ROCHESTER, Mich. – Anthony Aromatario, Alessio Carbone, Kai Garvey and Zachary Townsend have signed National Letters of Intent (NLI) as additions to the Oakland men's soccer 2021 recruiting class announced Head Coach Eric Pogue.
 
"To say we are excited about our four initial 2021 signings on NLI Signing Day is an understatement," said Pogue. "The 2021 recruitment process has proved very challenging with the COVID-19 pandemic putting us in a NCAA Dead Period for the last eight months since March 13th with no evaluations, contacts, visits or camps.
 
"Luckily, I was able to put in a ton of work recruiting from November 2019 through March 2020 for both 2020 and 2021 classes, particularly in Toronto," added Pogue. "I feel extremely excited with our three signings in Alessio, Anthony and Kai. All three are the top-rated recruits out of Canada in their positions of goalkeeper, center midfielder and forward respectively. We make it a point to continue drawing top recruits out of Canada and 'own the North'."
 
ANTHONY AROMATARIO - MF
Hometown: Woodbridge, Ontario, Canada
High School: Emily Carr Secondary School
Club Team: North Toronto Nitros SC
 
Highlights:
• Helped lead North Toronto Nitros to consecutive Ontario Player Development League (OPDL) and Charity Shield titles (2018, 2019) and 2020 indoor Ontario Cup championship
• 2020 FTF Canada Toronto Combine midfield MVP
• Member of Ontario U16 and U17 Umbro Showcase Winners
• Also member of the Ontario Provincial Team, Woodbridge Strikers SC and International Football Club (IFC)
• Trained in Italy with Citadella (Serie B), Vicenza (Serie C) and Este (Serie D) soccer clubs
 
Coach Pogue on Aromatario: "Anthony is huge signing for the program. He is an extremely gifted and talented central midfielder with the versatility to play any of the six, eight or 10 roles. His technical and tactical acumen is off the charts combined with his speed, quickness, strength and dynamic ability will make him a force, not only in the Horizon League, but within the region and nation immediately. I see Anthony as a future top professional down the line."
 
ALESSIO CARBONE - GK
Hometown: Woodbridge, Ontario, Canada
High School: Holy Cross Catholic Academy
Club Team: Vaughan Azzuri SC
 
Highlights:
• Helped club teams to U16 Futsal Ontario Cup (2016) and Ontario Player Development League (OPDL) Eastern Conference title (2018)
• Didn't allow a goal during entire high school tournament (2019)
• Two-time Golden Glove winner for recording the most shutouts (2015, 2016) and team MVP in Canada vs USA Futsal in 2016
• Three-time Team Ontario Provincial Team and CPL U21 member
 
Coach Pogue on Carbone: "Alessio is someone I zeroed in on a year ago early in the 2021 recruiting process as he is an elite goalkeeper already in a number of areas. He also has immense potential to improve and his ceiling is limitless. No doubt Alessio is the next in line of great Oakland goalkeepers."

KAI GARVEY - F
Hometown: Brampton, Ontario Canada
High School: St. Marguerite D'Youville Secondary School
Club Team: Sigma FC
 
Highlights:
• Two-time St. Marguerite team MVP (2018, 2019) and Athlete of the Month selection at left wing
• Member of U-15 Canadian National Team at the National ID Camp and National ID Showcase in 2017
• Member of Ontario Provincial Team
• Honor Roll selection
 
Coach Pogue on Garvey: "Kai is someone I've had my eye on since last winter while watching him with Sigma FC. I thought he had all characteristics necessary to be a top NCAA Division I winger with great pace, power, athleticism and dynamism. He's a very good one-vs-one attacker, hard worker on both sides of the ball, who can both score and assist. We expect big things from Kai immediately."
 
ZACHARY TOWNSEND - F
Hometown: Oxford, Mich.
High School: Oxford
Club Team: Nationals FC
 
Highlights:
• Two-time Oakland Activities Association (OAA) All-District Team, All-Regional Team and All-Academic Team selection (2019, 2020)
• First-Team All-State (2020) and All-State Honorable Mention (2019)
• Scored 22 goals during junior year
• Helped Oxford to league championship (2019) and Waza FC to Junior State Cup championship (2015)
• Two-time Oxford Schools Scholar-Athlete selection (2019, 2020)
• Four-year Honor Roll selection
 
Coach Pogue on Townsend: "Zach is a local talent out of Oxford High School who was born bleeding Black and Gold as a Pioneer and Golden Grizzly legacy multiple times over. He has a huge upside and potential with great intangibles because you can't teach 6'4", 200 pounds. Zach was an absolute no brainer signing for us and he will write his own chapter in the Townsend family legacy at Oakland."
 
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