After a successful first season at the helm of the Notre Dame men's soccer program that saw the Irish reach the NCAA Championship quarterfinals for the first time since 2013, head coach Chad Riley welcomes six newcomers to the fold for the 2019 campaign.
"We are excited to welcome this group of young men into the University and our team. Coach Plotkin and Coach Fahey did a wonderful job identifying this group. This new class will certainly increase the competition within our team and I know many of them will compete for important minutes right away.
"We are always looking for future soccer players who are very driven to compete in all areas of their lives. We feel this group has a lot of potential and now the trick is to come to Notre Dame and turn that potential into reality." - Head Coach Chad Riley
Notre Dame Class of 2023
- Defender Mohammad Abualnadi (Leawood, Kansas/Sporting KC Developmental Academy)
- Defender Zach Dedrick (Wilton, Connecticut/Beachside SC)
- Goalkeeper Thomas Deslongchamps (Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin/Bavarian SC & FC United Developmental Academy)
- Defender Reese Mayer (Baltimore, Maryland/Baltimore Armour)
- Midfielder Ethan O'Brien (Bellevue, Washington/Columbus Crew SC Academy)
- Midfielder Michael Pellegrino (Wenonah, New Jersey/Philadelphia Union Youth).
MOHAMMAD ABUALNADI
WHY NOTRE DAME?
"I chose Notre Dame because it is a top university that has a rare combination of both demanding academics and top-notch athletics." - Mohammad Abualnadi
ABUALNADI AT A GLANCE
- Hometown: Leawood, Kansas
- High School: Blue Valley HS
- Club Team: Sporting KC Developmental Academy
- Position: Defender
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
- Earned a start in every match with Sporting KC's Academy team during the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons.
- Called up to play with the U19 team for the playoffs in May 2018.
- Invited to the first team's preseason camp.
- Earned Honor Roll status every semester of high school.
- Volunteered in the Kansas City community, helping to feed the homeless.
ZACH DEDRICK
WHY NOTRE DAME?
"I chose Notre Dame because it combines top-tier athletics with an elite, faith-driven education. I have always lived and breathed Notre Dame and it has been a dream of mine to attend the University." - Zach Dedrick
DEDRICK AT A GLANCE
- Hometown: Wilton, Connecticut
- High School: Wilton HS
- Club Team: Beachside SC of Connecticut
- Position: Defender
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
- Three-time captain of Beachside SC club team
- Selected to represent club and selected by Adidas to play at Generation Adidas Real Madrid Select program in August 2018.
- New England Soccer Journal DA Best XI Fall 2018.
- National Honor Society and Spanish Honor Society member.
- Leader of the TOPSoccer Program (program for children with special needs) since freshman year.
- Brother of Kyle and Sean Dedrick (two former Notre Dame men's soccer monogram winners).
THOMAS DESLONGCHAMPS
WHY NOTRE DAME?
"I grew up loving Notre Dame. My family often went to football games, and I have distinct memories of praying together at the grotto. As I gained a better understanding of the extent to which the faith-based Notre Dame education develops students into productive and well-rounded people, I realized that I wanted to continue my academic and athletic careers with the Fighting Irish." - Thomas Deslongchamps
DESLONGCHAMPS AT A GLANCE
- Hometown: Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin
- High School: Whitefish Bay HS
- Club Team: Bavarian SC & FC United Developmental Academy
- Position: Goalkeeper
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
- 2018 United Premier Soccer League (UPSL) National Champion with Milwaukee Bavarian SC men’s team.
- Youngest player ever to play on 2018 Milwaukee Bavarian SC Men’s UPSL team.
- 2018 National Amateur Cup Champion with Milwaukee Bavarian SC.
- Four-time captain of Bavarian SC.
- Trained with the U-17 USMNT in Bradenton, FL 2016.
- Earned High Honor Roll status each semester.
- Volunteered with “La Raccolta,” a national food drive throughout Italy which takes place every November at various grocery stores.
- Spent final semester of high school career living abroad in Modena, Italy.
ETHAN O'BRIEN
WHY NOTRE DAME?
"I chose Notre Dame because it is one of the best universities in the world, it is a Catholic institution and it has a top soccer program. I know it will make me a better student, player and, most importantly, a better person." - Ethan O'Brien
O'BRIEN AT A GLANCE
- Hometown: Bellevue, Washington
- High School: Eastside Catholic & New Albany HS
- Club Team: Seattle Sounders Academy & Columbus Crew SC Academy
- Position: Midfielder
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
- Led Columbus Crew SC Academy to quarterfinals of National Development Academy Playoffs.
- Recorded a combined 29 goals and 25 assists over the last four club seasons.
- Selected to the Washington State Best XI.
- Led Seattle Sounders Academy U15 team to Youdan Trophy Championship and fourth place finish at Cayman Airways Invitational.
- Volunteered by coaching and helping with food drives with Rave Green Foundation and coaching at Seattle Boys and Girls Club.
REESE MAYER
WHY NOTRE DAME?
"I chose Notre Dame because I felt it was the perfect fit for me. It was a school where I felt I would both be challenged on the soccer field and in the classroom, and that was all I could ask for in a university." - Reese Mayer
MAYER AT A GLANCE
- Hometown: Baltimore, Maryland
- High School: McDonogh School
- Club Team: Baltimore Armour
- Position: Defender
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
- Baltimore Armour U19 Team Captain.
- Top Drawer Soccer Top 150 Player.
- 2014 USYSA National Championship Best XI selection.
- Made the Dean's List all four years of high school.
- Volunteered with District Court Re Entry projects. This organization helps either people being processed for a crime or the a condition of their probation to find jobs and get reestablished in the community.
WHY NOTRE DAME?
"I chose Notre Dame because I felt it was the perfect fit for me. It was a school where I felt I would both be challenged on the soccer field and in the classroom, and that was all I could ask for in a university." - Reese Mayer
MICHAEL PELLEGRINO
WHY NOTRE DAME?
"I chose Notre Dame because of the strong academics, storied soccer program and the opportunity to become a better student, player and person." - Michael Pellegrino
PELLEGRINO AT A GLANCE
- Hometown: Wenonah, New Jersey
- High School: YSC Academy
- Club Team: Philadelphia Union Youth
- Position: Midfielder
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
- In 2018, led the team to the US Soccer Development Academy National Quarterfinals.
- Philadelphia Union Youth squad finished with a combined record of 50-13-15 over the past three years.
- Made professional (USL) debut on Sept. 30, 2017.
- Scored 10 goals over the course of the last three years.