Club News

Midfielders Bryam Rebellon and Jose Aguinaga have departed the club, El Paso Locomotive FC announced today.  Rebellon leaves El Paso after three seasons in Loco Blue while Aguinaga departs after one. The club wishes both the best in the next step of their careers.

Over his three USL campaigns with El Paso Locomotive, Bryam Rebellon became a staple in the midfield, helping the club transition from defending to attacking while playing an important role on either side of the field. The Colombian played in 5,042 minutes over 66 appearances across all competitions with El Paso. In that time, the midfielder recorded four goals and three assists, including a rocket against Phoenix Rising FC in the 2020 Western Conference Final that reignited Locomotive to take the game into a penalty shootout.

Joining the team ahead of the 2021 season, Jose Aguinaga played an important role in El Paso Locomotive’s third season by providing critical depth when the club needed it most. Making 19 appearances and 10 starts throughout 2021, Aguinaga scored two goals, including the milestone club’s 100th goal across all competitions.

El Paso Locomotive FC will kick off its fourth campaign through the USL Championship in Spring 2022. Lock in your seats for the entire season by visiting https://www.eplocomotivefc.com/seasontickets or by calling/texting 915-235-GOAL and continue to enjoy world-class Championship soccer at Southwest University Park.

El Paso Locomotive FC is featured in two categories for USL Championship’s 2021 End of Year Awards. Mark Lowry has been nominated as a finalist for Coach of the Year while Diego Luna is a finalist for Young Player of the Year.

The winner of Coach of the Month will be named Saturday, November 27 while the winner of Young Player of the Year will be named on Tuesday, November 30.

After a stellar performance in the 2021 Season, Mark Lowry is listed as a finalist for USL Championship’s Coach of the Year. Under Lowry’s third year at the helm of El Paso Locomotive, the club boasted one of the best records in the league, having lost a league-fewest four games through the regular season. The Sun City team also boasted 13 shutouts to finish at the top of the Mountain Division and third overall in the league with 61 points.

 At Southwest University Park, the Locos held an undefeated record that spanned over one full calendar year and at the time was the longest active running home unbeaten streak in North America while simultaneously matching the league record with 13 home victories in the regular season. Lowry capped off the 2021 USL Championship season with a third consecutive playoff appearance, while winning not only the USL Copa Tejas Trophy but also the Copa Tejas Shield that is contended for by four USL clubs, three MLS clubs, and one club from the NWSL.

The leadership Lowry provided as Head Coach and Technical Director in his third year produced the best regular season in El Paso’s history. Joining Lowry on the shortlist for Coach of the Year is Brendan Burke from Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC and Neill Collins of Tampa Bay Rowdies.

Midfielder Diego Luna made his professional debut in the 2021 USL Championship season, quickly making an impact in the midfield for El Paso Locomotive FC. Since making his debut as a late-game sub against New Mexico United in May, Diego Luna has recorded nine goals and five assists while leading the team with 37 key passes to bolster the Locos attack to an incredible club-high 56 goals in a season. In his rookie career, Luna set himself up to be a rising star in soccer, having appeared in 31 games with 1,928 minutes of play to earn three USL Championship Team of the Week nods.

Luna finished his professional debut year by representing club and country with the United States U-20 National Team where he played just under 120 minutes while recording a goal against Mexico in the inaugural Revelations Cup.

The 2021 USL Championship Awards were voted on by team management and a league-wide media panel that included representation from every USL market.

18-Year-Old El Paso Locomotive FC Midfielder Diego Luna was named to the USL Championship All-League Second team, the league announced today, after a standout professional debut year that saw him earn nine goals and five assists.

Luna is the first El Paso Locomotive FC player to be named to the USL Championship All-League Team.

Since joining El Paso Locomotive FC from the prestigious Barcelona Academy in Arizona at the beginning of the 2021 USL Championship season, Diego has had a standup season, proving himself to be one of the brightest rising stars in the U.S. Soccer world. Diego made his professional debut against New Mexico United as a late game sub, coming onto the pitch in the 78th minute and immediately making an impact. Diego broke past United defenders to send in a cross that found Aaron Gomez, who put the ball back in the path of Leandro Carrijo with one touch for the opening goal. Less than one month later, Diego earned his first professional goal against Austin Bold FC – the game winner in the 56th minute.

