14 Newcomers Commit To UC Riverside Men's Soccer For 2013-14 Season
6/10/2013 12:08:00 PM | Men's Soccer
Riverside—UC Riverside Head Men's Soccer Coach Junior Gonzalez announced today that 14 new players—nine freshman and five transfers—have committed to play for the Highlanders beginning with the 2013-14 campaign.
“This 2013 recruiting class is one that excites our staff, our returning team members, and our terrific UCR Men’s Soccer Supporters!" Gonzalez exclaimed. "There is a great mix of successful and proven transfer players, along with incoming freshman that have been successful at some of the highest levels of youth soccer our country has to offer.
“The hard work and commitment of our current players have set a foundation for our program. As we continue to grow and earn more success on the field, we are able to attract more talented and determined recruits. This creates a competitive environment every day in our training sessions, which in turn aids in pushing our players to be the best that they can be.
"Our incoming 2013 class is another step in the right direction for UCR Men’s Soccer to challenge for a Big West Championship.”
Norberto Ochoa, junior, Mt. SAC
Ochoa was a member of the Mt. SAC teams that won the 2011 and 2012 California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) Championship, and he was named MVP of the 2012 CCCAA Finals. The team titles were the third and fourth consecutive championships for the program. In 2011, Mt. SAC won the NSCAA Junior College Division III National Championship.
Coach Gonzalez says:
“Nore comes from a very strong soccer pedigree and has success throughout his career. As a graduate of Riverside Poly High School, he and his family are one of the top soccer families in Riverside—it will be great to have him representing his hometown university on the pitch for the next two seasons.”
Michael Salazar, junior, Cal Baptist
In two years at Cal Baptist, Salazar was named the 2011 ESPN LA Freshman of the Year, PAC West Freshman of the Year and First Team All-American while winning the 2012 National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) National Championship.
He was also a member of the Belize U-16, U-17, U-18, U-20 and U-21 National Teams, and is on the full senior national team which is competing this summer in the Gold Cup. Belize plays the US National Team on July 9.
At Canyon Springs High School in Moreno Valley, he led his team and league in goals scored as a senior with 25. He was named to the All-CIF Team and First-Team, All-League that same season.
Coach Gonzalez says:
“Michael is a player that excited us coming out of a local Inland Empire high school. We are glad that he has decided to transfer to UCR and pursue his dreams of competing at the highest collegiate level. Our staff is confident that he can become an immediate impact player for us.”
Bryan Orta, junior, Arizona Western Community College
As a central midfielder, Orta helped lead AWCC to the 2012 Arizona Community College Athletic Conference (ACCAC) Finals.
Carlos Sanchez, junior, Contra Costa College
The Highlanders identified Sanchez at their Winter ID Camp, and he will challenge for a starting position in goal right away.
Daniel Amaya, junior, Mt. SAC
Amaya was a member of the Mt. SAC teams that won the 2011 and 2012 California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) Championship. The team titles were the third and fourth consecutive championships for the program. In 2011, Mt. SAC won the NSCAA Junior College Division III National Championship.
Romario Lomeli, freshman
Lomeli is wrapping up a successful career in the US Soccer Developmental Academy (USSDA), and is ranked 26th in his region by TopDrawerSoccer.com. He played the 2010-11 season with Cosmos West Academy, and the 2011-13 campaigns with Chivas USA. He also participated in the MLS Generation adidas cup, and the 2012 Surf Cup, while leading his 2012 U-18 USSDA team to the postseason. Lomeli has also qualified for th 2013 U-18 USSDA playoffs which will take place June 24-28.
James Alewine III, freshman
Alewine spent six seasons playing for the CZ Elite club team from 2007-12. During that time, they won the 2012 Surf College Cup and the 2012 SCDSL Top Flight Championship. He was also captain for the CZ Elite. He played for the Chivas USA USSDA squad which qualified for the 2013 USSDA Playoffs which take place from June 24-28. He has also been called up to play with the Chivas USA Reserve Team.
