SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Nick Strangio, who spent the last three years at Saint Mary's, and Isaac Bandabaila, who was rostered for the last two seasons at Sonoma State, are the two latest additions to the Sacramento State men's soccer roster for the 2025 campaign, Head Coach Michael Linenberger announced on Wednesday.
The addition of the two transfers brings the number of announced commitments to seven — four of those transfers from other programs along with former UCLA midfielder Amjot Narang (release) and Merced JC standout Eli Reyneveld (release). Joining that group are three freshmen in Allbranly Gue (release), Zach Looney (release), and Collin McNairy (release).
Strangio joins the Hornet roster after appearing in 14 matches and starting 11 as a defender for the Gaels during his time in Moraga. He appeared in 211 minutes and scored goals in victories over Detroit Mercy and Loyola Marymount as a redshirt freshman in 2023, then appeared in 10 matches and scored a goal against No. 13-ranked Stanford as a sophomore last year.
A native of Folsom, Calif., who prepped at Jesuit HS in Carmichael, Calif., Strangio helped the Marauders to a pair of league and section titles as a junior (2021) and senior (2022), earning Delta League all-conference first-team honors as a senior while being named the California Player of the Year — as well as a United Soccer Coaches All-American — as a junior. He played club for San Juan FC for four years, twice earning ECNL first-team all-conference honors in 2021 and 2022, while adding ECNL conference player of the year laurels in 2022.
"Nick is a versatile player that can play as a center back or as a center forward," Linenberger said. "He has great size with his 6-foot-4 frame and will provide maturity and experience through his two years at Saint Mary's playing in the West Coast Conference."
Bandabaila joins the Sacramento State program after appearing in 14 matches and making 11 starts in the midfield for the Seawolves as a redshirt freshman in 2024. He posted his first collegiate point with an assist against Simon Fraser on Sept. 14 and finished with single shot attempts in seven different matches. He played a full 90 minutes twice in a scoreless draw against Dominican on Sept. 22 and, again, at Cal State San Bernardino on Nov. 1, finishing the year with 1,138 minutes on the field.
He did not play as a true freshman in 2023 after prepping at Oakland HS, where he was a four-year varsity letter winner, and also played club for AFC Academy and served as team captain, helping his side to a 2022 National Premier League Championship.
"We are excited to add Isaac to our team for fall 2025," Linenberger said. "He is an explosive outside back that is tough and aggressive on the defensive side of the ball and can get forward with tremendous speed on the attacking side of the ball. We expect him to make an immediate impact come the fall."
