Lions Introduce Men’s Soccer Newcomers
8/29/2023 11:43:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Five join program for 2023 campaign
NEW YORK — Columbia men's soccer and head coach Michael Casper officially introduced five newcomers to the program on Tuesday. Joining the roster for the 2023 season are first-years Lyon Atiencia, Chad Baker, Jackson ten Oever and Jay Sonthalia, along with sophomore transfer Christoph Kuttner.
Details on this season's incoming class are below. Fans can access the complete 2023-24 Columbia men's soccer roster by clicking this link.
Lyon Atiencia – Fr. – M/F – 5-4 – 140 – CC – Stamford, Conn. / AITE Stamford / New York Soccer Club
Atiencia developed his soccer skills at New York Red Bulls Academy at the U13 level before moving on to New York Soccer Club at U14 and beyond. While playing for AITE Stamford, he was named all-state as a sophomore. Atiencia was NYSC's top assister during his 2022-23 U19 campaign and has played with the club's U19 squad since the age of 16. Academically, Atiencia was part of both the National Honors Society and Science National Honors Society. He was also invited to a trial with Southampton U12.
Chad Baker – Fr. – M – 5-10 – 155 – CC – Vancouver, Canada / Heritage Woods / Vancouver Whitecaps FC Academy
Baker brings experience from the club level with Mountain United FC (2017-21), BC Soccer Provincial Team (2020-21) and Vancouver Whitecaps FC Academy (2021-23). He helped his Whitecaps FC Academy team to the League1 BC Championship in 2023, scoring the deciding penalty kick in the final. Baker was also MVP of his school soccer team during his lone season competing in 2020. At the youth level, he was invited to trial with Manchester City. Academically, he graduated from Heritage Woods Secondary with a 96 percent average, receiving honors with distinction every year from grades 9-12. He also received a Province of British Columbia Scholarship for being in the top percentile of graduating students.
Jackson ten Oever – Fr. – D – 5-9 – 165 – CC – Brooklyn, N.Y. / Poly Prep / Met Oval
Jackson ten Oever is a local product from Brooklyn who attended Poly Prep and developed his skills all over the region. He is a three-star recruit who was ranked 19th in New York State by TopDrawerSoccer.com. Ten Oever trained as a member of New York Red Bulls Academy from the U15-U17 age groups. Most recently, he moved on to Met Oval Academy and served as team captain. In his final year, he led the team on a playoff run that was decided in a 16-round penalty kick shootout. Ten Oever was chosen for the MLS "Best of the Best" game at the U19 level and attended multiple USYNT training camps. On the academic side, ten Oever was a member of his school's Cum Laude Society and received the African American Recognition Award, as well as the AP Scholar Award.
Jay Sonthalia – Fr. – GK – 6-0 – 180 – CC – San Diego, Calif. / Canyon Crest Academy / LAFC Academy
Jay Sonthalia joins the Lions after playing for MLS Academy LAFC from 2019-22. He was the starting goalkeeper for his club which reached the national semifinal in 2022 and started in all games in the club's 2022 GA Cup run. Based on his performance, Sonthalia earned a mention in TopDrawerSoccer's Generation Adidas Best XI. The San Diego native conceded the fewest goals nationally during U17 MLS NEXT season and participated and won MVP in MLS NEXT's 2022-23 "Best of the Best'' game. He finished his 2023 senior year at home playing for City SC U19 and helped the club to their first MLS NEXT playoff berth. During his youth career, Sonthalia has attended several USYNT camps and has been contacted by the Indian Football Federation.
Christoph Kuttner – So. – F – 6-3 – 180 – CC – Prague, Czech Republic / International School of Prague / Radford
Christoph Kuttner arrives as a sophomore transfer from Radford University. In his freshman season with the Highlanders, Kuttner saw action in two matches, totaling 50 minutes, and registered one shot. His time included 31 minutes against NC State last October 25. Before arriving at Radford, he attended the International School of Prague. While growing up in the Czech Republic, Kuttner developed his skills in the youth systems at FC Přední Kopanina and SK Stresovice 1911.
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