Through the 2021 USL Championship season, Diego Luna has gone on to earn nine goals with five assists, while leading the team in chances created with 37 to help lift Locomotive to winning not only the Mountain Division but the Copa Tejas Cup and Shield.

Diego Luna’s work in the midfield earned the young player three USL Championship Team of the Week accolades in 2021, once on the bench and twice in the Starting XI. The 18-year-old capped off his first professional year with an international duty call-up to the U.S. Men’s Under-20 National Team to compete in the inaugural Revelations Cup in Mexico. With the USMNT U-20s, Luna represented club and country in just under 120 minutes of play, earning a goal against the Mexican U-20s.

See the full list of USL Championship All-League Second Team below:

GOALKEEPER: Matt van Oekel (Birmingham Legion FC)

DEFENDERS: Aaron Guillen (Tampa Bay Rowdies); James Musa (Phoenix Rising FC); Mark Segbers (Memphis 901 FC); Josh Yaro (San Diego Loyal SC)

MIDFIELDERS: Jose Gallegos (San Antonio FC); Kenardo Forbes (Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC); Diego Luna (El Paso Locomotive FC);

FORWARDS: Neco Brett (Birmingham Legion FC); Cameron Lancaster (Louisville City FC); Kyle Murphy (Memphis 901 FC);

We continue with our 2021 Fan Awards, where we look back at the 2021 USL Championship season, cast our votes, and give out awards for the best in each category. Up next in the Fan Awards is the 2021 Goal of the Year. With 56 goals scored throughout the regular season, there is no shortage of goals to choose from. Goals from our nominees -Lucho Solignac, Macca King, Aaron Gomez, Nick Ross, and Matt Bahner – all put away goals that took our collective breaths away. You’ve seen our Top 10 Goals List, but now it’s you have your opportunity to choose the 2021 Fan Award Goal 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 which goal to vote for? Read below to get a rundown on each goal and why it deserves your vote for Goal of the Year.

You just know this one was going to be on the list so it’s going first on this list. Lucho Solignac’s jaw-dropping, incredulous, back-heel volley at the end of Andrew Fox’s lob forward into the box. We’ve talked a lot about this goal, we have had this goal on repeat, it made ESPN SportsCenter Top 10 by finishing #4. It was also the USL Championship’s Goal of the Week and a nominee for Goal of the Month. It was a technical beauty that left Rio Grande Valley and fans in awe of how he accomplished it. The best part about the goal is when asked about it, Lucho only had to say that it was a move that made sense because of the angle he was at. He was only able to get his right foot on the ball the way he did. The sheer technicality and stunning beauty of this goal make it a clear contender for the 2021 Fan Award Goal of the Year.

Speaking of goals that were jaw-dropping and unbelievable, this goal from Macca King had us sitting in disbelief. First, the ball in from Nick Ross is wonderfully taken free-kick landed perfectly in range of Macca King, who, as we had established in the nominees for Defender of the Year and for Most Valuable Player, has been clinical at the end of set pieces and dead balls. This spectacular goal just shows Macca’s determination and follow-through to get to the goal. With a defender rightfully marking him, Macca still got a foot up for a half-volley half-bicycle kick that unbelievably redirected the ball for a goal while the defender was falling on top of him. When asked about it, Macca said that he didn’t even know the ball had gone into the back of the net until the crowd started cheering. It was another goal that we couldn’t believe went in, and absolutely deserves to be a nominee for Goal of the Year.

Some goals just showcase the pure athleticism of what the player can accomplish. Aaron Gomez certainly has some pure athleticism in him, and this goal is one of those goals that showcase it. I’m not sure anyone expected Aaron to hit the ball the way he did either, especially not Austin Bold FC goalkeeper Arshia Babazadeh. As the ball is headed off to the side, Aaron Gomez opted not to take the shot from the offset, instead of allowing it to take a bounce back into the air. Now, most would assume, Aaron Gomez would put his head to the ball in an attempt to sneak past to the net, but instead he took to the air to get his left foot on the ball and send it down below Arshia for the goal. To be able to pick the ball out of the air with a kick like that takes talent and it takes a level of athleticism that not many have. Thankfully, Aaron does, and his goal against Austin Bold FC is worthy of being a nominee for Goal of the Year.

