (Sept. 23).
 
Boston College hits the road for two-straight games, first with a trip out west to Stanford to close out September on the 28th, followed by a trip to Syracuse on Oct. 3 to take on the Orange.
 
Duke comes to town for an ACC tilt on Oct. 10 before the Eagles host Division II side American International on Oct. 14. The Eagles travel to SMU for its final road game of the regular season in a rematch of the 2024 ACC opening round game.
 
BC hosts Notre Dame on Oct. 24 for its final ACC game before wrapping up the regular season the following Friday (Oct. 31) at home against Saint Joseph’s.
 
The ACC tournament begins Wednesday, Nov. 5. The first round and quarterfinals (Nov. 9) will be played on campus sites followed by the semifinals (Nov. 13) and final (Nov. 16) to be held at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, North Carolina.

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College Sports

Recent THS graduate Sam Phillips will play soccer for Pierce College this fall

Sam Phillips graduated from THS in June, and Teton Valley News finally caught up with him to discuss his soccer career in Teton Valley and his upcoming plans to continue his studies and soccer career at Pierce College in Puyallup, WA. Phillips, raised in Teton Valley, started playing soccer for Teton FC when he was […]

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Recent THS graduate Sam Phillips will play soccer for Pierce College this fall

Sam Phillips graduated from THS in June, and Teton Valley News finally caught up with him to discuss his soccer career in Teton Valley and his upcoming plans to continue his studies and soccer career at Pierce College in Puyallup, WA. Phillips, raised in Teton Valley, started playing soccer for Teton FC when he was six years old. “I just enjoyed playing [soccer] with all my friends,” said Phillips. “When I was eleven or twelve, I joined the Teton FC travel team. Then I did freshman year with CGA, and then switched to the high school team.” Phillips played for THS for three years, making it to the state championship tournament during his sophomore year, when the Timberwolves finished fourth. During Phillips’ junior year, Teton lost to Sugar-Salem in the district championships to end Teton’s season. The Diggers went on to win the state championships that season, setting up an epic rivalry during Phillips’ senior season.

Phillips’ favorite moment playing for THS was during his senior season when the Timberwolves defeated Sugar-Salem in the district finals at home. Sugar-Salem had already defeated Teton twice during the regular season and both of those games were characterized by aggressive play, but Teton knew that although they’d been defeated twice, they weren’t outmatched. The Timberwolves defeated South Fremont in district play on October 15 in a dramatic overtime shootout, setting up the third match of the season between Sugar-Salem and Teton. On October 17, Sugar arrived at Teton and, for the Timberwolves, the third time was the charm. “We went up 2-0 pretty early, and they were getting frustrated,” recalled Phillips. “We just had to stay calm. They got one back, but they weren’t used to being down, I think. They were shocked.”

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College Sports

Men's Soccer Signs Eight to 2025 Fall Roster

Story Links CONWAY, S.C. – Coastal Carolina men’s soccer head coach Shaun Docking announced the signing eight student-athletes to join the 2025 fall roster on Wednesday. The Chanticleers will welcome two graduate students Jaland Larmond and Nate Kovalcik, three juniors Dominic Cintra, Giovanni Poliero, and Alec Laible, a sophomore Ben Hertel, and two freshman Jon […]

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Men's Soccer Signs Eight to 2025 Fall Roster

CONWAY, S.C.Coastal Carolina men’s soccer head coach Shaun Docking announced the signing eight student-athletes to join the 2025 fall roster on Wednesday.

The Chanticleers will welcome two graduate students Jaland Larmond and Nate Kovalcik, three juniors Dominic Cintra, Giovanni Poliero, and Alec Laible, a sophomore Ben Hertel, and two freshman Jon Almudi and Angel Martin.

“We are very excited about this new group of players that gives us a nice blend of transfers and new players with good experience at playing at a very high level and coming from winning cultures and programs,” stated Docking. “This group will compete straight away for playing time and starting time as we look to get back into contention for winning the Sun Belt Conference and earning a bid to the NCAA Division I tournament this fall.”