Tyler Miguel, freshmam, Bella Vista HS
Miguel plays soccer for Sacramento United and graduated from Bella Vista High School as valedictorian. He plans on pursuing a career in medicine. In 2010 and 2011, he was named All-League Honorable Mention, and in 2011 and 2012 Bella Vista won their league championship. Miguel was named to the All-League, First Team in 2012 after scoring 20 goals and handing out nine assists. He also earned all-league honors as a swimmer from 2009-11 and in 2012 as a place kicker on the football team.
Michael Chavez, freshman
Chavez plays club soccer for West Coast FC, picking up a second place finish in the US Youth Soccer 2012-13 National League. West Coast FC also won the Cal South National Cup that year. Chavez is competing in the US Youth Soccer National Championship in Kansas in late July, and is a member of Cal South and Region IV Olympic Developmental Program (ODP).
Vincent Morales, freshman
Morales is a goalkeeper for Chivas USA USSDA (2011-13) and was a member of the squad that finished in third place in the 2011 MLS Generation adidas Cup. He and his Chivas team qualified for the 2013 U-18 USSDA playoffs that will take place from June 24-28.
Kouri Nago, freshman, St. Louis School (Honolulu, HI)
Nago was named to the 2012-13 Interscholastic League of Honolulu First Team, and earned All State Honorable Mention that same year. He was a participant in the 2008 US National Camp, and in 2010, his club team (Abunai Soccer Academy) won the Regional and National Championship for US Club Soccer. Nago is a member of the Region IV ODP Team, and is ranked 12th in his region by TopDrawerSoccer.com.
Victor Palafox, freshman, Victor Valley HS
Palafox is a forward who earned First-Team, All-League honors in 2011, 2012 and 2013. His Victor Valley High School Team won the league championship in 2011. Palafox plays his club soccer for Arsenal.
Irvin Campos, freshman, Montclair HS
Campos is a central midfielder who helped Montclair High School to the league championship in 2011 and 2013. He was named to the All-League Team during his senior campaign.
Nate Gonzalez, freshman, Santiago HS
Gonzalez and his Santiago High School teammates won the league championship in 2011 and 2013, and as a senior, he earned All-CIF and All-League honors as a forward. In 2010, Gonzalez set the school record for most goals by a freshman, and in 2011, he was named the MVP of the sophomore All-Star Game.
“This 2013 recruiting class is one that excites our staff, our returning team members, and our terrific UCR Men’s Soccer Supporters!" Gonzalez exclaimed. "There is a great mix of successful and proven transfer players, along with incoming freshman that have been successful at some of the highest levels of youth soccer our country has to offer.
“The hard work and commitment of our current players have set a foundation for our program. As we continue to grow and earn more success on the field, we are able to attract more talented and determined recruits. This creates a competitive environment every day in our training sessions, which in turn aids in pushing our players to be the best that they can be.
"Our incoming 2013 class is another step in the right direction for UCR Men’s Soccer to challenge for a Big West Championship.”
Norberto Ochoa, junior, Mt. SAC
Ochoa was a member of the Mt. SAC teams that won the 2011 and 2012 California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) Championship, and he was named MVP of the 2012 CCCAA Finals. The team titles were the third and fourth consecutive championships for the program. In 2011, Mt. SAC won the NSCAA Junior College Division III National Championship.
Coach Gonzalez says:
“Nore comes from a very strong soccer pedigree and has success throughout his career. As a graduate of Riverside Poly High School, he and his family are one of the top soccer families in Riverside—it will be great to have him representing his hometown university on the pitch for the next two seasons.”
Michael Salazar, junior, Cal Baptist
In two years at Cal Baptist, Salazar was named the 2011 ESPN LA Freshman of the Year, PAC West Freshman of the Year and First Team All-American while winning the 2012 National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) National Championship.
He was also a member of the Belize U-16, U-17, U-18, U-20 and U-21 National Teams, and is on the full senior national team which is competing this summer in the Gold Cup. Belize plays the US National Team on July 9.
At Canyon Springs High School in Moreno Valley, he led his team and league in goals scored as a senior with 25. He was named to the All-CIF Team and First-Team, All-League that same season.
