Feb. 14, 2007
LAS VEGAS - Five players have signed national letters of intent, along with one mid-semester transfer, to play men's soccer for UNLV starting in the fall of 2007, head coach Mario Sanchez announced on Wednesday. UNLV adds two players from Las Vegas, as well as two from California, and one each from Arizona and Washington.
First is a transfer from Creighton, 6-2 defender Andrew Friel, who has played his last two years at Creighton and appeared in 10 career games. A Las Vegas native, Friel played at Durango High, where he was named the Nevada Gatorade Player of the Year, as well a NSCAA High School All-American and State Player of the year. Friel, who scored 18 goals and 12 assists for 48 points as a senior, was named first team all-state as a senior, and earned first team all-conference honors three times. Friel also played for the Las Vegas Premier Soccer Club.
Also from Las Vegas is Richard Abrego, a 5-9 forward/midfielder at Silverado High. A three-year starter, he led the Skyhawks to the 2004 state title and two regional championships. Abrego is a two-time Sunrise and Southeast MVP, and twice earned first team all-Southern Nevada, first team Sunrise Region, and first team Southeast honors. He is a current member of the Las Vegas Premier soccer club, three-time state champions and is also a member of the U.S. Region IV Olympic Development Western Regional Team for the 1989 age group.
Hailing from Glendale, Arizona is Daniel Cruz, a 5-8 forward. Cruz is a three-year starter for the Ironwood H.S. Eagles, where he twice earned first-team all-region honors, and was first team all-state and all-Arizona as a junior. He holds the school's all-time goal record at 70. Cruz also played three years of football, earning first team all-region honors as a freshman running back, and played one year of baseball as well. He currently is a member of the Olympic Development Program (ODP) West Region Team for the 90 age group and is also a member of the Sereno Soccer Club.
Stephen Sifuentes is a 6-1 midfielder and native of Fresno, Calif., where he played four years for Sunnyside High. In 2005, he earned All-League MVP honors and was also named first team all-valley, while also helping the team to two straight conference championships. Sifuentes is currently playing for the Fresno Fuego Soccer club of the USL Premier Developmental League and the California Odyssey Soccer Club.
Julian Harnasch is a 5-8 midfielder/defender and native of Bothell, Wash., where he has started all four years at Juanita High. A two-time all-conference selection, Harnasch helped Juanita to the state championship finals in his freshman year. A member of the Super Y National ODP team in 2004, 2005, 2006, he also plays for the Crossfire Premier club team out of Kirkland, Wash.
Jaime Calvo rounds out the 2007 recruiting class. He is a 5-10 midfielder from Visalia, Calif. A four-year starter for Golden West High, Calvo was a first team all-league selection his last three years, and earned All-American honors as a junior. He currently is playing for the California Odyssey club team in Clovis, Calif.
"We are extremely excited with the caliber of players that we have committed to UNLV," said Sanchez. "With the coaching staff's first full year to recruit, we have signed players who have competed with their club and regional ODP teams on a national level. We expect this class to come in and immediately make an impact next fall. This group of players will add size, speed, and a fighting mentality to our strong core of returning players.
