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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.

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. Next up in the 2021 Fan Awards, we have Attacker of the Year. With 13 clean sheets and only 35 goals conceded, El Paso Locomotive finished with the second-best defense across both the Eastern and Western Conferences. The nominees for this year are Macauley ‘Macca’ King, Eder Borelli, Mechack Jerome, Matt Bahner, and Yuma. These select few put on incredible displays throughout the 2021 season, and now it’s your turn to vote for who earns the 2021 Defender 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 how they created one of the most ironclad defenses in the league.

Get yourself a player who can both attack and defend. While he showed what he can do in 2020 when he joined El Paso Locomotive FC, 2021 was a step up for Macca King. A clinical finisher at the end of set pieces, Macca King found six goals, all coming from the end of dead ball situations. Macca managed to find himself in wide-open areas, unmarked, and free to redirect the ball for a goal. The few times he wasn’t unmarked, he still managed to get a foot to the ball, once even finding the back of the net with the defender directly on top of him. Outside of set pieces, Macca’s box-to-box play down the wing and ability to send in pin-point crosses paid off in deadly chances that found the back of the net three times. On the other side of the ball, King made 47 clearances and 21 interceptions while winning 25 out of 37 tackles throughout the season. Playing and starting in 24 out of 24 games, Macca makes a strong case to earn your vote for 2021 Defender of the Year.

The defending Defender of the Year, Eder Borelli once again showed why he is one of the best defenders in the league. Another box-to-box defender, Eder made runs up and down the wing to get deep into the attack but also fall back to defend when necessary. Across 29 games played, Eder made 25 clearances and 35 interceptions while winning 53 out of 73 (72%) of his duels to help Locomotive secure one of the tightest nets in the league. In the attack, Eder recorded one goal and assisted three others. One of the most disciplined and hard-working players across the entire league, Eder showed once again why he was named the Fan Awarded 2020 Defender of the Year for El Paso Locomotive and has made himself another strong candidate to take the award once again.

Look around the league for a more reliable center back than Mechack Jerome, and you would be hardpressed to find one. Playing in 26 games through the 2021 season, Mechack came through as a stalwart defender time and time again. The Haitian defender led the team with 86 clearances and nine blocked shots while winning 11 out of 17 tackles to keep the net secure. On more than one occasion he protected the net as a last line of defense, making goal line clearances on the rare occasions an opposing attacker managed to beat Logan Ketterer. Mechack’s diligence and read of the makes one of the best defenders in the league and one of five clear choices for this year’s 2021 Fan Award’s Defender of the Year.

Arguably the most versatile defender on the Locomotive roster, Matt Bahner can slot in anywhere you’ll need him, and he will play like a natural. From the right back position, all the way to the left, and everything in between, Matt will get the job done. After 26 appearances in the 2021 season, Matt once again showed his versatility and his work rate, helping El Paso Locomotive claim 13 clean sheets while conceding only 35 goals. The American made 37 clearances to halt the opposing attack while winning 25 out of 37 tackles and making 21 interceptions. A true threat in the defensive third to the opposition, Matt came up big whenever the squad needed him most and was a consistent defender throughout the year. There is also always the bonus of earning an assist and a goal, especially when that goal silences a New Mexico United lead to steal a point away from Isotopes Park.

The mainstay captain of 2021, Spanish Defender Yuma controlled the Locomotive backline over 22 appearances. As an in-your-face center back, Yuma would bravely halt the opposition before they caused any real threat to our own goal. Yuma won 74 out of 124 duels, won 19 out of 31 tackles, while blocking 10 shots and making 36 clearances. The no-nonsense defender regained possession through interceptions 31 times and commanded the backline to tighten up gaps and close down opposition passing lanes. Another one of the best defenders in the league, Yuma put his heart and soul out on the field from the first whistle to the last. However, his contributions to the team didn’t end in the confines of the pitch. Off the pitch, Yuma was a leader to the locker room in attitude and work ethic. One of the hardest working players on the team, Yuma always came to training with an upbeat attitude to keep team spirits high even when he himself was out on injury. A true leader in the locker room, Yuma would be a quality choice for Locomotives 2022 Fan Award Defender of the Year.

The fan votes have been tallied and the results are in for the 2021 USL Copa Tejas Best XI. At the end of the 2021 USL Championship, fans were encouraged to share who they thought were the best players and coach across the four Texas teams and it comes to no surprise that the title-winning squad, El Paso Locomotive FC, dominates the shortlist. Head Coach Mark Lowry leads the charge with six El Paso Locomotive players joining him as they are highlighted on the Copa Tejas Best XI.

Coach Lowry spearheaded El Paso Locomotive through its best season yet in the club’s three-year history. With only four losses, Locomotive has one of the best records in the league at 18-4-10, leading the team to overpower the Mountain Division and clinching the top seed with weeks left the season. Against Texas clubs, Lowry coached the team to a record of 7-3-2 to emphatically be the best team in the Lone Star state with 23 points. With two points per game average across the whole season, Locomotive earned the Copa Tejas Shield – a trophy contested against San Antonio FC, Austin Bold FC, and Rio Grande Valley FC of USL, FC Dallas, Austin FC, and Houston Dynamo of Major League Soccer, and the Houston Dash of the National Women’s Soccer League. Undoubtedly in credit to Mark Lowry’s tactical coaching expertise, the club can definitively say it’s the best in Texas.

