Balog adds trio to 2016 recruiting class

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Evan O’Kelly Director of Communications O: (406) 657-2130 E: evan.okelly@msubillings.edu Tuesday, March 15, 2016 Balog adds trio to 2016 recruiting class

Flavio Colasanti, Oliver Posarelli, and Victor Sanchez all sign letters of intent to join the Yellowjackets for the fall 2016 season.

BILLINGS, Mont. – Announcing the addition of three more players to his roster for the 2016 season, Montana State University Billings men’s soccer head coach Alex Balog welcomed Flavio Colasanti, Oliver Posarelli, and Victor Sanchez as the newest faces for next year’s Yellowjackets.

Colasanti is from Rome and Posarelli is from Verona as the two Italians will represent MSUB’s first international signings of the year. Sanchez is a Portland, Ore., native who will transfer from Peninsula College.

“With these three recruits, we are close to completing our recruiting class for the fall of 2016,” said Balog. “Flavio, Oliver, and Victor will strengthen our squad defensively, offensively, and creatively. We are happy with where our recruiting for next fall is going and we are confident that the 10 players we have brought in so far will help us to an even better season than last year.”

Flavio Colasanti Rome, Italy Bertrand Russell High School/University of Rome Tor Vergata 5’ 10” - Midfielder Currently playing for the Almas Roma club team, Colasanti will bring skill at the midfield position with a proven offensive ability. Having reached double figures in goals scored in each of the last three seasons, he was a member of the Coppa Lazio championship winners in 2012. In 2013-14, Colasanti netted a personal best 16 goals.

Coach Balog on Colasanti: “Flavio is smooth on the ball and is a soft-spoken young man. Underneath that soft layer lies a winner. He is a player who comes from Rome and has been exposed to one of the best soccer surroundings in the world.

Flavio’s creativity in the midfield is something we have been missing the last few years, so we hope he will come in ready to make an impact.”

Colasanti on choosing MSUB: “I chose MSUB because I want to study at an important college and I’m looking forward to winning with the soccer team. I really like the framework of the team and the people I had the chance and pleasure to meet.”

Oliver Posarelli Verona, Italy Educandato Statale Agli Angeli 5’ 11” – Defender Posarelli honed his soccer skills as part of the Chievo Verona academy as a young player, learning in one of the top soccer atmospheres in northern Italy. Competing at the top youth level in Italy, Posarelli brings a 5-foot-11 frame as a solid defender to complement MSUB’s back line.

Coach Balog on Posarelli: “Oliver comes from a soccer background that is secondto-none. We expect him to come in and make an immediate impact on our program, and he is a defender who can play multiple positions across the back line. Oliver’s experience, technical ability, and speed will be massive assets for us.

Our belief is that he will fit in very well with our group of recruits and returners, and we hope to build the program around him for the next few years.”

Posarelli on choosing MSUB: “I discovered MSUB this winter in a showcase near Rome. There, assistant coach Guido Riffeser spoke to me about MSUB, and I found it to be a good opportunity for me to prove myself. I like the idea of getting to know a new culture and to do my best on the field.”

Victor Sanchez Portland, Oregon David Douglas High School/Peninsula College 5’ 4” – Forward Sanchez enters MSUB as a junior, playing his first two collegiate seasons at Peninsula College (Port Angeles, Wash.). In his two seasons at Peninsula, Sanchez scored nine goals and had 11 assists, and was an academic all-Northwest Athletic Conference selection.

A dangerous attacking player, Sanchez was a first-team all-state pick after being selected as the Oregon Class 6A Mount Hood Conference Player of the Year at David Douglas High School. In his final two years with the Scots, Sanchez scored 14 goals and added 14 assists under head coach Logan Marquardt.

Coach Balog on Sanchez: “We believe Victor can add speed and technical ability on the wing going forward. He is crafty and has been part of a highly-successful junior college program coached by an outstanding coach in Andrew Chapman.

Academically, Victor is a very solid student with a GPA well over 3.0. He’s another player who will get the job done on and off the field.”

Sanchez on choosing MSUB: “I chose MSUB because they have a good soccer program and they have the area I want to major in.”

Colasanti, Posarelli, and Sanchez join seven other recruits who have already signed with the ‘Jackets for next season.

MSUB finished the 2015 season with a record of 8-6-4 overall and 6-5-3 in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play for fourth place.

2016 MSUB Men’s Soccer Recruiting Class Name Position Ian Bream Midfielder Flavio Colasanti Midfielder Alexis Flores Defender/Midfielder JD Hauenstein Forward/Midfielder Callan Martin Midfielder Oliver Posarelli Defender Aidan Raj Defender/Midfielder Victor Sanchez Forward Chad Triplett Defender/Midfielder Caleb VanBlankenstein Goalkeeper

Hometown North Bend, OR Rome, Italy Peoria, AZ Spokane Valley, WA Spokane, WA Verona, Italy Hollister, CA Portland, OR Edmonds, WA Anchorage, AK

Previous School North Bend High School University of Rome Tor Vergata Grand Canyon University Central Valley High School Joel E. Ferris High School Educandato Statale Agli Angeli Grand Canyon University David Douglas High School Meadowdale High School Service High School

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