Ball control isn’t one of those things that just comes naturally. It takes a lot of practice and tons of talent. Nick Ross has that talent and he shows it off with this 2nd-minute goal against Indy Eleven back in June. More than just the ball talent from Nick, there is so much into this goal that makes it easily one of the best goals of the season. Macca’s cross was impeccable to the far post as it fired across the field. Lucho’s vision to dip underneath the cross as opposed to putting his head to it as he knew Nick was behind him adds another level to this goal. The finish, however, is obviously what seals the deal on this goal of being a nominee for the 2021 Fan Award Goal of the Year. Nick’s juggle – using the first touch to settle the ball in the air, and his second touch to shoot – was perfectly taken. His shot with precision to the underside of the crossbar put the ball into a place where Indy Eleven’s goalkeeper could do nothing about the shot. It’s a goal that writing about it doesn’t do it justice. Just watch it again. It speaks for itself. It is fully deserved to be on this shortlist.

Not every goal for Goal of the Year has to be because it’s a technical beauty. Not every goal has to be breathtaking, leaving you in awe and in wonderment of curiosity as to how did the player accomplish the goal? Sometimes the context of the goal is all you need to be named to the 2021 Fan Award Goal of the Year shortlist. This is why Matt Bahner’s stone-cold stunner against New Mexico United back in August is here. It came from chaos in the box that our very own goalkeeper Logan Ketterer took a shot that bounced off a United defender and into the path of Matt. Matt took his opportunity to toe the ball into the back of the goal and equalized in stoppage time to steal a point from Isotopes Park. It was a goal that was hard-fought in a game where El Paso felt like they deserved a win. It was a goal that silenced an entire stadium. It led to a celebration that is now one of the most iconic celebrations in Locomotive history as Matt took the tarp off and knocked it out of the park. The cherry on top is that it was against New Mexico United, one of our biggest rivals. The context gives Locomotive fans everywhere chills and it deserves to be on the shortlist for Goal of the Year.

We continue with our 2021 Fan Awards, where we look back at the 2021 USL Championship season, cast our votes, and give out awards for the best in each category. The final category in the Fan Awards is the 2021 Most Valuable Player Award. It’s been said by some that El Paso Locomotive has many great individuals, but the sum of its parts is greater than any individual. While it’s true Locomotive works better as a complete unit with the ‘We, Not Me’ mentality that has been instilled into the locker room since Day 1, it’s also important to recognize the individual contributions of each player on the pitch. To that end, we have our nominees for Most Valuable Player in Lucho Solignac, Macca King, Nick Ross, Diego Luna, and Eder Borelli.

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 which goal to vote for? Read below to get a rundown on the players and why they are more than deserving of your vote for MVP.

A nominee for 2021 Attacker of the Year, Lucho came into the Locomotive squad for 2021 and made a much-needed impact in the attacking half of the ball. His contributions on the ball started out slowly at first – outside of the club record 18-second goal in the second game of the season – but it exploded by the end of the season. Lucho became the Club’s clinical finisher, scoring 10 goals and 7 assists for a total of 17 contributed goals this year. The Argentine striker found himself on the Team of the Week twice throughout the 2021 season, with one of those being named the Player of the Week. His goal against Rio Grande Valley FC landed Top 4 on ESPN’s SportsCenter and earned the USL Championship’s Goal of the Week. Lucho’s presence on the field bolstered El Paso Locomotive’s attack, helping the club earn a season-best 56 goals, making him a worthy name for MVP.

Macca had a stellar 2020 year. Throughout the shortened season, he came in and slotted perfectly into the fullback position for El Paso Locomotive. In 2021, Macca only got better. Defensively, Macca helped keep the Locomotive goal one of the most secure across the entire league, helping earn 13 clean sheets with 47 clearances, 21 interceptions, and winning 25 out of 37 tackles. On the offensive side of the ball, Macca was a target man for set pieces. At the end of corner kicks and dead-ball situations, Macca was able to convert six goals, including a goal that saw a half bicycle kick with a defender practically in the same space as him. His work ethic earned him four Team of the Week honors, including a three-week straight run between Week 7 to Week 9, becoming the first Locomotive defender and only the second Locomotive player ever to accomplish the feat. A box-to-box defender that was as clinical on the wing as he was defensively, Macca has a strong case not only for Defender of the Year – where he was a nominee – but for Most Valuable Player in 2021.

