LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – The UNLV men's soccer team signed three new Rebels for the 2022 season, interim head coach Camilo Valencia announced Friday afternoon.

The Rebel signing class includes Las Vegas locals Damian Moreno and Gabriel Sanchez, as well as Ryuya Miura from Japan.



Moreno, a local product of Mojave Valley High School, joins UNLV with 24 wins and 10 shutouts to his name over two years in net for the Rattlers. During his recent senior campaign, Moreno recorded four clean sheets while helping the Rattlers to a 12-4-3 record and trip to the 2021 NIAA Class 4A State semifinals. As a freshman, he produced six shutouts and led Mojave to 12 wins and a semifinals appearance in the 2018 NIAA 3A Southern Region playoffs. Additionally, Moreno played club soccer for Heat FC, which he helped guide to a ECNL conference title in 2019.

"Damian is a Las Vegas native and we have been following his development through his youth club and ODP career," said Valencia. "He has great qualities to be successful in goal as a Rebel. He has a great presence, a calm temper, discipline and commitment. He will fit extremely well with our goalkeeper crew and will help our team from day one."



A transfer from Cal State Fullerton, Sanchez returns to his hometown after playing in three games at midfielder for the Titans. Sanchez also brings experience from Real Salt Lake Academy in Herriman, Utah, where he graduated from in 2019. In his three years with RSL, he was a starter for its U-19 and U-17 squads.

"Gabe left Las Vegas as a youth player and we are thrilled that he has decided to return home. We have followed him since his RSL days and we think he'll shine playing at home in front of family and friends. He is a very talented midfielder with a very polished technique and great tactical awareness, and will have the ability to control the tempo of the game and the cadence of our team," Valencia said.



Miura, a native of Sendai, Miyagi, Japan, comes to UNLV as a junior college transfer from Snow College in Ephraim, Utah. In his two years as a Badger midfielder, Miura tallied 12 goals and five assists and twice was named to the SWAC All-Conference First Team. He also has spent time in the international soccer realm for his home country as a reserve on the Japanese U-18 futsal team and member of Japan's U-15 national team.

"Ryuya is a midfielder that was born to play at UNLV," said Valencia. "He is aggressive going forward, has a very clean technique and is the type of player that will get our fans at Peter Johann Memorial Field excited every time he touches the ball. But his most impressive quality is his relentless work in defending. He has great character and determination and will make an immediate impact in our locker room."