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University of New Hampshire Athletics
Wildcats Add Four Student-Athletes to Roster
3/27/2023 9:46:00 PM | Men's Soccer
Asfour, Conde, Lauta and Piccardo join the Wildcats.
DURHAM, N.H. - University of New Hampshire head men's soccer coach Marc Hubbard has announced the addition of freshman Raja Asfour (Dubai, United Arab Emirates), junior Ibrahim Conde (Montreal, Quebec), sophomore Erik Lauta (Aptos, Calif.) and freshman Matteo Piccardo (Genoa, Italy) to the Wildcat roster.
"We are very excited to be working with these players during the Spring semester," said Hubbard. "These four student-athletes will have a great advantage in getting prepared and assimilated to life at UNH before preseason begins in August. We look forward to working with them in games to see where they will best fit into our system."
RAJA ASFOUR
COACH HUBBARD: "Raja is a technical left footed player that has international experience. He is friends with our departing goalkeeper Jassem and I believe Raja carries the same qualities that led to Jass developing in our program: discipline, sacrifice, commitment to hard work. There will be a little bit of a physical development to adjust to but we look forward to using the Spring season to evaluate where Raja can best help us in the future."
IBRAHIM CONDE
COACH HUBBARD: "Ibrahim is a two-footed striker that is very dangerous around the goal. Ibra is allusive and has great ability with his feet to get out of tight jams and keep possession. Overall, he has had a very exciting career at Iowa Western where he made a big jump in maturity. We are excited to welcome another transfer from Mike Brown at Iowa Western and look forward to working with Ibra in our system."
ERIK LAUTA
COACH HUBBARD: "Erik is a two-year staring goalkeeper with experience in the NCAA Tournament and we believe has the right characteristics to compete for playing time right away. Erik's drive and character really set him apart in the process and he is very motivated to come to UNH and not only develop but push himself to perform on the highest possible level. Lastly, Erik is a tremendous student and we are lucky to have someone of his caliber at UNH."
MATTEO PICCARDO
COACH HUBBARD: "Matteo is a player and person that we believe will fit in right away to our standard and pace of play. A natural outside back with u19 Italian national experience, we feel that Matteo has the engine as well as the technical and tactical ability that is required to play the wide back position in our system. Matteo is a driven individual who has proven through the process that he feels New Hampshire is the best avenue to help him to accomplish all of his goals."
UNH went 15-4-1 (.775) overall in the 2022 season. The Wildcats were 6-1-0 in America East earning the regular season championship for the fourth straight season and their fifth regular season championship in program history. UNH then won its fourth America East Tournament championship and made its seventh NCAA Tournament appearance and sixth straight. The Wildcats defeated Seton Hall, 2-1, in the first round at Wildcat Stadium and then tied No. 10 seed Florida International, 2-2, in the second round but lost the 12 round-shootout 10-9.
"We are very excited to be working with these players during the Spring semester," said Hubbard. "These four student-athletes will have a great advantage in getting prepared and assimilated to life at UNH before preseason begins in August. We look forward to working with them in games to see where they will best fit into our system."
| Name | Yr. | Pos. | Ht. | Hometown/Previous Club |
| Raja Asfour | Fr. | M | 5-9 | Dubai, United Arab Emirates/FK Vojvodina |
| Ibrahim Conde | Jr. | F | 6-1 | Montreal, Quebec/Iowa Western |
| Erik Lauta | So. | GK | 6-3 | Aptos, Calif./Tufts |
| Matteo Piccardo | Fr. | B | 5-7 | Genova, Italy/U.S Pergolettese |
RAJA ASFOUR
COACH HUBBARD: "Raja is a technical left footed player that has international experience. He is friends with our departing goalkeeper Jassem and I believe Raja carries the same qualities that led to Jass developing in our program: discipline, sacrifice, commitment to hard work. There will be a little bit of a physical development to adjust to but we look forward to using the Spring season to evaluate where Raja can best help us in the future."
- Played for FK Vojvodina in the 2021-22 season
- Was a member of Dubai City FC for 2020-21
- Dubai City FC was 2021 UAE Division 2 runners-up
- Member of the Lebanon Youth National Team in 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2022
- Attended High School at the College of Ras Beirut and American School of Dubai
IBRAHIM CONDE
COACH HUBBARD: "Ibrahim is a two-footed striker that is very dangerous around the goal. Ibra is allusive and has great ability with his feet to get out of tight jams and keep possession. Overall, he has had a very exciting career at Iowa Western where he made a big jump in maturity. We are excited to welcome another transfer from Mike Brown at Iowa Western and look forward to working with Ibra in our system."
- Played three seasons at Iowa Western Community College with 32 goals and 18 assists for 82 points
- Team won the national championship in the fall of 2021 and were the national runners-ups for the spring 2021 season
- Named the NJCAA National Tournament Offensive Player of the Tournament in 2021
- Earned First Team All-Region accolades three times
- Attended Evangeline High School
ERIK LAUTA
COACH HUBBARD: "Erik is a two-year staring goalkeeper with experience in the NCAA Tournament and we believe has the right characteristics to compete for playing time right away. Erik's drive and character really set him apart in the process and he is very motivated to come to UNH and not only develop but push himself to perform on the highest possible level. Lastly, Erik is a tremendous student and we are lucky to have someone of his caliber at UNH."
- Played the 2021 and 2022 seasons at Tufts University as he started in all 39 games with 21 shutouts and 116 saves
- Appeared in six NCAA Tournament games over two seasons
- Team advanced to the Elite 8 of the NCAA Tournament in 2021
- Earned 2021 Third Team All-New England Region honors as the team won the 2021 NESCAC championship
- Member of De Anza Force Academy from 2016-2021 as the team was the 2019 national semifinalists
- Attended Monte Vista Christian School
MATTEO PICCARDO
COACH HUBBARD: "Matteo is a player and person that we believe will fit in right away to our standard and pace of play. A natural outside back with u19 Italian national experience, we feel that Matteo has the engine as well as the technical and tactical ability that is required to play the wide back position in our system. Matteo is a driven individual who has proven through the process that he feels New Hampshire is the best avenue to help him to accomplish all of his goals."
- Member of U.S Pergolettese from 2020-22
- Played for Genoa C.F.C from 2017-2020
- Member of the Italian Youth National Team from 2015-19
- Attended Linguistic High School Alberto Moravia
UNH went 15-4-1 (.775) overall in the 2022 season. The Wildcats were 6-1-0 in America East earning the regular season championship for the fourth straight season and their fifth regular season championship in program history. UNH then won its fourth America East Tournament championship and made its seventh NCAA Tournament appearance and sixth straight. The Wildcats defeated Seton Hall, 2-1, in the first round at Wildcat Stadium and then tied No. 10 seed Florida International, 2-2, in the second round but lost the 12 round-shootout 10-9.
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