Men’s Soccer Finalizes 2024 Roster - Coastal Carolina University Athletics (2024)

CONWAY, S.C. –The Coastal Carolina men's soccer program announced its finalized 2024 fall roster on Monday afternoon. The Chanticleers will welcome eight new signees consisting of six graduate students, one senior, and one junior.

CCU will add Nathan Schnur, Welnilton Da Silva Jr., Leon Olacio, Pierson Davis, Antonino Pagano, Kaito Ueki, Francesco Pagano, and Kendell Thomas, to the 2024 roster.

"We are excited about this fall's season. We had to grow up and learn a lot as a group last year," stated head coach Shaun Docking. "After retaining the majority of last year's squad we have added some key pieces in this fall's recruiting class to better ensure we have the maturity and quality needed to compete for the conference tournament title and get back into the NCAA tournament again".

Schnur is transferring to the beach after four years at Creighton University where he played in 19 matches and made 57 saves between the pipes. The Evergreen, Colo., native was named Big East Freshman of the Week and Goalkeeper of the Week in 2020 and has recorded six wins and four clean sheets during his career.

Docking on Nathan Schnur: "Nathan is a very good, experienced GK at the Division I level. Nate is a fantastic character guy and has a wonderful infectious personality. He will add much-needed leadership to the group and will immediately compete for starting time with our program for this fall.We are very excited about his addition to our group and could not be happier that Nathan will be joining us."

Welnilton Da Silva Jr.
Da Silva Jr. will join the Men in Teal after four years at Virginia Tech where he played a key role on the backline. During his career, he played in 47 matches earning 44 starts and 3,886 minutes of playing time. The transfer graduate student tallied one goal and one assist for the Hokies including the game-winner in the ACC Championship first round.

Docking on Welnilton Da Silva Jr.: "Junior is another talented transfer with a lot of great experience at the top Division I level. He will immediately compete for a starting spot with our group. He is a very charismatic guy and very selfless in how he approaches the "team first" mentality that we try to create here at CCU. Junior will be a great leader and will help us compete straight away for the conference and national Championship this fall."

Leon Olacio
Olacio is a graduate transfer from Utah Valley and Neosho Community College. The midfielder has played in 49 matches and tallied two assists during his collegiate career. Olacio was named to the All-WAC preseason team at Utah Valley where he logged 2,066 minutes of playing time.

Docking on Leon Olacio: "We are very excited to have Leon join our squad for the fall after a stellar three-year career at a very good Division I level. He will transfer in having played a lot of minutes against other top players across the country giving him the necessary experience to help lead us from the midfield position. Leon is very driven and always wants to help the other players on the team succeed as much as himself."

Pierson Davis
Davis is a transfer senior from Wright State where he played in 27 matches while earning 24 starts. The Beavercreek, Ohio, native was named to the Horizon League first team in 2022 and helped secure five shutouts on the backline during his career. In high school, Davis was a two-time all-district selection and was named to the All-Ohio first team.

Docking on Pierson Davis: "Pierson comes to us after having a successful playing career over the past two years at the DI level. He is very athletic and has a tough mentality and approach to the game.This competitive approach will help him compete straight away for a starting position with our group."

Antonino Pagano
Pagano is a transfer from the Syracuse team that won the NCAA National Championship, the ACC Tournament, and the ACC Atlantic Division regular-season title in 2022. The Manlius, N.Y., native was an all-state first-team selection in high school and holds the single-season scoring record of 42 goals in 17 matches.

Docking on Antonino Pagano: "We are very excited to have Nino join us and play here at Coastal for the next few years.He has a great history and pedigree growing up in New York over the past few years. He has good experience at the DI level and is ready to prove himself and earn a starting spot with our group.Nino is a very special young man who comes from a wonderful family and upbringing and we could not be prouder to have him join our squad this fall."

Francesco Pagano
Pagano will join his brother at the beach as he transfers after three years at national championship-winning Syracuse. The forward played in 35 matches for the Orange and bagged six goals including the game-winner versus Colgate in 2021. Pagano had an impressive high school career, being named Gatorade Player of the Year, a two-time United Soccer Coaches All-American, and a two-time all-state and all-region selection.

Docking on Francesco Pagano: Cicci is the older brother of Nino and we are so pleased and grateful to have him here at Coastal.Cicci will immediately compete for a starting spot also and adds great maturity and leadership to our group for this fall.His hard-working, resilient, and tough mentality exemplifies what Coastal men's soccer is known for."

Kaito Ueki
Ueki will join the Chanticleer squad after one year at Jacksonville College and one year at Angelina College. The midfielder has played in 25 matches and recorded 14 goals and six assists during his collegiate career. While at Angelina College, he was a NJCAA Division I All-America third-team selection and was named to the Region XIV All-Conference team after helping lead his team to the conference title.

Docking on Kaito Ueki: "We are very pleased to announce the addition of Kaito to our group.As a player, he gives us another dimension in how we want to play.This added flexibility will help us throughout the year as he competes straight away for a starting spot with our group.Kaito comes from a very strong soccer background as he was an All-American at powerhouse Angelina College for former CCU standout and now head coach Martin Melchor."

Kendell Thomas
Thomas is a graduate transfer from Iona University and New Jersey Institute of Technology. He played in 30 matches, earning 20 starts, while scoring one goal during his collegiate career. Thomas has logged 1,545 minutes of playing time and helped record four shutouts on the backline.

Docking on Kendell Thomas: "We are delighted to have Kendell join us for the fall as he comes from a very good college background already.Kendell is such a delight to be around. He is very humble and willing to help others.He is the epitome of "team first" and "respect" for himself and others. Kendell will also compete immediately for starting time with us this fall."

The Chanticleers will kick off the regular season at the new CCU Soccer Stadium on Aug. 12 versus College of Charleston at 7 p.m. ET.

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