Columbia men’s soccer program welcomes eight first-years to 2025 roster

NEW YORK — Head coach Michael Casper officially introduced eight newcomers to the 2025 Columbia University men’s soccer roster. All eight incoming players enter Columbia as first-year students.

“I am excited about this group and welcome them to NYC and Morningside Heights,” Casper said. “Tobias Esche, Kevin Valdovinos, and Andrew Fishman have worked hard to help identify players that fit the model of what we want Columbia men’s soccer to look like – hard-working and technical with the ability to become difference makers for us. With this being our second recruiting class, we are looking forward to seeing how this group of players will impact our program on the field, in the locker room and in the community.”

Details on this season’s incoming class are below. Fans can access the complete 2025 Columbia men’s soccer roster by clicking this link.

Yianni Goulandris – Fy. – M/F – 5-10 – 155 – CC – London, England / St. Paul’s School / Watford FC Academy

Prior to Columbia: An attacking midfielder from London … Played for St Paul’s School A Team every year he attended the school (13-16 years old) … Captained St. Paul’s in his final year with the team … Came up through Watford FC Academy … Played for Watford FC U16 in 2021-22, then U18 in 22-23 and 23-24 … Played for Cockfosters FC First Team in 2024-25 … Internationally, competed for Greece U19, making his debut as a 17-year-old in August 2023.

Personal: Member of St. Paul’s student council … Enjoys chess, reading, water sports, including surfing and kitesurfing … Favorite sports memories are making his international debut for Greece and signing his contract with Watford FC … Has co-authored a book on financial literacy, which will be published by Hodder and Stoughton at the end of 2025.

Stepan Kapranov – Fy. – M – 5-9 – 165 – CC – Holmdel, N.J. / Holmdel / Players Development Academy

Prior to Columbia: A center midfielder from Holmdel, New Jersey … Three-year member of Holmdel High School boys soccer team … Won back-to-back soccer sectional state championships with Holmdel his sophomore and junior years … Named a regional All-American as a junior … 2023 Shore Sports Network Player of the Year … 2024 All-Monmouth County First Team selection … Played for Cedar Starts Monmouth (2021-22) and Players Development Academy (2022-25) at the club level.

Personal: Mother played professional soccer in Russia … Father played in the second tier of professional Russian hockey … Enjoys spike ball, hockey, gym, and coaching … Favorite sports memory is winning back-to-back Central Jersey Group 2 Sectional Titles.

Sage Kinner – Fy. – D – 6-2 – 190 – CC – Franklin, Mass. / US Performance Academy / New England Revolution Academy

Prior to Columbia: A center back from Franklin, Massachusetts … Attended Franklin High School as a freshman, then US Performance Academy as a sophomore, junior, and senior … Came up through the New England Revolution Academy system … Made his debut for New England Revolution 2 in July of 2024.

Personal: Uncle, Rick, played basketball at Cal Poly (1996-98) … Enjoys grilling, golfing, pickle ball, basketball and traveling … Favorite sports memory is making his debut with New England Revolution 2 in July of 2024.

Henning Myrvang – Fy. – F – 5-11 – 170 – CC – Lier, Norway / Akademiet Drammen AS / Strømsgodset TF Academy

Prior to Columbia: A striker from Lier, Norway … Came up in the sport through Strømsgodset Toppfotball club system (2015-24) … Won the national championship with Strømsgodset TF U20 in 2023 … Played for FK Ørn Horten in 2025 … Averaged 0.5 goals per game through his club career … Also played in the UEFA youth league.

Personal: Father competed in bandy for the Norwegian National Team and earned bronze in the World Cup … Enjoys playing tennis and golf … Volunteer coach for a special needs team … Lived in Boston from 2009-11.

Connor Owen – Fy. – D – 5-8 – 150 – CC – Hillsborough, Calif. / ASU Prep Digital / San Jose Earthquakes Academy

Prior to Columbia: A defender from Hillsborough, California … Four-star recruit by Top Drawer Soccer, ranking as high as fourth in Northern California and 80th nationally … Played in U16 MLS Next Best of Game as a U15 … Called to a 36-player camp for the U15 US National Team at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista … Participated at youth professional trials at Spanish academy CF Damm … Played at the club level for Breakers FC and Woodside Crush (U12-U16) and San Jose Earthquakes Academy (U17-U18).

Personal: Grandfather, Ken Sitzberger, won a gold medal for USA in diving at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics and was inducted into the Indiana University Athletics Hall of Fame. Grandmother, Jeanne Collier, won a silver medal for USA at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics … Great Grandfather, Robert Collier, ran track at Indiana University … Invented the Bookie Cushion … Enjoys playing the guitar, skiing, golf, pickleball, hiking and cycling.

Oli Sacks – Fy. – M – 5-10 – 165 – CC – Sydney, Australia / Raddam House / Sydney FC Academy

Prior to Columbia: A midfielder from Sydney, Australia … Came up through Sydney FC Academy from ages 11-17, playing in the U13–U20 divisions … Represented Sydney FC starting at age 11 in the U13 division against Ajax, Feyenoord and Utrecht amongst other club academies … Represented the Australian Schoolboys U16, starting six of seven games … NSW All Rounder … 99.05 ATAR score

Personal: Born and lived in Australia … Father’s side is from South Africa … Late grandfather, Jeffrey Sacks, was a professional tennis player who won the U18 and Open Men’s South Africa National Championship … Enjoys listening to music, going to the gym, watching movies and training ,,, Favorite sports memory is representing his nation.

Aris Taki – Fy. – GK – 6-4 – 205 – CC – Nicosia, Cyprus / The English School / PAC Omonia 29M

Prior to Columbia: A goalkeeper from Nicosia, Cyprus … Seven-year member of The English School boys soccer team … Also played volleyball for three years and competed in javelin one year … Captained both his soccer team and his volleyball team … Competed at the club level for Anorthosis Famagusta FC (2022-23) and PAC Omonoia 29M (2023-25) … Represented his country on the U19 Cyprus National Team … Received The English School Founder Award for Excellent Performance in Geography (2021) and Physical Education (2021, 2022).

Personal: Red Cross Cyprus volunteer … Served the infantry unit of the Cyprus military for 14 months … Played percussion for five years … Enjoys learning Spanish and listening to music … Favorite sports memory is making his First Division men’s team debut for PAC Omonia 29M.

Amir Yahalom – Fy. – M – 6-2 – 170 – CC – Brookline, Mass. / Brookline / Boston Bolts

Prior to Columbia: A midfielder from Brookline, Massachusetts … Played at the club level for Valeo Futbol Academy until 2018, Resolution Academy (2018-19) and Boston Bolts (2019-25) … Competed for Maccabi USA U17 and captained his team … National Honor Society.

Personal: Brother, Ohad, played soccer for four years at Dartmouth and was captain his senior year … Also enjoys playing basketball, spike ball and tennis.