University of Connecticut Athletics
Men's Soccer Announce Eight Additions to 2026 Roster
7/28/2026 2:59:00 PM | Men's Soccer
STORRS, Conn. – UConn men's soccer head coach Chris Gbandi has announced the addition of eight student-athletes to the 2026 roster.
Head coach Chris Gbandi on the incoming transfer class: "We are excited to welcome an outstanding group of student-athletes to the UConn Men's Soccer family. I want to thank my staff for their tireless work and commitment in putting together this outstanding class of young men. Throughout the recruiting process, these student-athletes demonstrated the qualities we value most in our program – a relentless competitive spirit and a willingness to grow on and off the field. A Competitive Mindset and a Growth Mindset are two key pillars of our program. Their drive to compete at the highest level, embrace challenges, and continually improve made them a perfect fit for our culture. We are thrilled to welcome them to Storrs and look forward to supporting their development as players, students, and people."
Meet the Transfers
Abel Ador (Xikpo, Ghana) – Defender
Abel Ador joins the Huskies roster in 2026 after spending last season at Monroe University. He started in 11 matches, scoring two goals with an assist, totaling 786 minutes played. Prior to his time at Monroe, Ador spent his freshman season at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, appearing in ten matches with five starts, recording six shots in 418 minutes played. He will have two years of eligibility with the Huskies and will be studying Economics.
Yotaro Furutani (Tokyo, Japan) – Midfielder
Yotaro Furutani arrives in Storrs from Monroe University. In two seasons at Monroe, Furutani played in 24 matches with 18 starts in the midfield. He scored two goals with a pair of assists in 1,427 minutes played. In 2025, Furutani played in all 13 matches for the Mustangs, logging the fifth most minutes on the team with 731. Prior to his time at Monroe,Furutani graduated from Kyushu High School in Fukuoka, Japan in 2024. He played in the Avispa Fukuoka Academy and competed in the Prince Takamado Trophy Prince League in Japan. Furutani has two years of eligibility left and will be studying Economics.
Rashid Nacif Joffre (Santa Cruz, Bolivia) – Forward
Rashid Nacif Joffre comes to UConn from WVU Potomac State College. He started in 17 matches in 2022-23, recording 26 goals and four assists with five game-winning goals, ranking third in the NJCAA in goals and points. In that season, Joffre scored a career high four goals against Carroll Community College and tallied five hat tricks. He earned First Team All-Region honors. Prior to his time at WVU Potomac, Joffre graduated from Santa Cruz Cooperative School in Santa Cruz, Bolivia in 2022. He played for Oriente Petrolero in the Bolivian Primera Division. Joffre has one year of eligibility left.
Jacques Mason (Monrovia, Liberia) – Midfielder
Jacques Mason joins the Huskies roster after spending one season at Wilmington University. Mason turned in a strong rookie season for the Wildcats, starting in 20 of Wilmington's 21 matches. He recorded two goals and eight assists, with 44 shots, the fourth most on the roster. Both of Mason's goals were game winners. Prior to his time at Wilmington, Mason graduated from YSC Academy in Chester, Pennsylvania in 2025. He played for the Philadelphia Union Academy. He will have three years of eligibility with the Huskies and will be studying Business Management.
Jorge Sandoval (Gainesville, Georgia) – Forward
Jorge Sandoval arrives in Storrs from the University of North Georgia. In two seasons for the Nighthawks, Sandoval played in 37 matches with 33 starts at forward, totaling 12 goals and 13 assists with two game-winning goals. In 2025, he was named to the United Soccer Coaches All-Region First Team, and D2CCA All-Southeast Region Second Team, earning PBC All-Conference First Team honors. In his rookie season in 2024, Sandoval was named the Peach Belt Conference Freshman of the Year, earning All-Conference First Team honors and United Soccer Coaches All-Southeast Region Third Team. Prior to his time at North Georgia, Sandoval graduated from Johnson High School in Gainesville, Georgia in 2023. He won back-to-back GHSA State Championships in 2022 and 2023. In his senior season, Sandoval was named the 2023 4A Player of the Year by Georgia High School Soccer. He will have two years of eligibility left and will be studying Economics.
Aidan Sheppela (Brentwood, New Hampshire) – Midfielder
Aidan Sheppela comes to UConn after spending his first two seasons at the University of Maryland. In two years, he appeared in 16 matches for the Terrapins, recording a goal and an assist with five shots in 337 minutes played. Prior to his time at Maryland, Sheppela graduated from VLACS in Exeter, New Hampshire in 2024. He played for Seacoast United. Sheppela will have two years of eligibility with the Huskies.
Szymon Sokolnicki (Warsaw, Poland) – Defender
Szymon Sokolnicki joins the Huskies roster after spending his freshman season at Lincoln Memorial University. Sokolnicki had an impressive rookie campaign in 2025, earning South Atlantic Conference All-Conference Second Team honors. He played in all 19 games with 18 starts in defense, scoring one goal for the Railsplitters. Sokolnicki led Lincoln Memorial to a SAC Tournament Championship, posting a clean sheet in the title game. Prior to his time at LMU, Sokolnicki graduated from Moracz – Zofia and Jedrzej Moraczewski Private General Secondary School in 2024. He will have three years of eligibility and will be studying Sport Management.
Brayden Strait (Huntsville, Alabama) – Defender
Brayden Strait arrives in Storrs after spending one year at Lipscomb University in 2025. He appeared in 14 matches, recording three shots in 1,021 minutes played. Before transferring to Lipscomb, Strait played two seasons at Auburn University at Montgomery from 2022 to 2023. After redshirting his first season, Strait appeared in all 17 games in 2023, making 16 starts in defense. He played the second most minutes on the team (1,458), leading the backline to hold opponents to one goal or less in 15 of 17 matches. Strait was named to the 2023 GSC All-Tournament Team. He graduated from Huntsville High School in 2022. Strait has one year of eligibility left and will be studying General Studies.