Jon Almudi
A Vigo, Spain native, Almudi was called up to represent the Galician national team in 2025. The midfielder played a key role in helping Coruxo FC earn promotion to Division I in 2022, contributing nine goals during the season. He was also called up to participate in tournaments with Athletic Bilbao and went on to play for Rápido de Bouzas in 2024.
Docking on Almudi: “We were very excited when we learned about Jon and his attributes and how well he reads the game. He will compete straight away for starting time in the central midfield area as his speed and quickness and his ability to cover ground, will contribute well to our game model this fall.”

Dominic Cintra
A transfer junior from Niagara University, Cintra played in 22 matches while earning 19 starts for the Purple Eagles. During his two-year career Cintra bagged four goals and four assists over 1,490 minutes of playing time. The forward also ranked in the top 60 during the 2022 FTF combine and finished his club career as North York Academy’s all-time leading goal scorer with 42 goals.
Docking on Cintra: “Dominic is a very good attacking player, with a proven track record and good experience at the NCAA Division I level. We initially watched Dominic play the FTF showcase in Canada and tracked him ever since. We were very excited when he became available to transfer to us and feel he will be a great fit for how we want to play this fall.”

Jaland Larmond
A four-year transfer from Lindsey Wilson, Larmond netted 12 goals and tallied 13 assists over 4,126 minutes of playing time. The forward played in 70 matches while earning 46 starts for the Blue Raiders and posted a .373 shots-on-goal percentage. The Old Harbour, Jamaica native also had a decorated high school career in which he Won back-to-back national championships with Clarendon College (2018 and 2019) and helped lead the team to two Dacosta Cup Championship titles in 2018 and 2020
Docking on Larmond: “Jaland comes to us via Lindsey Wilson, where he played and starred for them for four years. He will be a grad student with us and we could not be more excited to have Jaland join us. His speed and quickness and ability to play quickly through the pitch will be great assets for us as we compete for the Sun Belt title this fall.”

Nate Kovalcik
A Redlands, Calif., native, Kovalcik transfers to the beach after playing DI soccer at Utah Valley where he scored one goal and registered one assist over 568 minutes of playing time. Prior to playing for Wolverines, Kovalcik had a two-year spell at Biola and helped them win its first-ever PacWest Conference title while earning Academic All-PacWest honors. The defender started his collegiate career at Norco College where he captianed the team to a playoff appearance and anchored a defensive line that allowed the fewest goals in the Inland Empire Athletic Conference.
Docking on Kovalcik: “We are excited to have Nate join us for this fall after spending the past year at Utah Valley in the WAC. He has good size, and athleticism and is very good on the ball.  As a defender for us this fall, he will help us build through the pitch and attack teams well. He is versatile and gives us good formational options as we look to be adaptable in how we play this upcoming season.”
 
Giovanni Poliero
Poliero transfers to the beach after winning the 2024 NAIA Men’s Soccer National Championship while earning a spot on the All-National Championship team and he All-Region Championship team. The Vicenza, Italy native logged 1,881 minutes of playing time over 24 matches where he bagged three goals and three assists on the year. The defender also spent one year at Otero College where he was named to the NJCAA Region IX All-Region first team and was an NJCAA All-Academic second team selection.
Docking of Poliero: “Gio is a very good, smart and quick defender. He is a great leader and will compete straight away for a starting position as a central defender with our group. Originally, playing at a high level in Italy, Gio transfers into us from Dalton State, after playing and starting for them in their National Championship winning team this past fall.  The winning mentality that Gio has will be critical to helping us compete in the Sun Belt Conference this season.”

Ben Hertel
Hertle is a transfer sophomore from Johnson County Community College where he helped lead the team to runner-up finishes in both the Division II Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference and the Region 6 Tournament. The Littleton, Colo., native was named to the all-conference second team and picked up All-Region 6 honor after recording seven wins, 54 saves, and a .750 saves percentage over his 900 minutes of playing time with the Cavaliers.
Docking on Hertel: “Ben comes to us after starting one season at Johnson City junior college, with Jeff Cole.  He is looking to compete for a starting spot in goal and is a great addition to our goalkeeping group. Ben has great shot stopping ability, great on crosses, and very good with his feet. He has played at a very high level throughout his career. We are very excited about this opportunity to get to work with Ben.”