Logan Ketterer is the lone goalkeeper on the shortlist for the Best XI. With 57 saves and nine clean sheets through the 2021 USL Championship regular season for a 1.15 goals-against average, Ketterer has established himself as one of the best keepers in the league. His talents earned him an emergency loan call-up to Portland Timbers in MLS where he shined with two straight shutouts in three games. Against Texas competition, Ketterer helped earn the team a 5-3-1 record in games he appeared in, making 25 saves and allowing only 13 goals for a goal-against average of 1.44 per Texas game.

Yuma and Mechack Jerome are two of the four defenders that made the shortlist. The center back pairing is the cornerstone of the El Paso Locomotive FC defense. The two have helped lead the club to 13 clean sheets through the regular season, making for one of the most secure goals across the entire league – only outdone by Tampa Bay Rowdies of the Eastern Conference. Against Texas clubs, the veteran defenders have helped take the team to a record of 7-3-1 including five shutouts, helping ease the load on Ketterer in goal.

Diego Luna and Dylan Mares highlight the midfield as two of the four chosen Texas players in the Copa Tejas Best XI. Luna made waves in his rookie year, especially, against Texas clubs. The then-17-year-old recorded his first professional goal against Austin Bold FC to secure a 1-0 win before going on to find six goals and one assist against Lone Star clubs through 2021. Overall, Luna found nine goals and five assists to become a league-wide standout in his first professional year. Meanwhile, Dylan Mares continued to perform at the peak of the diamond in Mark Lowry’s 4-4-2 system. Mares earned four assists and two goals against Texas teams in the Copa Tejas. His overall performance netted him four goals and seven assists, cementing him as El Paso’s midfield maestro and resident playmaker. This is Mares’ second appearance on the Copa XI, having earned the accolade for his stellar performance in the 2020 season.

Lucho Solignac wraps up the Locomotive names on the Bext XI as the lone Loco Forward as one of two strikers picked. Lucho came into El Paso from Copa Tejas rival San Antonio FC ahead of the 2021 season. While with San Antonio in 2020, Lucho was named to the Copa Best XI, making him the only player to earn the honor twice with two different clubs. In 2021, the veteran forward earned five goals and four assists against Texas teams, including a goal that set the Locomotive club record for the fastest goal at just 18-seconds after the opening whistle. Lucho’s performance against Texas clubs contributed to what turned out to be an outstanding year for the Argentinian, as Lucho earned 10 goals and seven assists overall.

It’s time for the most wonderful time of the year! No not Christmas and the holiday season. I’m talking about playoffs. Drama. Trophies. Edge of your seat nail-biter games. It’s everything you could ever want in your games of soccer, and we get to experience it live at Southwest University Park right here in El Paso. The best teams in the entire league clash to find out who truly is the better team. The best part about it is that Locomotive is on that shortlist. Our first match: Oakland Roots SC. A team we have never seen before until now. So let’s break them down and get to know what we are dealing with here.

MATCH DETAILS: USL Championship Western Conference Quarterfinals; vs Oakland Roots SC; Kickoff 7:30 p.m. MT; Gates Open at 6:30 p.m. MT

VENUE/WEATHER: Southwest University Park; El Paso, Texas; 77F degrees and clear skies

TICKETS: Click Here!

WATCH: ESPN+

RECORDS/STANDINGS: Locomotive: 18-4-10 (64 points, MTN-1); Roots: 11-13-8 (41 points, PAC-4)

PREVIOUS MEETING: El Paso Locomotive FC and Oakland Roots have never met before! This is going to be an exciting unknown match-up to open the playoffs as both teams have nothing but tape to prepare for this win-or-go-home contest.

Oakland Roots had arguably the roughest start to their inaugural USL Championship season. The California Club lost 3-0 in its first franchise game against Phoenix Rising FC and picked up the win two weeks later with a 3-2 victory over LA Galaxy II. After that though, it was all downhill. Over the next 11 games, Roots were left winless, losing seven games while coming away with draws in four. Oakland would stay without a win from May 23 to August 14 when it would host LA Galaxy II to claim a 2-1 win. This sparked an Oakland Roots come back, watching the club raise from the bottom of the barrel to a contender for the fourth and final playoff position in the Pacific Division. Thanks to its late-season surge, a 1-0 win against Sporting Kansas City II, and LA Galaxy II’s three-game loss to close the season, Oakland found itself just over the playoff line and in place to take on El Paso Locomotive at Southwest University Park.

There are two players that stand out on the Oakland Roots SC roster on both ends of the ball. On the defensive side, Defender Emrah Klimenta is an anchor as a center-back. The Yugoslavian defender has made 91 clearances throughout the season, blocking 18 shots and making 41 interceptions to disrupt the attacking opposition. With 21 of 32 tackles won and 87 out of 144 duels won, Klimenta has the capability to halt even the most aggressive attacks, helping to keep even Phoenix Rising FC to only three goals in their last three meetings. Named to the USL Championship’s Team of the Week in Week 25, Klimenta carries with him a wealth of experience in the USL Championship as well as the Slovakian top flights and with LA Galaxy in Major League Soccer. The 30-year-old veteran defender has also made seven appearances with the Montenegro National Team.

