LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) — The UNLV men's soccer program welcomed 15 newcomers as training camp opened Tuesday under first-year head coach
BJ Craig.
Seven hail from the Las Vegas metropolitan area as Craig's staff put a focus on retaining area talent while extending its network in the western U.S. and abroad. The class adds two strikers, four midfielders, eight defenders and one goalkeeper to the Rebels' 10 returning players.
"We're really excited about the talent we were able to bring in over the summer," Craig said. "We intended to be very purposeful in the way we approach the fall and set a goal of challenging for the WAC Championship."
The UNLV men's soccer season begins Thursday, Aug. 25, with a visit to defending West Coast Conference Champion Santa Clara. The Rebels' home opener is Sunday, Sept. 4, versus CSUN at Peter Johann Memorial Field in Las Vegas.
Forwards/Midfielders
Jonah Craig (Corvallis, Ore.)
Craig is the son of head coach
BJ Craig and competed with the Oregon Valley Futbol Alliance in USL League Two in 2021 after capturing a class 5A state title during his prep career at Corvallis High School. Craig was named second-team all-state as a midfielder in 2020.
Eden Houle (Henderson, Nev)
Houle led Green Valley High School to the state championship final after totaling 20 goals and 10 assists in his senior varsity campaign.
Brophy Howard (Las Vegas, Nev.)
Howard transferred after two seasons at Saint Mary's College of California. Howard helped Bishop Gorman claim a state title in his senior year when he scored 15 goals and added 16 assists en route to All-Southern Nevada and All-Desert Region honors. Howard also played for the Las Vegas Soccer Academy, winning a state championship in 2017 and runner-up nod in 2019.
Ethan Peterson (Redmond, Wash.)
Peterson competed with Crossfire Premiere, collecting the 2022 ECNL Championship and 2021 Surf Cup. During the Surf Cup, Peterson was part of a defensive group that did not concede a goal through five games.
Gabe Sanchez (Las Vegas, Nev.)
Sanchez returns to Las Vegas as a sophomore transfer from Cal State Fullerton. He 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.
Michael Vogel (Las Vegas, Nev.)
Vogel transferred to UNLV after three seasons at Cal State Bakersfield. He was selected to the 2019 All-WAC Freshman Team and appeared in 34 matches with 18 starts. Vogel played for the Downtown Las Vegas Soccer Club with it reached the under-16 national championship semifinal in 2019.
Defenders
Cesar Carbajal (Denver, Colo.)
Carbajal follows Craig from Oregon State to begin his sophomore campaign with UNLV. Carbajal previously played in the Colorado Rapids system and was invited to the U.S. National Team's Under-14 Camp.
Allan Cuartas (Medellín, Colombia)
Cuartas joins the Rebels after being part of the Inter Miami CF Academy since July 2019. He made his professional debut with USL League One's Fort Lauderdale FC in August 2020. Cuartas' family moved to Miami in 2014.
Braden Flannery (Las Vegas, Nev.)
Flannery helped Bishop Gorman to a 9-3-3 record and class 5A state quarterfinals appearance in 2021. Flannery was teammates with Vogel when the duo reached the semifinals of the 2019 under-15 national championship as members of the Downtown Las Vegas Soccer Club.
Henry Koeberer (Hamburg, Germany)
Koeberer joins the Rebels after most recently making 11 appearances for Hamburger SV in Germany's top youth league, Bundesliga U19, scoring one goal and adding two assists.
Frankie Martínez (El Paso, Texas)
Martínez played prep soccer at Montwood High School before and entered the Real Salt Lake Academy upon graduation. Martínez dressed for nine games with the Real Monarchs of the USL Championship, seeing his first professional action in his hometown with 83 minutes against the El Paso Locomotive.
Théo Minard (Créon, France)
Minard spent the past year with Cap-Ferret in France's National 3 League, making 12 starts in 17 games.
Daniel Rojas (Las Vegas, Nev.)
Rojas signed with Real Salt Lake Academy following a prep career at Bonanza High School and expected to sign with its USL League Two team before accepting the offer from UNLV.
Donovan Sessoms (Antelope, Calif.)
Sessoms was a member of Sacramento Republic FC as part of the U.S. Soccer Development Academy.
Goalkeepers
Romain Heck (Strasbourg, France)
Heck, a 6-foot-1 goalkeeper, participated with FC SR Haguenau in France's National 2 League last year following two seasons with RC Strasbourg in the national under-19 league.
