SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — The UC Santa Barbara Men’s Soccer team has received commitments from six soon-to-be Gauchos on National Signing Day, Head Coach Tim Vom Steeg announced. The group includes the No. 5 ranked player in California’s class of 2025 and the No. 6 ranked player in Canada’s class of 2025, as well as two Major League Soccer academy players.

“With the largest graduation class in recent memory, there was a lot of pressure on the coaching staff to find talented players who could continue the long tradition of success here at UC Santa Barbara,” Vom Steeg said. “Through tireless work on the recruiting trail, headed up by Associate Head Coach Greg Wilson, we not only met our expectation but, in my opinion, have far exceeded it.” 

Four of Santa Barbara’s six signees hail from California — Mateos Carvalho, Josmar Guandique, Cole Harris and Dylan Hotaling — joined by the Wyoming-born Owen Beninga and Mississauga, Ontario native Christopher Oginni. Four of the six play for clubs competing in MLS NEXT, Major League Soccer’s youth development league, with Beninga and Guandique both spending time in MLS academies.

“The players signed during the early period are some of the top players in the country who have decided on attending a college first before entertaining a pro career," Vom Steeg said. "Although we have addressed many of our immediate needs with this initial recruiting class, over the next couple of months we expect to announce four more signings to finish the class.”

Owen Beninga | Goalkeeper | 6’4” | New England Revolution Academy

Beninga is one of two goalkeepers in this year’s signing class and is set to continue the trend of big, imposing Gaucho netminders after the 6-foot-4 David Mitzner and 6-foot-5 Leroy Zeller. Beninga was born in Jackson, Wyoming, winning a state championship and earning a call-up to the Olympic Development Program National Team in 2021. Since 2022, he has played in the New England Revolution Academy, competing in the 2023 Generation Adidas Cup and helping the Revs to a 7-3-2 record in the MLS NEXT Northeast Division this season. He is not the first Gaucho with ties to New England; current Revolution first-team player Ema Boateng played at UC Santa Barbara, as did 2007 Revolution SuperDraft selection Bryan Byrne.

“At 6-foot-4, his physical prowess allows him to dominate the box, especially in the air,” Vom Steeg said. “He showcased those talents playing and starting every game at one the top MLS Academies in the country. He is an exceptional shot stopper with soft feet. We have high expectations of Owen developing into one of the country’s top goalkeepers.”

Mateos Carvalho | Winger | 5’11” | Irvine Strikers FC

Carvalho is one of two Gaucho signees from San Clemente and Irvine Strikers FC, where he racked up team and individual accolades over four years. In 2023, his Strikers team was the No. 1 ranked U17 squad in the United States by TopDrawerSoccer and reached the MLS NEXT Cup National Finals. During that 2022-2023 campaign, Carvalho scored 38 goals, putting him among the top five goal-scorers in MLS NEXT on the year. Strikers FC has been one of the nation’s leading player development engines over the past 20 years and has already produced two Gauchos who went on to play in Major League Soccer: Chris Pontius and Christian Ramirez. After a 21-goal campaign with Strikers in the 2023-2024 season, Carvalho joined the U-20 squad of USL Championship outfit Orange County SC.  

“Mateos’ technical quality and decision making are at a very high level,” Vom Steeg said. “He brings us a left sided player with the ability to play as a winger or as a second forward. He will add another attacking option to our already potent attack next season.”

Josmar Guandique | Winger | 5’10” | FC Dallas Academy

Guandique comes to Santa Barbara from Sunnyvale, California, by way of the FC Dallas Academy, where he has played since 2023. He helped FC Dallas’ U17 squad make the MLS NEXT Playoffs in his first year with the team, extending a streak of three consecutive playoff appearances for him individually. Prior to moving to Dallas, Guandique was a standout for De Anza Force, the same club that produced current Gaucho Kaden Standish, making the MLS NEXT Playoffs in both 2021 and 2022. Also in 2022, Guandique earned an invitation to the U.S. Youth National Team Camp in Chula Vista. 

“Josmar is a dynamic winger with strong technical ability,” Vom Steeg said. “He excels in one-v-one situations and will fit well within our system of play that saw Alexis Ledoux earn The Big West Offensive Player of the Year Award.”

Cole Harris | Center Back | 6’2” | Irvine Strikers FC

Harris is the other Strikers FC product in this signing class, joining his teammate and fellow San Clemente native Carvalho. Harris was on the same Strikers U17 squad that ranked tops in the nation and made the MLS NEXT Cup National Finals in 2023, and in 2024, he was selected to captain his side, helping them reach the MLS NEXT Cup Round of 16. Individually, Prep Soccer ranked him as the No. 5 player in the state of California in 2024. Like Carvalho, he joins the list of Strikers players to become Gauchos, alongside MLS pros Chris Pontius and Christian Ramirez.

“Cole is a member of the nationally recognized Irvine Strikers soccer club,” Vom Steeg said. “Along with fellow incoming freshman Mateos Carvalho, they both have been recognized as two of the top players in the country. The strength of Cole’s game is his athleticism, one-v-one defending ability and his competitiveness on the field. We believe he will develop into a top central defender at the Division I level.”

Dylan Hotaling | Goalkeeper | 6’4” | Davis Legacy SC

Hotaling joins Beninga in the Class of 2025 goalkeeper union, also standing at an imposing 6-foot-4 like Gaucho goalies before him. A native of Davis, Hotaling was an All-Delta League First Team selection at Davis Senior High after an incredible 2023-2024 season in which he posted 11 shutouts while allowing just eight goals. That same season with his club team, San Juan SC, Hotaling reached the Elite Clubs National League National Playoffs. After that remarkable campaign, he was selected to Davis Legacy SC’s United Premier Soccer League squad, where he currently plays. He has also participated in the NorCal Player Development Program.

“Dylan is a goalkeeper that has a high ceiling and the ability to developed into a top-notch goalkeeper,” Vom Steeg said. “He has a combination of great size, quickness and athleticism.  Most impressive for us as a staff was his attitude and competitive nature. Both of these qualities in our environment will help him to reach his potential.”

Christopher Oginni | Winger/Wing Back | 6’1” | Sigma FC

Rounding out the Gauchos’ 2024 signing class is the Mississauga, Ontario native Oginni, who ranks as the No. 6 player in all of Canada in this year’s class. A two-time Team Ontario selection, Oginni plays his club soccer with Sigma FC, a program that has produced Inter Milan winger Tajon Buchanan, Mallorca striker Cyle Larin and Toronto FC right back Richie Laryea, among others. In 2024, Oginni helped Sigma FC reach the finals of League1 Ontario’s U20 division. Also this year, he signed a development contract with Forge FC in the Canadian Premier League, training regularly with their first team. He joins a long line of Canadian Gauchos, including Rob Friend and Tyler Rosenlund.

“Chris is considered one of the top recruits in all of Canada,” Vom Steeg said. "He has all the components of a great college player and beyond: size, athleticism, pace, great feet and a high soccer IQ. He brings versatility and the ability to play as a winger or wing back. We are expecting Chris to have an immediate impact in the program in his first year.”