SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Santa Clara men's soccer announced the second member of its incoming recruiting class for the 2017-18 school year on Tuesday, Stefano Paolina. The central midfielder currently attends Upper St. Clair High School in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

"I chose Santa Clara because the moment I first visited campus I got that gut feeling telling me that this is where I belong," Paolina said.

Paolina played three years of soccer at his high school and was named the team captain his junior and senior years. He earned all-conference accolades his junior and senior years. Paolina also garnered all-city and all-state honors as a senior. His squad earned a fourth-place in their league with a 12-6-1 record.

"Stefano has a great blend in his ability to play in the midfield," head coach Cameron Rast said. "You always like a guy who is good on the ball, who can move it and keep it for your team to build into the attack. But he also does a very good job of recovering the ball, hunting it for the team and winning it back. That was one of the things I liked a lot about him."

Paolina was named the WPIAL Rookie of the Year and earned an invitation to A.C. Chievo Verona (Serie A) Training Academy in 2014 in Verona, Italy.

"In the training sessions we saw him play, he was able to press the game, win tackles and keep to the pace of the college level," Rast said. "We felt very strongly that he was somebody that would be a good addition to our group. I think he found a place that was right for him and we are happy to have him."

He earned High Honor Roll plaudits all four years of high school and received the Presidential Academic Award as well.

The next future Bronco, Tennyson Stevens, will be announced on Feb. 21.

2017-18 Signees
Isaac Addai - Release
Stefano Paolina - Release

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