2025
• Drafted 44th overall by FC Dallas in the 2026 MLS SuperDraft
• Team Captain
• United Soccer Coaches Second Team All-American
• CSC Academic All-American
• Second Team All-ACC
• CSC Academic All-Region Selection
• Scored a single-season career-high four goals
• Tied for third on the team with six assists, a single-season career high
• Scored game-winning goal in Virginia’s 1-0 win against American (9/1)
• Recorded the Cavalier’s first goal against No. 8 Virginia Tech (9/5)
• Recorded one goal and assisted the game-winning goal against Milwaukee (10/1)
• Recorded one goal and assisted the game-winning goal against Denver (10/19)

2024
• Team Captain
• All-ACC Academic Team Selection
• Vice President of SAAC (Student Athlete Advisory Committee)
• Started all 18 games for which he was available
• Played the full 90 minutes in 12 of 18 games
• Logged 1,513 total minutes, the sixth most of any Cavalier field player
• Tallied one goal and one assist on the season as a central defensive midfielder
• Notched an assist on Virginia’s fourth goal in a 5-0 win over Saint Joseph’s (8/29)
• Created the game-winning goal in the final seconds of a 1-0 win over No. 8 James Madison (10/8)
• Scored first career goal in a 2-0 win at No. 9 Pitt in the ACC Quarterfinal (11/10)
• Captained Virginia to its second ACC Semifinal appearance in three seasons
• Led UVA to its third consecutive top-16 seed in the NCAA Men’s Soccer Championship

2023
• Named to CSC Academic All-District Team
• Started in 18 games
• Averaged 76 minutes per game
• Named to 2023 All-ACC Academic team
• Recorded game-tying assist against Pittsburgh
• Named to the 2023-24 ACC Honor Roll

2022
• Appeared in four games making one start
• Played 71 minutes in Virginia’s opening match against Xavier (8/25/22)
• Named to the 2022-23 ACC Honor Roll

Prep
• Played club soccer for Como 1907
• Named to the U16 and U17 Lombardy All-Region Team
• #1 ranked midfielder of the Lombardy Region
• First professional call up for Como 1907 at 17-years-old in Italy’s Second Division (Serie B)

Personal
• From Milan, Italy
• Attended the International School of Milan
• Son of Nicola Pelá and Francesca Marinelli
• Has two siblings, Rocco and Vittoria
• Enrolled in College of Arts and Sciences

Umberto Pelà Goal vs American 9.1.25