VILLANOVA, Pa. – Below is a look at the newest members of the Villanova Men's Soccer program, set to arrive in August to begin their journey with the Wildcats.
 
Forward Marcello Mazzola
YSC Academy
Hometown: Newtown Square, Pa.
 
Head Coach Tom Carlin: "Marcello joins our Men's Soccer program from the Philadelphia Union Academy. We expect Marcello to bring MLS-level professionalism to the table, as he has been training and playing with Union II for the past year. Before joining Union II, Marcello won a national championship with Philadelphia Union U17 team in the MLS Next League. Marcello's craftiness on the ball, intelligent movement off the ball, and nose for goals will add another level of attacking prowess to an already powerful Wildcat attacking group."
 
Midfielder Josh Oladele
Pennsbury High School
Hometown: Yardley, Pa.
 
Carlin: "Josh is a versatile player who brings the ability to play as a center back as well as a center mid in our system of play. Josh is a local player, playing for a nationally competitive FC Delco team that has battled in the MLS Next Playoffs the past two seasons. Josh is an extremely athletic player, who can cover ground, win ariel battles, and has a very high ceiling.  We expect Josh to make an immediate impact on our 2023 roster both athletically as well as culturally."
 
Defender Luke Martelli
YSC Academy
Hometown: Kinzers, Pa.
 
Carlin: "Natural left-footed players are hard to come by. To find one in our backyard, with the distinct qualities we're looking for in a wide player, made Luke a natural fit for us. Coming from the Union Academy, Luke is technically sound, can run for days, and can cover the whole flank.  Luke has gained professional experience training and playing with Philadelphia Union II for the past year. He was a key part of the Union's U17 national championship in the 2021-2022 MLS Next season. Luke is a winner and will fit our style of play right away."
 
Midfielder Diego Valles
Edgenutty Virtual Academy
Hometown: Miami, Fla.
 
Carlin: "Diego is another MLS product, coming from Orlando City. We first watched Diego while he was training and playing with Orlando City B. His ability to find central pockets and play in and out of tight spaces is something we were looking for in our midfield. Diego has a great engine and a relentless drive to win. His versatility will not only bolster our midfield but make him a viable option at wingback as well. Besides his abilities on the field, Diego's personality and sense of humor are traits that made him an outstanding fit to become a Wildcat."
 
Forward Javon Daniels
Burlington Township High School
Hometown: Burlington, N.J.
 
Carlin: "Cedar Stars Monmouth standout Javon Daniels is an exciting attacking player who can beat defenders in multiple ways. He is technical, can beat an opponent 1v1, and has very good speed to expose space behind back lines. Javon committed to Villanova early in the recruiting process, which shows how much he appreciates the opportunity to be a student-athlete at Villanova. Javon fit in with our players the moment he stepped on campus and we look forward to working with him in order to maximize his potential."
 
Midfielder Belmar Joseph
St. Benedict's Prep
Hometown: West Orange, N.J.
 
Carlin: "Belmar is a top central midfielder coming from Cedar Stars Bergen and St. Benedict's Prep. Belmar's fluid technical ability, defensive tenacity, high work rate and never-give-up attitude made him a highly touted player in the 2023 recruiting class. Belmar has been a leader on both his club and high school teams, consistently pushing to get the most out of his teammates to maximize their ability to play for championships. Belmar has international experience playing in PSG's youth system before moving back to New Jersey. We are looking forward to working with him."
 
Midfielder Mikhail Zaretser
NYCFC
Hometown: Brooklyn, N.Y.
 
Carlin: "We are excited to add defensive center mid Mikhail Zaretser, from MLS club NYCFC, to our Villanova family. Misha is a hard-nosed player who has the technical and passing ability to play in and out of tight spaces. Misha is a very cerebral player and tends to think the game two plays in advance. He also is a team-first type of player who will lay his body on the line and do whatever it takes for his team to win. Villanova's strong sense of community and family really resonated with Misha. We look forward to Misha developing into a dominant force in midfield for us."