It’s that time of year where we start looking back at the 2021 USL Championship season, cast our votes and give out some awards. Up first in the 2021 Fan Awards, we have Attacker of the Year. With 56 goals and a goal differential of +22, there was no shortage of nominees for this category. Luis ‘Lucho’ Solignac, Dylan Mares, Aaron Gomez, Diego Luna, and Leandro Carrijo however stood out this year in their attacking prowess throughout the season, earning their nods as nominees for the accolades. Now it’s your turn to vote for who you think was the 2021 Attacker of the Year.
Cast your vote below, and remember, you can vote once a day so make sure to come back and vote again until we announce the winner next week!
Not sure who to vote for? Read below to get a rundown on each player and their contributions to the final third.
Arguably the most threatening attacking player added to the roster in the offseason, Luis ‘Lucho’ Solignac showed his worth in 2021. One of the best attacking players in the league, Lucho tied a team-leading goal count for 2021 with 10 and lead the team in assists with seven for a total of 17 contributed goals this year. His goals highlighted his creativity and his overall threat on the ball. Not only did he set the club record for the fastest goal with the 18-second stunner against Rio Grande Valley FC earlier in the year, but his backheel volley goal left everyone in a state of shock with the technicality and cleverness behind it. Those goals aside, Lucho left opposing defenders on their toes as he stood should-to-shoulder threatening to break in past them with a through ball. Lucho’s attacking ability vastly improved the Locomotive threat in the final third, making him an easy choice as a nominee in the 2021 Attacker of the Year Fan Vote.
Our Midfield Maestro does it again after having a successful 2020 year, Dylan Mares has outdone himself for the 2021 USL Championship season. In this last season, Dylan overtook the top spot in the Club’s all-time leading assistors, moving his assists to 11 over the two years. With four goals and seven assists alone in 2021, Dylan champions the top of the diamond in the midfield, setting up key chances for players like Aaron Gomez and Lucho Solignac to put away goals. Dylan’s attacking presence is a necessary one, as he creatively pressed against the opposing defense. His ability to out-dribble and open narrow shots keeps defenders on edge. Throughout the year, Dylan also showcased his freekick ability as well. One of the most precise dead ball specialists in the league, Dylan has the uncanny ability to curve the ball and place it in just the right space to keep out of reach of a defending goalkeeper. As a gifted playmaker that helped has helped push Locomotive’s goal count to new heights, Dylan has decidedly earned his nod on the shortlist for Attacker of the Year.
Tried and true, the Borderland native is the reigning two-time Fan-Voted Attacker of the Year for El Paso Locomotive FC. Earning the accolade first in 2019 then again in 2020, Aaron Gomez is once again staking a claim on the accolade with his 2021 showing. Through his third campaign in a Locomotive jersey, Aaron finished tied with Lucho for the most goals with 10 and tied second on the team in assists with five with Leandro Carrijo. In 31 appearances over the last season, Aaron furthered his lead as the Club’s all-time leading goal scorer going from 11 at the start of the year and ending at a resounding 21. Additionally, Aaron advanced his name up the leaderboard in the club’s all-time leading assists to third with eight assists since 2019. In 2021, Aaron was deadly in the final third, using his own speed and creativity to get header after header on the ball for goals. The defending Attacker of the Year will be aiming for a threepeat with what was another phenomenal year.
Diego Luna could not have asked for a better rookie year. Since his debut in May against New Mexico United, Diego has established himself as one of the most clinical young stars across the league. Bold and confident on the ball, Diego’s creativity and press against the opposing defense allowed the 18-year-old rising star to find nine goals and five assists over 31 appearances for his first year. His contribution on the field immediately put his name on the record books for El Paso Locomotive as one of the youngest players to debut in a Locomotive jersey, as well as finishing the year fifth in the Club’s all-time regular-season goals scored and ninth on the assist leaderboard. Finding himself on the USL Championship Team of the Week shortlist three times throughout 2021, Diego certainly turned heads, earning himself a call-up to the United States U-20 Men’s National Team for its inaugural Revelations Cup competition while earning national attention as a young player to watch.
Leandro’s veteran status as an attacker shined once again through the 2021 USL Championship season. Throughout the year, Leandro was an incredibly valuable substitute, making an appearance in all but one game this season for 31 total. As a late-game substitute, Leandro consistently was a game-changer in the final 10 minutes of the game. With four goals and two assists, Leandro equalized twice in the 89th and 95th minute against Orange County and New Mexico United respectively. Against Austin Bold FC, he cemented the 3-0 win with the final goal against Austin Bold FC in second-half stoppage time and provided Locomotive with a late-game lead against Switchbacks FC in the 81st minute. Leandro’s contributions in the final 10 minutes were massive in time when Locomotive was aiming to claim the Mountain Division. While he may not have been the all-out-and-out attacker like others on this list, his attacking prowess when he came to the pitch salvaged or secured points for Locomotive, earning him a nod as a candidate for Attacker of the Year.