HIALEAH, FLA. – Three seniors from the 2018 Florida National University men’s soccer program have joined the ranks of the professionals. Center attacking midfielder Rodrigo da Costa has signed with the Tulsa Roughnecks FC, center attacking midfielder Maximiliano Schenfeld inked with the Miami FC and center defensive midfielder Onezimo Francisco signed with Atlanta Soccer Club.
Rodrigo da Costa from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil joined the Tulsa Roughnecks FC after a stellar collegiate career with the Conquistadors where he was named USCAA All-American for two consecutive years. He played in 49 games during his career and finished first in the Conquistadors career record books in goals (47), Assists (35) and Winning goals (9).
In three seasons playing for Florida National University Rodrigo was awarded multiple times receiving the USCAA All-American Second Team and in the season 2016/2017; In the Following season, Da Costa was USCAA All-American first team, USCAA All-Academic team and USCAA National Tournament MVP 2017/2018, and in his senior year (2018-2019) he was awarded as USCAA All-American first team and National Tournament MVP claiming back-to-back National Championship.
In his first year in the professionals (2019), Da Costa just missed out on a double-double with nine goals and 13 assists, which put him second in the league in assists. The biggest bright spot of the Roughnecks’ season, Da Costa had some other positives including winning 66.7 percent of tackles, but his attacking numbers were the biggest driver to an impressive overall rating.
Onezimo Francisco, center defensive midfielder from Angola, played all his four college seasons in United States for Florida National University starting in the season 2015-2016 where Onezimo was a starter for all 12 games and led the team in FNU Inaugural season. In his sophomore year, Onezimo led the Conquistadors playing all the 16 games of the season as a starter.
In his last two years playing for FNU, Onezimo started every single game leading the team and being awarded as USCAA All-American first team and USCAA All-Tournament team. He also claimed Back-to-Back National Championship.
In his for years playing for FNU, Onezimo played 51 games, he started 49 games. In addition to his defensive duties, he scored 2 goals and recorded 6 assists, being the player who for more times played for the conquistadors men’s soccer team in the program history.
Maximiliano Schenfeld As a senior last season, he started 12 of 16 games leading the Conquistadors men’s soccer team in the field and recording 3 assists and scoring one goal. He was awarded as USCAA All-American first team and USCAA All-Tournament team.
played only one season for the Conquistadors when he played all the 16 games of the season and started 12 of these games. Maxi, how he is called in the University, was really important in the 2018-2019 season when Florida National University claimed the USCAA National Championship.
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Ruy Castelo Branco – FNU – Sports Information Director
About FNU: Florida National University opened its first class on January 4th, 1988, in the city of Hialeah, Florida, as Florida International Institute under the administration of Dr. José Regueiro, Dr. MarÃa C. Regueiro and Mr. Omar Sánchez. FNU Athletic Department has more than 250 student-athletes in 11 different sports. Established in 2013, FNU Athletics is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA).
The mission of the Florida National University Athletic Department is to provide assistance within an athletic structure that promotes the development of a well rounded education through structured sport and competition, to develop life skills of discipline, integrity, leadership, philanthropy and social responsibility, to elevate ethnic and cultural diversity within the athletic programs, to assure equitable opportunity for all staff and student-athletes, and to make the athletic program a durable source of pride for the student population, student-athletes, alumni, university, and community of FNU.
