UNLV MEN’S SOCCER ANNOUNCES 2013 SIGNING
CLASS
Rebels bring in a total four high school players and a pair of
JC transfers
Six players, including two from Las Vegas, have signed national letters of intent to play for the UNLV men’s soccer team in the fall of 2013, head coach Rich Ryerson announced on Thursday. Two of the players are junior college transfers, while four high school players round out the class.
The first local player is Sebastian Hernandez, a 6-2 two-time JC All-American defender for Lassen College in Susanville, Calif. He was the Golden Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Year while helping the Cougars to a 32-4-8 record over that time, while also claiming a pair of conference championships. He attended Bonanza High in Las Vegas, and was a four-time high school All-American while also earning all-state, all-conference and all-league honors all four seasons for the Bengals. Hernandez played for Neusport FC 93′ under former UNLV assistant coach Frank D’Amelio, and the team won the State Cup in 2010 and was a finalist in 2011, while also reaching the regional semifinals that summer.
From Legacy High in Las Vegas comes Saul Aguirre, a 5-10 forward. He helped his team to two state championships (2010, 2011) and was three-time regional player of the year while also earning NSCAA All-America honors his senior season. Aguirre has played with several club teams in Las Vegas, beginning with Neusport SC in 2010 (State Cup champions), Downtown Las Vegas SC in 2010-12 (State Cup champs in 2011 and third place in the national tournament) and now most recently, with Players SC since 2012.
UNLV also signed a player from the northern part of the state, as Kevin Partida will be joining the Rebels in the fall. A 5-8 midfielder, he helped Sparks High to a state runner-up finish while also earning all-region honors. Partida plays for Sagebrush SC, State Cup runner-up in 2012 as well as semifinalist at the Surf Cup.
The Rebels’ second JC transfer is Phoenix, Ariz., native Julien Dragomir. A 5-10 forward, he has played the past two seasons at Yavapai CC and posted 36 goals and 20 assists over the past two years for 92 points while helping the Roughriders to a conference championship in 2012. Dragomir played club soccer with several teams, including Sereno Soccer Club in 2006-07 and 2012 as well as Real Salt Lake Academy in 2010-11. He spent 2009-11 in Portugal, playing on trials with Benfica, Sporting Lisbon, Victoria Guimaraes, CF OS Beleneses and Club Sport Maritimo.
Coming from Arvado, Colo., is 6-1 goalkeeper Brad Holub. A three-year starter at Golden High, Holub is also the starting goalkeeper for Colorado Rapids Academy since 2008, and played with them in the 2010 regional quarterfinals while also winning the State Cup in 2010. The team was a US Club Soccer National Finalist in 2009. Most recently, Holub has trained with Colorado Rapids first team in 2012.
The final recruit is Mitch Meyers, native of Orondo, Wash., and a 5-11 midfielder for Eastmont High. Last season he led the Wildcats to a third-place finish in the state with a 20-3 record, as well as the league and district titles. Meyers competed for two seasons on the track team as well, and was a regional finalist in the 400m and 4x400m relay while also competing in the triple jump and the 800m. He played for the Eastside 94 club team in 2011-12, helping them to the state cup finals in 2011, and to a State Cup title, Regional title, and a third-place finish at nationals in 2012.
“This is truly one of the strongest recruiting classes I have been involved with while being a part of the UNLV men’s soccer coaching staff,” said Ryerson. “We needed the experience and maturity that both Sebastian and Julian will bring from their time at two very competitive junior college programs. As for our freshmen, Kevin will be an exciting player to watch, similar to (current Rebel) Sal Bernal, and Saul will be a real threat to other teams’ defenses. We look for Mitch to add depth and strength to our back line and for Brad to come in and compete for a starting role as a goalkeeper, having played in the highly acclaimed Colorado Rapids Developmental Academy program.”