Alec Laible
A Rock Hill, S.C., native Laible comes to Conway after two years at Michigan State University. Prior to his collegiate career, he played club soccer for Charlotte Independence from 2018 to 2021 and was named to the Charlotte Independence Remarkable 11 of the Year in 2020. He is a two-time South Carolina state champion, winning titles in 2015 and 2016. Laible also spent a year in Germany with FC Schalke 04 (2021–2022), where he helped the team win the Oberliga Südbadischen Pokal, a regional cup competition.
Docking on Laible: “Alec is transferring to us from Michigan State where he has played for the past two seasons and continued to develop his game and skills as a goalkeeper. He is originally from Rock Hill, South Carolina, so this will be a great fit for him and us, as he looks to compete straight away for a starting spot in goal for this fall.”

Angel Martin
A native of Seville, Spain, Martin trained in the youth ranks of Sevilla FC from 2019 to 2022 where he developed his technical skills and tactical awareness. He went on to compete in the Spanish Third Federation league with Real Betis Balompié from 2024 to 2025 and played a key role in helping the club secure the 2025 league title.
Docking on Martin: “Angel is a very dynamic true number nine striker that comes highly recommended from Alvaro Garcia, one of our alumni that played for us for two years, from 2021-23, who is now playing in the Spanish top Division, La Liga, for Sevilla FC. Angel is in a very similar mold and player profile to Alvaro, so we are excited to once again, have another top Spanish striker join us, with a good pedigree of top-level games in Spain.”

For complete coverage of CCU men’s soccer, follow the Chants on social media at @CoastalMSoccer (X), Facebook.com/CCUChanticleers, @GoCCUSports (Instagram), or visit the official home of Coastal Carolina Athletics at www.GoCCUsports.com.
 

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Women's Soccer Adds Kelly Coster as an Assistant Coach

Story Links CHARLESTON, S.C. – Kelly Coster was announced as the newest addition to the Buccaneers’ Women’s Soccer Staff on Wednesday afternoon. Coster joins Charleston Southern as the assistant coach for the program ahead of the 2025 season. Coster arrives in Charleston after spending the past year as a graduate assistant coach at Anderson University. […]

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Women's Soccer Adds Kelly Coster as an Assistant Coach

CHARLESTON, S.C. – Kelly Coster was announced as the newest addition to the Buccaneers’ Women’s Soccer Staff on Wednesday afternoon. Coster joins Charleston Southern as the assistant coach for the program ahead of the 2025 season.

Coster arrives in Charleston after spending the past year as a graduate assistant coach at Anderson University. In her role with the team, she worked in many of the behind-the-scenes jobs including academic support, player development sessions, student-athlete mentorship, recruiting duties and management of CARA logos.

In her one season with the Trojans, they finished with a 9-7-2 record to go with an impressive 6-2 mark at home. They advanced to the semifinals of the SAC Championships after going 5-5-1 against conference opponents in the regular season.

Prior to beginning her career as a coach, she was a soccer student-athlete at The College of Saint Rose for three years and Southern Connecticut State University for a season earning Conference Honor Roll awards every year. During her career they won three NE-10 Conference Championships and lost just three games during her career at Saint Rose. They won the East Regional to advance to the NCAA Final Four and finish as the national runners-up in a season. She was a two-time recipient of the Elite-24 award which is given to the student-athlete with the highest GPA playing in the NE-10 soccer championship.

In her final year, she transferred to Anderson University to be a member of the women’s lacrosse team. She earned the role of captain for the squad and helped them to a SAC regular season championship and 15-3 record on the season.

She graduated from Anderson University in May of 2025 with her Master’s of Science in Organizational Leadership. She received her Bachelor’s of Science in Childhood Education and Special Education in May of 2024 from The College of Saint Rose.

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Seven Transfers Join Bonnies Men's Soccer Roster

By: Dylan Nuzzo, Assistant Sports Information Director Story Links ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. – St. Bonaventure University men’s soccer head coach Mick Giordano has announced the addition of seven transfers to the roster ahead of the 2025 season. Jesper van Halderen, Kyle Macfarlane, Ethan Streeter, Ritter Sundby, Ricardo Rittersberger, Seth Hammond and Hugo Berville are set […]

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Seven Transfers Join Bonnies Men's Soccer Roster

ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. – St. Bonaventure University men’s soccer head coach Mick Giordano has announced the addition of seven transfers to the roster ahead of the 2025 season.

