CHICAGO (July 29, 2024) – The UIC men's soccer team announced its class of signees prior to the 2024 fall season Monday, as the class features 12 newcomers to the Flames, including four transfers and eight incoming freshmen, with three of the freshmen having joined the team this past spring. Two of the transfers have Chicagoland roots, while six of the eight freshmen call the Chicagoland area their home.
 
"We are very excited to welcome this class to UIC," commented head coach Sean Phillips. "The work of my two associate head coaches Minos Vlamakis and Aleksey Korol was excellent in building this class.  It adds quality players to each line of the team whom we expect to compete for playing time and adds depth to an already talented returning group.  Just as importantly, it adds the diversity of background and character that are so important to the teams that have built our program."
 
Alan Alonso
Alonso hails from Grayslake Central High School in Grayslake, Illinois, and spent this past Spring playing in all five matches for the Flames. The central midfielder was a three-year letter winner for the Rams who was twice named All-Conference and All-Area and led his team to a conference title and two top-five finishes in the state of Illinois. Alonso comes to UIC as one of the most decorated US Youth Soccer athletes in Illinois history, helping GLSA FC 1974 win three USYS National Championships in four years, including captaining his team for the last two titles.
 
"Alan was a proven winner for both his high school and club teams.  His ability to join us for the Spring 2024 semester allowed him to prove that his winning intangibles and midfield talents could translate to the collegiate level."
 
Jesse Anamoo
Anamoo joins the Flames for his final season of eligibility after a standout career at the NCAA DIII and DI levels. The Accra, Ghana native played in 22 matches for North Park University in 2021, helping the Vikings reach the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament. The Niles North high school graduate played in 22 matches while earning 17 starts as a true freshman, scoring 12 goals (including five game-winners) and assisting 5 others en route to being named to The CCIW All-Conference First Team. The pacey attacker then transferred to Santa Clara University to complete his undergraduate degree, recording 4 goals and 3 assists in 29 matches for the Broncos over two seasons, helping them clinch a share of the West Coast Conference Championship in 2023.
 
"Jesse is a proven goal scorer at the D1 level.  His ability to stretch the opponent and get in behind will diversify our attack as well as add depth and competition to it."
 
Max Aquino
Aquino is an incoming freshman by way of J Sterling Morton West High School in Berwyn, Illinois, though he enjoyed a productive Spring semester after joining the Flames this past January. The two-year letter winning midfielder was named All-State on two separate occasions and led the Mustangs to a Super Sectional Championship and a fourth-place finish at State in 2021. On the club side, Aquino featured for FC United's MLS Next Academy team for two years, helping them qualify for the MLS Next Playoffs. Named as one of the team captains at FCU, Aquino was also called into a training camp for the Guatemalan U20 National Team. Prior to joining FC United's MLS Next Academy, Aquino helped Eclipse SC reach the ECNL National Championships on three occasions, including winning the National Championship in 2019.
 
'Max has a tremendous soccer IQ which allows him to impact the game in several different ways from a variety of positions.  A former team captain with his high school and club teams, Max will add winning qualities and leadership to the team's culture during this time with us."
 
Luka Bekovic
Bekovic, a native of Belgrade, Serbia, hails from the Sports Gymnasium school. The dominant center-back came through the academies of OFK Belgrade and Red Star Belgrade before finishing his youth career with IMT. Last season, he captained IMT to a third-place finish in the Serbian U19 Omladinska Liga, including winning 11 of their 13 matches in the competition's second phase. This past season, Bekovic featured regularly on IMT's second team to round out his stellar youth career.
 
'Luka's abilities on the ball and individual defending principles are the combination we look for when identifying central defenders.  His addition to the central defender group will add another excellent defender who can play out of the back and through the lines."
 
Jack Finnegan
A Chicago native, Finnegan comes to UIC as a transfer from University of Wisconsin-Madison. The Brother Rice product played four seasons for the Badgers, playing in 63 matches and starting 35. The forward tallied seven career goals, including two match-winning goals, and collected nine assists during his time in Madison. In high school for the Crusaders, he was a three-time team captain, and was named a USC All-American after his senior year. Prior to enrolling at Wisconsin, Finnegan was a two-time US Club Soccer National Champion with Eclipse SC before scoring 9 goals in 7 matches for FC United's Academy in a covid-shortened season to end his youth career.
 
"Jack is not only a proven goal scorer on every team with whom he has competed, he is a winner and leader.  His attacking abilities will make our front-line mare dangerous while his character will strengthen the locker room."
 
