June 14, 2007
University of New Mexico men’s soccer coach Jeremy Fishbein announced a pair of student-athletes who will be joining the Lobos in the fall. Diego Barrera and Joel Thiessen will both be additions to the Lobo roster when practice begins in August for the 2007 season. UNM has already received commitments from three top high school players, Ryan Farguharson (Phoenix, Ariz.), Chris Machin (Albuquerque, N.M.) and James Urbany (South Bend, Ind.) in February.
Barrera is a 5-7 midfielder who is transferring to UNM after playing three seasons at Loyola Marymount. He was a two-time All-West Coast Conference selection for the Lions and a third team All-Far West Region honoree in 2006. He scored three goals and an assist in 2006 after recovering from a season-ending knee injury during his sophomore campaign. He scored nine goals and seven assists in his three seasons at LMU. Barrera was also an NSCAA All-American in high school and a member of the U.S. U-18 National Team.
Thiessen joins the Lobos after an outstanding career at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra, Australia. He competed in numerous international tournaments in his two seasons at AIS. He is a left-sided player who was recently named as a squad member to the Australian Olyroos, the U-23 National Olympic team. He was also a member of the Australian U-20 team.
The Lobos are coming off their third straight Mountain Pacific Sports Federation championship and the team’s fifth conference title in the last six seasons, posting a 14-4-3 mark in 2006. UNM also advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament for the third year in a row and the fifth time in six years, finishing the 2006 regular season with a No. 8 national ranking. New Mexico only loses one starter to graduation in two-time All-American defender Andrew Boyens (2g, 3a), while Lars Loeseth (1g, 2a) was the only other senior on last year’s squad. Not only does New Mexico return 9 starters and 15 lettermen, it also welcomes two former high school All-Americans who redshirted in 2006. Midfielder Michael Reed and forward Gardner Morrow, both 2005 NSCAA All-Americans, are two of five players who sat out last season, but are ready for action in 2007. The mix of talented newcomers and accomplished returners will make the Lobos one of the top teams in the country again in 2007.
2007 New Mexico Men’s Soccer Newcomers
| Name |
Pos. |
HT |
WT |
Hometown (High School/Club) |
| Diego Barrera |
M |
5-7 |
155 |
Thousand Oaks, Calif. (Loyola Marymount) |
| Ryan Farquharson |
D/M |
6-1 |
170 |
Phoenix, Ariz. (North Canyon HS/Sereno) |
| Chris Machin |
M |
5-9 |
150 |
Albuquerque, N.M. (Eldorado HS/Bandoleros) |
| Joel Theissen |
M |
5-7 |
175 |
Windsor, New South Wales, Australia (Australian Institute of Sport) |
| James Urbany |
D/M |
5-9 |
150 |
South Bend, Ind. (St. Joseph’s HS/Cosmos) |
Diego Barrera M 5-7 155 Thousand Oaks, Calif. Loyola Marymount
Three-year player at Loyola Marymount who has transferred to UNM…Second Team All-West Coast Conference following his freshman and junior seasons…had his sophomore year cut short due to a knee injury he suffered six games into the season…Third team All-Far West Regional selection in 2006, scoring three goals and an assist…netted nine goals and seven assists in three years at LMU…three-time WCC Player of the Week…member of the U-18 National team in 2005…NSCAA All-American as a senior at Thousand Oaks High School in 2004…PERSONAL…Born March 25, 1987, in Bogota, Colombia…full name is Diego Alejandro Barrera…son of Sandra and Blake Upton and Alejandro Barrera…has one brother, Daniel Barrera, and one sister, Sarah Upton.
Coach Fishbein on Barrera:
“Diego is a guy we recruited out of high school when we thought he was one of the best attacking players in the country. He suffered an injury at LMU and now that he is healthy, we think he can again regain his form that made him one of the best in nation. He will have an immediate impact on our program.”