On the offensive half of the ball, 24-year-old Midfielder Jesus Enriquez is a maestro to be reckoned with. The Santa Clara, California native is tied for second in both goals and assists within Oakland Roots at four and three respectively. A versatile player, Enriquez’s four goals have come from both his right and left boot, having scored twice with each foot. The young American is in a good run of form with confidence at an all-time high, having found two of his four goals within the last two games. Enriquez has registered 24 shots, 18 of which were on target while nearly matching that with 23 key passes to set up chances for goal. The Oakland midfielder is a threat down the right-wing and through the midfield has proven to be a headache for the opposition defense. At just 24-years-old, Enriquez is also no stranger to the USL Championship, having previously seen massive success with Rio Grande Valley FC in the 2018 and 2019 seasons before jumping between San Antonio FC and Reno 1868 FC in 2020. He has found his home with Oakland Roots, however, coming into his own as their midfield maestro.

Despite a storybook end to their regular season, seeing Oakland Roots clinch a playoff berth in its inaugural year of USL Championship play, they did so by the skin of their teeth. Oakland Roots SC did not have the greatest record through the year, earning 11 wins, 13 losses and 8 draws. While their better record was at home at Laney College Football Stadium, their road form left a lot to be desired. At 4 wins, 8 losses, and 4 draws, the Roots dropped more points on the road than they earned. Their road form will face its greatest challenge yet – yes, even greater than playing Phoenix Rising FC at home twice in one year – when it visits El Paso Locomotive FC at Southwest University Park. We’ve been shouting this from the rooftops for months now and rightly so. Southwest University Park is a fortress. El Paso Locomotive has never lost at home in playoff situations. El Paso Locomotive is currently on a 25-game unbeaten streak dating back to July 2020 including the playoffs of that year. El Paso Locomotive is simply unstoppable within the walls of its home. As Oakland’s poor away form takes on Locomotive’s indomitable home fortress, it’s still important not to get too complacent. This is win-or-go-home. Oakland will be playing with nothing to lose and fighting with everything they have to continue. Of course, El Paso Locomotive will be doing the same, but matches are different now than they are in the regular season. Friday night is set to be an electric showdown between Roots and Locomotive as both sides seek to kickoff their trophy push.

El Paso Locomotive (18-4-10, 64 pts., MTN-1) kicks off the 2021 USL Championship playoffs presented by TwinSpires at Southwest University Park on Friday, November 5 at 7:30 p.m. against Oakland Roots SC. Gates open at 6:30 p.m.

Good tickets are available at eplocmotivefc.com/tickets, by phone at 915-235-GOAL, or through the Official El Paso Locomotive FC App. Tickets can also be purchased at the Southwest University Park box office. The box office is open 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. today through Thursday and on Friday from 10 a.m. until 30 minutes after the conclusion of the match.

As part of the match festivities, fans can enjoy a $6 Estrella Jalisco & Souvenir Popcorn special through the 75th minute. Fans are encouraged to purchase early to save over day of game prices!

For the third consecutive year, El Paso Locomotive kicks off its run towards the USL Championship Final to bring a set of trophies to El Paso. After a successful 2021 regular season that saw Locomotive earn a club-best record of 18-4-10, El Paso is poised to make a historic playoff push. Using its North American best 25 home game unbeaten streak, Los Locos welcome Oakland Roots SC for the first time to Southwest University Park for the opening round of the playoffs.

El Paso Locomotive FC has seen nothing but success in playoff situations at Southwest University Park, having advanced to the next round following home playoff games. In 2019, Locomotive hosted one game, claiming a 3-0 win over Sacramento Republic before hosting two games in the playoffs in 2020, taking home wins over FC Tulsa and New Mexico United following dramatic penalty shootouts. Meanwhile, Oakland Roots SC will be making its first postseason appearance since joining the league as an expansion side earlier this year. The Locos and Roots have yet to meet on the pitch, making this is an exciting match-up against an unfamiliar opponent. As the exciting young-blood of the USL Championship, Roots SC will be eager to make a statement against an El Paso side that has seen the Western Conference in every year of its existence.

Should Locomotive FC earn a win against Oakland Roots SC on Friday, November 5, it will play host to the winner of Orange County SC and Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC on Saturday, November 13. Tickets are on sale now.

Follow El Paso Locomotive FC vs Oakland Roots SC – Fri., November 5, 2021

·         Coverage Begins: 7:30 p.m. MT; Gates Open at 6:30 p.m. MT
·         Watch:  ESPN+
·         Social Media: @EPLocomotiveFC & #ELPvOAK on Twitter
·         Additional Content: Official El Paso Locomotive FC App (iOS / Android)
·         Promotion: $6 Estrella Jalisco & Souvenir Popcorn Bucket until the 75th minute.