Joey Galante
Another Chicago native, Galante comes to UIC by way of DePaul College Prep of the Chicago Catholic League. The goalkeeper was selected as an All-Conference honoree for all four seasons for the Rams and helped lead his team to three conference and regional championships. On the club side, Galante starred for Chicago Magic under coach Bato Radoncic. The goalkeeper was named to the ECNL All-Conference team and was chosen to play in the 2022 National Selection Match as well as being called into the 2023 ECNL National Camp.
 
"Joey is an excellent shot stopper with a knack for making big saves in big moments for his team.  His in-game leadership at both the club and high school level was invaluable.  He will be adding strength to what may be one of our strongest overall goalkeeping groups."
 
Jorge Hernandez
Hernandez comes to UIC after graduating from Buffalo Grove high school this past June, captaining the Bisons to the MSL East divisional championship during his senior season. The Wheeling native and clever attacking midfielder/winger captained Addison United SC to an NPL National Championship and participated in three United Futsal National Championships before joining GLSA FC 1974, helping the successful Libertyville club reach the 2024 USYS National Championships this summer.
 
"Jorge is another winner and leader in this class.  His clever mind and attacking abilities from a central and wide midfield role led his high school team to a conference championship and club teams to national championship levels."
 
Asaf Kristal
Hailing from Tel Aviv, Israel, Kristal joins the Flames as a transfer from West Texas A&M University. As a keeper for the Buffalo, he was named to the All-Freshman team as well as the All-Conference team as a sophomore. Kristal played in 31 matches for West Texas A&M in two seasons, allowing just 32 goals for a 1.05 GAA. While growing up in Israel, Kristal played for Hakoach Ramat-Gan before finishing his youth career with Hapoel Kiryat Uno.
 
"Asaf is a proven collegiate starting goalkeeper.  His consistency in goal at West Texas A&M was impressive and obviously recognized by the coaches against whom he played.  It will be great watching him compete for playing time with our very strong goalkeeping group."
 
Carlos Nevarez
Summit, Illinois native, Nevarez joined the Flames this past spring and made an immediate impact, helping UIC to a 4-1 record while starting every match. The holding midfielder captained the Chicago Fire FC's MLS Next Academy at every age group and featured in several matches for the Chicago Fire II's MLS Next Pro team, earning invaluable experience while training and playing with professionals.
 
"Carlos was a proven youth player whose playing and leadership qualities were recognized by the Chicago Fire.  The captain of each Chicago Fire MLS Next team of which he was part, Carlos was also chosen to play for the Fire2 as a youth player.  His impact is already visible as he started and played almost every minute this past spring."
 
Gianfranco Paladino
Another Chicagoland local, Paladino hails from Addison Trail High School in Addison, Illinois. He was an integral member of the Sockers FC MLS Next Academy that was the top-ranked team in the country in 2023 at the U17 level while also reaching the quarterfinals in the U19 MLS Next Playoffs this past June. The attacking right back also helped Sockers FC win the National Academy Championship at IMG in both 2023 and 2024.
 
"Gianfranco is the type of right back we have loved over the years at UIC – very good defending principles while still able to carry the attack to the opponent with cleverness.  He has also been a significant contributor to the Sockers teams who have won regular season and tournament events adding more winning qualities to the group."
 
Rui Reis
Reis, a native of Lisbon, Portugal, comes to UIC by way of the University of Akron, where he played in 13 matches for the Zips during his sophomore season in 2023. He completed his freshman campaign at Keiser University, where he garnered All-American accolades after scoring 14 goals and tallying 9 assists in 17 starts. The dynamic attacker was named The Sun Conference Freshman of the Year after earning a first-team spot on the All-Conference team as well. Prior to starting his college career, the Lisbon native was a product of the famed Sporting Lisbon Academy, earning call-ups to Portugal's U15 and U18 Youth National Teams.
 
"Rui is a proven attacker at the international youth level as well as collegiate level.  His clever, dynamic play from between the midfield and front lines will add a different dimension to our attack this year."
 
Bor Žunec
A mercurial central midfielder/winger, Žunec hails from Slovenia and was a member of the Slovenian Youth National Team at the U15, U17 and U18 levels, participating in the U17 UEFA European Championship qualifiers. At the club level, the left-footed magician featured in over 60 matches at the famed academy of Italian club Udinese Calcio, including being part of the first team's Serie A match-day squad in August 2023.
 
"Bor is another proven attacker at the international youth level from the time he has spent with the Slovenian youth national teams.  These experiences combined with his time at Udinese, have created a clever, left sided attacking player who can make an impact from both central and wide areas."
 
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