Coach Gonzalez says:
“Michael is a player that excited us coming out of a local Inland Empire high school. We are glad that he has decided to transfer to UCR and pursue his dreams of competing at the highest collegiate level. Our staff is confident that he can become an immediate impact player for us.”
Bryan Orta, junior, Arizona Western Community College
As a central midfielder, Orta helped lead AWCC to the 2012 Arizona Community College Athletic Conference (ACCAC) Finals.
Carlos Sanchez, junior, Contra Costa College
The Highlanders identified Sanchez at their Winter ID Camp, and he will challenge for a starting position in goal right away.
Daniel Amaya, junior, Mt. SAC
Amaya was a member of the Mt. SAC teams that won the 2011 and 2012 California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) Championship. The team titles were the third and fourth consecutive championships for the program. In 2011, Mt. SAC won the NSCAA Junior College Division III National Championship.
Romario Lomeli, freshman
Lomeli is wrapping up a successful career in the US Soccer Developmental Academy (USSDA), and is ranked 26th in his region by TopDrawerSoccer.com. He played the 2010-11 season with Cosmos West Academy, and the 2011-13 campaigns with Chivas USA. He also participated in the MLS Generation adidas cup, and the 2012 Surf Cup, while leading his 2012 U-18 USSDA team to the postseason. Lomeli has also qualified for th 2013 U-18 USSDA playoffs which will take place June 24-28.
James Alewine III, freshman
Alewine spent six seasons playing for the CZ Elite club team from 2007-12. During that time, they won the 2012 Surf College Cup and the 2012 SCDSL Top Flight Championship. He was also captain for the CZ Elite. He played for the Chivas USA USSDA squad which qualified for the 2013 USSDA Playoffs which take place from June 24-28. He has also been called up to play with the Chivas USA Reserve Team.
Tyler Miguel, freshmam, Bella Vista HS
Miguel plays soccer for Sacramento United and graduated from Bella Vista High School as valedictorian. He plans on pursuing a career in medicine. In 2010 and 2011, he was named All-League Honorable Mention, and in 2011 and 2012 Bella Vista won their league championship. Miguel was named to the All-League, First Team in 2012 after scoring 20 goals and handing out nine assists. He also earned all-league honors as a swimmer from 2009-11 and in 2012 as a place kicker on the football team.
Michael Chavez, freshman
Chavez plays club soccer for West Coast FC, picking up a second place finish in the US Youth Soccer 2012-13 National League. West Coast FC also won the Cal South National Cup that year. Chavez is competing in the US Youth Soccer National Championship in Kansas in late July, and is a member of Cal South and Region IV Olympic Developmental Program (ODP).
Vincent Morales, freshman
Morales is a goalkeeper for Chivas USA USSDA (2011-13) and was a member of the squad that finished in third place in the 2011 MLS Generation adidas Cup. He and his Chivas team qualified for the 2013 U-18 USSDA playoffs that will take place from June 24-28.
Kouri Nago, freshman, St. Louis School (Honolulu, HI)
Nago was named to the 2012-13 Interscholastic League of Honolulu First Team, and earned All State Honorable Mention that same year. He was a participant in the 2008 US National Camp, and in 2010, his club team (Abunai Soccer Academy) won the Regional and National Championship for US Club Soccer. Nago is a member of the Region IV ODP Team, and is ranked 12th in his region by TopDrawerSoccer.com.
Victor Palafox, freshman, Victor Valley HS
Palafox is a forward who earned First-Team, All-League honors in 2011, 2012 and 2013. His Victor Valley High School Team won the league championship in 2011. Palafox plays his club soccer for Arsenal.
Irvin Campos, freshman, Montclair HS
Campos is a central midfielder who helped Montclair High School to the league championship in 2011 and 2013. He was named to the All-League Team during his senior campaign.
Nate Gonzalez, freshman, Santiago HS
Gonzalez and his Santiago High School teammates won the league championship in 2011 and 2013, and as a senior, he earned All-CIF and All-League honors as a forward. In 2010, Gonzalez set the school record for most goals by a freshman, and in 2011, he was named the MVP of the sophomore All-Star Game.
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