Nick Ross is a silent workhorse in the defensive midfield for El Paso Locomotive FC. Throughout the season, he has been an engine that has kept this team running. Nick played in 31 of Locomotive’s 32 game regular season, earning 25 starts in the process. With three goals and five assists throughout the year, Nick Ross may just be one of the most underrated players on the entire squad. The Scotsman was second on the team in numbers of passes and boasted an 88.6% passing accuracy. He made 35 key passes to set the Locos up for a goal while leading the team in interceptions with 42. His silent but crucial work in the back of the midfield was recognized with two Team of the Week nods, one in the Starting XI in Week 26 and the other on the bench for Week 16. Easily one of the most exceptional players to put on the Locomotive jersey, Nick Ross has as strong a claim as anyone else on this list to be named 2021’s Most Valuable Player.

The young rising star in the Locomotive squad immediately impacted the club from nearly his very first touch on the ball. Coming into the opening match of the season as a sub, Luna set the cross to Aaron Gomez who headed the ball to Leandro Carrijo for the goal. Since then, Luna has been one of the best the Locos have to offer in the midfield. The now 18-Year-Old recorded nine goals and four assists and out-played defenders far more his veteran. With his work ethic in the midfield, Luna led the team in chances created with 37 key passes. That same work ethic turned heads across the nation as Luna earned three USL Championship Team of the Week accolades, once on the bench and twice in the Starting XI. To cap off the season, Luna earned a nod to join the USMNT U-20 team for the Revelations Cup in Mexico, where he represented both club and country with just under 120 minutes of play and a goal to show for it. With such an impact in his first professional year, Luna earns his nod as a nominee for the 2021 Fan Award MVP.

The 2020 winner and 2021 nominee of the Locomotive Fan Award Defender of the Year, and the reigning El Paso Locomotive FC MVP after claiming the title after the 2020 season, Eder Borelli was once again one of the most consistent defenders on the backline. Appearing in 29 matches, starting in 27, Eder garnered the second-highest total play on the Locomotive squad with 2,431 minutes through the regular season. A defender moonlighting as an attacker on the wing at times, Eder went from box-to-box, defending the backline to help create the second-most secure backline in the league while simultaneously helping Locomotive to the most successful attacking season in its three-year history by pushing the ball forward and putting crosses into the final third. Eder made 25 clearances, 35 interceptions and won 72% of all of his tackles in the season. On the other side of the ball, Eder completed 82% of all his passes including 30 key passes to help set the club up for success. Eder is a constant on the backline that found himself with four USL Championship Team of the Week callings and is fully deserving of a nod for the 2021 Fan Award Most Valuable Player.

El Paso Locomotive Youth Soccer has expanded opportunities with its USL Academy team, the club announced today. The greater focus includes partnerships with local area high schools, more games against elite competition in the region and internationally, as well as greater integration with the El Paso Locomotive First Team.

“For many years, the best young soccer players in El Paso have had to leave the area in order to continue their development,” said Dominic Casciato, Locomotive USL Academy Director and First Team Assistant Coach. “This expanded fully-funded program allows these young players to stay at home while getting quality full-time training, a first-class international games program, and an avenue to First Team soccer at one of the top USL clubs in the country.”

Kicking off with preseason in January, the Locomotive USL Academy squad will play at least 30 games through to November. The team, made up of 14- to 19-year-olds, will face off against top colleges from across the nation, as well as Mexican club teams such as FC Juarez, before competing in the USL Academy League in the Summer and Fall months. The remainder of the games will be made up in youth tournaments and showcases. In addition to the increased number of games and quality of opponents, the El Paso Locomotive Youth Soccer USL Academy squad will be afforded the unique opportunity of training alongside the El Paso Locomotive First Team to get a greater insight into professional soccer and to improve their own skillset with the pros.

Partnering with Locomotive on this exciting project is Canutillo High School, led by Principal Teresa Clapsaddle. The Locomotive Academy players will attend Canutillo High School, whose high standards in the classroom match the club’s standards on the field. Paired with strategic partnerships with colleges around the country, Locomotive Youth Soccer players will have access to athletic scholarships with prestigious programs to further their careers both professionally and academically.

Casciato continued, “I’d like to thank Teresa Clapsaddle at Canutillo High School, who will be a valuable partner in this program for years to come. I’d also like to thank our owners for supporting this project that will leave a lasting legacy for our community.”

El Paso Locomotive Youth Soccer will hold tryouts for the USL Academy squad on December 4th and 5th. Registration for tryouts will open next week. To register, or for more information, visit eplocomotiveyouthsoccer.com.

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.