Morris Elite’s USL 2 Team Roster Released!

Morris Elite’s USL 2 Team: A preview of the team’s “best season to come” by Grace Cannizzo

MADISON, NJ – Morris Elite’s USL 2 Team will work to earn their way into the league’s playoffs for the first time, and this may very well be the year that they do so. USL Sporting Technical director, Mike Gravinese, noted that “With the strong core returning and exciting players joining, our team looks to have their best season yet.”

One of these “strong core returning” players includes midfielder Henrique Perestrelo, who Gravinese says “will give stability” to the team. The Madeira Island native, who also plays for Lindenwood University, made an appearance in every one of Morris Elite’s games last season and seeks to serve as a dominant, consistent force once again.

Also returning for the team is forward at Columbia University, Jake Novoshelski. He was a frequent starter at Columbia this past season and Gravinese points out that this season, with Morris Elite, “he will look to add to his goals account.”

As for newcomers, the 6’3” forward from Nigeria, Uno Frederick-Ilekhuoba will be joining the team. He put up five goals for Saint Thomas of Aquinas this past season and aims to contribute to Morris Elite’s goal scoring this year.

Another new and welcomed face for the team will be midfielder Mo Tall from Burkina Faso. While an injury limited his playing time this past season with St. Bonaventure University, he has certainly proved himself when in good health. In the 2022 season, he played for Bucknell University and started all 17 games, leading the team in goals, assists, and points.

Other new players include Ahmed Abd-Elazem (MF), Aidan Arber (D – Marist College), Yohance Douglass (F – Bradley University), and Ethan Horribin (D).

Both the returning stars and fresh faces look to reproduce their great success, this upcoming season.

The full roster is listed below.

Forwards – Jalen Moni, Jake Novoshelski, Matthew Yi, Andrew Armstrong, Yohance Douglass, Kevon Evans,  Uno Frederick-Ilekhuoba, Oliver Karbownik

Midfielders – Ahmed Abd-Elazem, Gabriel Addo, Ignasi Cucurella, Andrews Lazo, Michael Mollica, Henrique Perestrelo, Rui Reis, Chris Jaephil Seo, Mo Tall

Defenders – Aidan Arber, Mouhamadou Diop, Ethan Horrobin, Ryan Kipness, Matt Moran, Tobi Osoba, Guy Panzer, Ethan Streeter, Peter Tolkin

Goalkeepers – Luca Misko, Matias Molina, Alex Velasquez

Head Coach – Donato Curci, assisted by Mike Gravinese, Will Reed and Antonio Ferraganio

Morris Elite Soccer Club was founded in 2016 by former professional soccer player Vincenzo Bernardo in Madison, NJ. Today, 1,000 youth players are a part of the Club that spans the Morris County area. In 2022, Morris Elite Soccer Club’s senior men’s team joined USL 2, a pre-professional soccer league based all around the US.

Morris Elite will kick off their season this Saturday, May 18th, at 6:30 PM EST against Staten Island ASC at Drew University in Ranger Stadium.