Steven Reyes / Special to the Home News
Freshman UNLV men’s soccer player Joe Mora, 18, dives for the soccer ball during practice.
Friday, Sept. 26, 2008 | midnight
From left, UNLV men's soccer players sophomore Richard Abrego, 19, and freshman Joe Mora, 18 are both Silverado graduates and All-State Team members.
Sophomore UNLV men's soccer player Richard Abrego, 19, drives the soccer ball down field during practice.
Two Silverado graduates have been reunited as members of the UNLV men’s soccer team.
Sophomore midfielder Richard Abrego, who was the Sunrise Region’s Most Valuable Player at Silverado, is joined on the Rebels this year with goalie Joe Mora. Mora, a freshman, is red-shirting this fall.
UNLV coach Mario Sanchez said it’s a goal of his program to pursue top talents from Southern Nevada. Other locals on the roster include: Chaparral’s Mike Mota, Durango’s Andrew Friel, Bishop Gorman’s Zac Zaher, Centennial’s Roland Swanson and Green Valley High’s Fabrizzio Ricci.
“In any sport, you want to start by getting the best in your backyard,” Sanchez said. “We’ve found some real talent locally. (Mora and Abrego) both came in with a great work ethic and they’re good people. They have a good base to work from.”
After reaching the state finals with Silverado last year, Mora said he had several options but settled on UNLV partially because of Abrego’s advice.
“(Abrego and I) were pretty close in high school, especially on the field,” Mora said. “I talked to him before I came to UNLV and he told me about how good the coaches were and how the team has a lot of intensity.”
Abrego, who has started every this year, said it’s been nice being on the field with Mora again.
“Joey has showed some amazing things already,” Abrego said. “He has great agility and I think he can be a big part of this team once he works his way in. ”
Mora said he knew coming in to UNLV that he would likely have to sit out a year behind senior Hawk Mummey and Swanson, a sophomore. He said the lack of pressure has helped him ease into the higher calibre competition and adjust to the quickened speed of the game.
“We’re excited about Joe and what he means for the future of the team,” Sanchez said. “He has a big future here and he’s in a perfect situation to learn from someone like Hawk. Abrego has come on strong since the spring of last year and I have nothing but praise for him. They’re both great kids.”
Jared Harmon can be reached at 990-8922 or [email protected].
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