Jesper van Halderen, Kyle Macfarlane, Ethan Streeter, Ritter Sundby, Ricardo Rittersberger, Seth Hammond and Hugo Berville are set to play for the Bonnies in the fall 2025.

Jesper van Halderen joined the Bonnies during the spring 2025 season as a graduate transfer from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. He appeared in five games, scoring a goal and adding an assist from the midfield as the Roos advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16 in 2024. Prior to his time with the Roos, van Halderen scored 25 goals and tallied 18 assists across 32 games with Casper College. He was named the NJCAA Region 9 Freshman of the Year, leading the region in points, goals and assists.

Kyle Macfarlane comes to St. Bonaventure from Glasgow, Scotland. He spent last season at Herkimer Community College where he was named the SUNY Scholar Athlete of the Year. He started 12 games for the Generals, tallying 25 points on seven goals and 11 assists. Macfarlane garnered 2024 All-Mountain Valley Conference First Team, All-Region First Team, NJCAA First Team All-America and United Soccer Coaches Junior College Division III All-East Region honors. Prior to Herkimer, Macfarlane spent the 2023 season at Fulton Montgomery College where he started in 12 matches, scoring one goal and adding 10 assists for 12 points. He was selected to the All-Conference First Team following the season.

Joining the Brown and White is Ethan Streeter from Bristol, United Kingdom. Streeter spent the last two seasons as a defender for Division II Davis and Elkins College where he appeared in 34 games and made 30 starts. Prior to Davis and Elkins, Streeter spent the 2022 with Bergen Community College in 2022 and the 2021 season with Sussex County Community College where he saw action in 11 games and made 10 starts. He tallied three goals while being a part of a backline that posted five shutouts.

Midfielder Ritter Sundby joins the Bonnies from Hood River, Ore. and spent last season at Xavier University. He appeared in six games last season for the Musketeers, including a 2-0 win against national runner-up Marshall. Prior to Xavier, Sundby spent three years with the prestigious Philadelphia Union Academy where he served as a team captain and helped the squad to the MLS Next playoffs.

Ricardo Rittersberger comes to the Bonnies after four seasons at NAIA Aquinas College. Originally from Weinheim, Germany, Rittersberger accumulated 91 points over the past two seasons en route to back-to-back Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year selections. During the 2024 season, he tallied 40 points on 18 goals and four assists in 20 starts. Rittersberger appeared in 20 games in 2023, netting 21 goals and adding nine assists for 51 points. For his career, Rittersberger has tallied 48 goals and 18 assists in 71 games. In the classroom, Rittersberger is a CSC Academic All-America First Team selection in 2023 and 2024 while also being named the 2024 CSC Academic All-America Team Member of the Year.

Also coming to St. Bonaventure is Seth Hammond from Winchester, Va. Hammond joins the Bonnies after two seasons under Coach Giordano at UNC Asheville where he appeared in 33 games, making 30 starts for the Bulldogs. Hammond was part of the winningest senior class in program history, helping the Bulldogs to the Big South Conference final in 2023 and the first back-to-back winning seasons in UNC Ashville history in 2023 and 2024. He finished second on the squad last season with 16 points on seven goals and two assists. Prior to UNC Asheville, Hammond was a member of Elon’s 2022 NCAA Tournament team. Hammond played for the Virginia Development Academy in the USSDA and MLS Next while also being a five-time selection to the U.S. Youth National Team regional training centers. In the classroom, Hammond was a member of the 2024 CSC Academic All-District Team.

Hugo Berville joined the Bonnies in January from Paris, France and most recently was a defender at Duquesne. Berville spent the 2022 season at Division III Emerson College where he appeared in all 19 matches, making eight starts while tallying two goals and two assists. He has also competed with Paris 13 Atletico in the French third division.

For the latest news on St. Bonaventure athletics, stay connected on social media. Follow the Bonnies on X @GoBonnies and get men’s soccer updates @BonniesMSoccer. Keep up with the Bonnies on Facebook /GoBonnies and on Instagram @GoBonnies. Bonnies Men’s Soccer can be found on Instagram @bonniesmsoccer

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