Author:Alex Kaui

July 26, 2016 In Player Bios

Kevin Partida

 

Kevin Partida. UNLV men's soccer during a game against Pacific at Peter Johann Field on September 6, 2015. (R. Marsh Starks / UNLV Photo Services)

Kevin Partida. UNLV men’s soccer during a game against Pacific at Peter Johann Field on September 6, 2015.

 

  • How did you get started in soccer? How old were you?

I joined my first team when I was 5. Back then the youngest age group locally was U-8 so when my dad took me to the park where all the teams practiced to ask if they needed players they all told him I was still too young/small. A family friend was having the same problem so we started our own team.

 

  • What made you choose UNLV?

The coaching staff had a huge influence on my decision. They really helped me feel confident of what I could achieve here and I felt I could really trust them.

 

  • What is your major? Year in school?

I’ll start my senior year this fall. I’m a kinesiology major.

 

  • What is your favorite color?

I never picked one but my friends are convinced it’s orange.

 

  • Besides soccer what is your favorite sport/hobbie? Favorite type of food? favorite song?

Favorite hobbie outside of soccer – arguing, favorite type of food – seafood, favorite song -Apparently by J. Cole

 

  • Biggest accomplishment in soccer?

Winning both our conference regular season and conference tournament my sophomore year.

 

  • What are your life goals and aspirations?

To play in a World Cup.

 

  • One word that describes you?

Honest

 

  • What is on your bucket list?

To live in Europe at some point.

July 26, 2016 In Player Bios

Danny Musovski

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  •  How did you get started in soccer? How old were you?

My Dad got me into soccer when I was four years old. It was the first and only sport I grew up playing.

 

  • What made you choose UNLV?

Family. My Dad works at the school and my Mom and older brother graduated from the school. So, my strong ties to the University ultimately lead to my decision to play soccer there.

 

  • What is your major? Year in school?

Accounting. I’m going into my Junior year.

 

  • What is your favorite color?

Scarlet.

 

  • Besides soccer what is your favorite sport/hobbie? favorite type of food? favorite song?

I do have a strong interest in basketball. I’m a diehard LeBron James fan. I also played a season of JV basketball in high school where I starred as the teams 12th man.

 

  •  Biggest accomplishment in soccer?

Breaking the Nevada state record for most goals in a high school career has to be my proudest accomplishment. Mainly, because that record hadn’t been touched in over 30 years and people didn’t think it could be broken.

 

  • What are your life goals and aspirations?

Hopefully play soccer at the highest level.

 

  •  One word that describes you?

Optimistic.

 

  •  What is on your bucket list?

A lot of things, but if I have to narrow it down it would be to go to France and eat lunch with Thierry Henry. (my favorite soccer player)

July 26, 2016 In Player Bios

Shota Takada

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  • How did you get started in soccer? How old were you?

My uncle was a soccer coach in Japan where I started and right when I started the World Cup was taking place in Japan. I was 6 years old.

 

  • What made you choose UNLV?

The coaching staff as well as lifelong friends who had played here before me.

 

  • What is your major? Year in school?

Hospitality Management – Junior

 

  • What is your favorite color?

Navy Blue

 

  • Besides soccer what is your favorite sport/hobbie? Favorite type of food? Favorite song?

I Love to play golf.

 

  • Biggest accomplishment in soccer?

Win a WAC Tournament and Season Championship.

 

  • What are your life goals and aspirations?

To become a professional soccer player.

 

  • One word that describes you?

Loyal

  • What is on your bucket list?

To play professional soccer in front of my family one day.

July 25, 2016 In Announcements

The Men’s Soccer Foundation Has Been Born

On June 2nd, the Board of Regents met to recognize the UNLV Rebel Soccer Foundation as an affiliated group.

During the Public comment section people who benefited from Coach Ryerson spoke on his behalf and told the Board of Regents their story and how they have benefitted both as people and as citizens.

During this section, David Wedley, Director of academic athletic services at UNLV and the advisor of the men’s soccer team stated that the team comprises of 65-75% of minority students, surpassing the institutional rate by 10%.

“Soccer has become a way for young men and women to get a higher education among the hispanic community.” Said Lopez Verduzco, a Spanish-Speaking Sports Newscaster on ESPN Deportes.

The early beginnings of the Rebel soccer program began in 1973 under the direction of Coach Tom Kahmas. Bob Singer, part of that founding team, spoke about how the love for soccer has been strong for Rebel fans over the generations until now.

Representing UNLV officially were President Jessup and Athletic Director Tina Murphy who strongly supported the approval of the foundation. On behalf of the foundation Tim McGarry spoke about the inspiration for the foundation, and the development of it’s board of community leaders as well as past Rebel soccer players. In particular Tim McGarry could not stress enough how much UNLV has helped him in his personal and business life. In closing he spoke about the original donation of the Englestad Foundation and how the future of Rebel Soccer will never be in doubt again.

Approving the creation of the rebel soccer foundation was a breeze, but creating it was no easy task.

“As a student athlete, playing as part of an awesome team in the first year of the UNLV Mens Soccer program back in 1974, tears came to my eyes as I heard the votes counted off and the chairmen say “ Yes we approve of the Rebels Soccer Foundation” said Michael Thompson, a Foundation Board Member. “As in life, and in sport, there are thrills of victory and some agonies of challenge. Today was a great victory for the future of the program, its athletes, and the Las Vegas soccer community.”

And just like that, the time, effort and dedication of many finally paid off.

Now, the future for the soccer team is bright and promising, brimming with opportunity and success.