SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — The UC Santa Barbara Men's Soccer program has secured the signatures of two more international talents, Head Coach Tim Vom Steeg announced on Monday, confirming the arrival of German midfielder Mika Ney and English goalkeeper Luke Skinner. 
 
Ney comes to Santa Barbara after a year at JuCo powerhouse Tyler Junior College, where he helped the Apaches to a 19-game unbeaten run and a Gulf South District Championship as a freshman last season. A more defensive-minded midfielder, the Oldendorf, Germany native made 16 starts in 19 appearances, helping Tyler Junior College keep 13 clean sheets in those 19 matches. That being said, he has the ability to go forward as well, much like the graduating Filip Basili, one of three outgoing central midfielders he will help replace. Ney helped set up a pair of goals for the Apaches on his way to earning Second Team All-Region 14 honors in 2024. He provided plenty of attacking threat in his final season of club soccer in Germany too, scoring seven goals and added four assists for SV Drochtersen/Assel in their 2023-2024 campaign. He joins Justin Gomes in the Gauchos' class of incoming midfielders.
 
Much like in midfield, Santa Barbara has a spot to fill between the posts after goalkeeper David Mitzner's graduation, and Skinner has been brought in to compete for that spot. The London native has attended Loughborough University for the last four years, competing in England's non-league system and the British Universities and Colleges Sport league, helping Loughborough win the national championship in the 2023-2024 season and being named the Club Presidents' Player of the Season. Earlier in his career, he was also named the Manager's Player of the Season and the Supporters' Player of the Season while at non-league Stanway Rovers in 2021. Skinner brings that high-level experience to a relatively young goalkeeping corps for the Gauchos, as their other two incoming netminders are both freshmen, Owen Beninga and Dylan Hotaling.
 
Ney and Skinner join a Santa Barbara team gearing up for another run at The Big West Championship and their 16^th NCAA Tournament appearance after going 12-5-5 and defeating UCLA in the first round of the national postseason in 2024. Fans can get their first look at Ney, Skinner and all the 2025 Gauchos for free during Santa Barbara's Blue/Gold Scrimmage at Harder Stadium, August 9 at 4 p.m.