Ryan Farquharson
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Ryan Farquharson D/M 6-1 170 Phoenix, Ariz. North Canyon HS Sereno
Plays for the Sereno Soccer Club’s 89 Golden Eagles who are currently ranked No. 3 in the nation…Won the 2005 Region IV championship and was a national semifinalist…2005 and 2006 Disney Showcase Champions, 2005 and 2006 Sereno Pro Classic Champions, 2005 Nomads Thanksgiving Finalist, 2006 Nomads Thanksgiving Semi-finalist, 2006 President’s Day Champions, 2006 State Cup Finalist, 2005 and 2006 Cerritos Memorial Challenge Cup Semi-Finalist, 2006 West Coast Futbal Classic Finalist…Played varsity soccer at North Canyon HS his freshman and sophomore years…Captain and all-region as a sophomore…PERSONAL…Born Feb. 27, 1989, full name is Ryan Bruce Farquharson…son of Paula and Ian Farquharson…has one brother, Conner (15), and one sister, Cali (13)…last name is pronounced far-kwa-HAR-son.
Coach Fishbein on Farquharson:
“Ryan is a young man we are extremely excited about. He comes from one of the best club programs in country in Sereno in Phoenix, Ariz. Current Lobos and both played for Sereno and have done well for us and we are expecting the same from Ryan. He is an intelligent player and a great student who can play anywhere on the field. He is passionate about the game and committed to being the best soccer player he can be. I see him coming in and seeing the field as a freshman.”
Chris Machin
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Chris Machin M 5-9 150 Albuquerque, N.M. Eldorado HS Bandoleros
All-district player and three-year letterwinner for 2006 New Mexico 5A state champion Eldorado High School…Member of the Classic Bandoleros club team, winner of three New Mexico state championships, the 2003 Nike Harvest Cup and the 2006 U.S.Y.S.A. Region IV championship…teammate of current Lobo with the Bandoleros…played four years with the New Mexico ’88 ODP squad…PERSONAL…Born May 11, 1988, full name is Christopher Paul Machin…son of Glenn and Terri Machin…has one brother, Jude (29), and one sister, Michelle (21)….graduated from high school in December 2006 and is currently enrolled at UNM and training with the team…last name is pronounced MAY-chin.
Coach Fishbein on Machin:
“Chris has been coming to our camps and we have been able to see him play for a couple of years. He is currently enrolled at UNM and training with the team, which will give him valuable experience in the fall. We thought he was the best player in New Mexico last year and it has always been our No. 1 goal in recruiting to keep the local players that can help us in Lobo uniforms. He won a state championship in high school and played with Dom Romero on the Bandoleros team that went to the youth club championships, so he has competed at a very high level.”
James Urbany
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James Urbany D/M 5-9 150 South Bend, Ind. St. Joseph’s HS Cosmos
Three-time all-league and two-time all-district performer for South Bend’s St. Joseph `s High School…All-state selection as a senior…Scored 12 points on the 2004 Indiana State Championship squad that finished 24-0 and ranked No. 4 in the nation as a freshman…Currently plays for the PDL’s Indiana Invaders in the Great Lakes Division…all-region pick and a participant in the Super Y league ODP camp in 2005…Played for the Indiana State club champion Carmel United Cosmos that also had a No. 18 national ranking in 2006…Two-year starter for the Indiana ’88 ODP team… PERSONAL…Born Oct. 12, 1988, full name is James Knox Urbany…son of Joe and Julie Urbany…has two brothers, Andrew (20) and Anthony (14)…father played baseball at Wright State University.
Coach Fishbein on Urbany:
“I saw James for the first time last spring at a tournament in Cincinnati, Ohio, and immediately loved all of the qualities he brings to a team. He is hard-working, really active, passionate about the game and has great athletic ability. He is very versatile and has an attacking mindset for a player who play anywhere on the field. He has a chance to earn time either in the defense on in the attack.”
