Links to the story
LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) — When the UNLV men’s soccer team takes the field for its 2024 season opener Thursday against Tulsa, it will do so with nine new players on the roster.
The list of rebel newcomers includes four additions from the United States, three of which are local products, and five international. Additionally, the Scarlet & Gray return 16 players from last season’s team that played for the WAC championship.
“We are excited to welcome this new group of student-athletes to the Rebel family and credit goes to our staff for their hard work,” said UNLV head coach BJ Craig. “This is a talented group of players who will bring us depth and experience at every position. Each time elite local players join us or return to represent UNLV and this great city, they become the heart of our program within the Having top players nationally and globally joining the campus most Diverse nature of the country is the icing on the cake and makes it a special place where one can form relationships from all over the world that last a lifetime.
James Anderson, goalkeeper, Clifton, Virginia
A native of Clifton, Virginia, Anderson comes to UNLV as a transfer from Fairfield University. He started in 33 of his 34 games played for the Stags and left the program ranked among the top 10 in school history in goals against average.
Lincoln Aquino, milieu de terrain, Henderson, Nevada
A local product from Coronado High School, Aquino transferred to California Baptist’s Rebel program. A three-time Academic All-WAC team honoree, he made 30 starts in his 69 games played, while helping CBU win two WAC championships. Prior to his college career, Aquino was teammates with newcomer Jimi Villasenor at the Las Vegas Soccer Academy.
Sawyer Crisostomo, defender, Las Vegas, NV
Another player with local ties, Crisostomo spent time at the youth level for the Downtown Las Vegas Soccer Club (2018-2021) and with USL club Las Vegas Lights FC as an amateur for the 2024 season. During his time at LVSC, he won a state championship in 2021 and received an invitation to the US Youth National Team ID Camp. Crisostomo’s career also includes two years at the Seattle Sounders Academy (2021-23), where he won a 2022 MLSNEXT Northwest Conference title and captained the U17 team.
Thomas Lebeuf, defender, Verdun, Quebec, Canada
Originally from Canada, Lebeuf played for the CSMRO U16, U17 and semi-professional teams as well as the Union Lanaudière SUD U15. During his time with these teams, he won the Quebec Championship three consecutive years at the U15, U16 and U17 levels. In addition, Lebeuf’s teams won the Coupe du Québec, went to the Canadian Championship and won the provincial technical games.
Claudio López Alós, Attaquant, Valence, Spain
Lopez Alós is a striker from Valencia, Spain who has played for CF Faura, CD Soneja and Moncofa FC. His achievements with these clubs include Champion of the Preferred League (2022-23), Champion of “La nostra Copa II” (2022-23) and finishing top scorer of the preferred youth league twice (2020-21; 2021-22).
Yuto Oketani, midfielder, Tokyo, Japan
Originally from Tokyo, Japan, Oketani moved to Las Vegas from New Mexico, where he attended Santa Fe Prep in 2021 and the New Mexico United Soccer Academy in 2022. He won a district championship at Santa Fe Prep and added two ECNL state players. championships with his youth club NM Rush. Following his prep soccer career, Oketani signed with USL Championship club NM United as an amateur and continued to play for the first team and U23 team last spring.
Angelo Ssempijja, Defender
Ssempijja, originally from Kampala, Uganda, joins the Rebels after playing at Universal High School and NEC FC. He won a Regional League title with UHS.
Manolo Vazquez, milieu de terrain, Alcalá de Guadaíra, Spain
A midfielder for Alcalá de Guadaíra, Spain, Vazquez most recently played for Sevilla FC. During his time in Seville, the club was consecutively Division de Honor champions (2019-20) and Andalusia champions 2018.
Jimi Villasenor, forward/midfielder, Las Vegas, NV
Villasenor, a graduate of Cimarron-Memorial High School, rounds out the list of local talent returning to play for their hometown Rebels after transferring from Utah Tech. His collegiate playing experience with the Trailblazers includes 52 games played with 30 starts. At the prep level, Villasenor won the Class 4A Mountain League (2018) and Northwest League (2016) titles at CMHS and was an LVSA teammate of Rebel new additions Lincoln Aquino. He also recently played for the Las Vegas Legends.
SEASONAL SUBSCRIPTIONS: Season tickets for UNLV football games — $25 for seniors, faculty, staff and alumni and $35 for the general public — can be purchased at UNLVTickets.com or by calling 702-739-3267. Single game tickets are $6 per adult when purchased prior to game day, $10 or $8 for seniors, faculty, staff and alumni at the gate and free for children at secondary school or younger.
2024-08-20 10:00:00
1727633994
#football #men #welcomes #nine #new #players #for #season
