TAMPA, FLA. — Junior Aaron Herrera and senior Luke Lawrence of the University of New Mexico men’s soccer team have been highlighted by the Premier Development League as one of the top 95 college players to watch in the fall, the PDL announced this week. The watch list aims to feature standout PDL players in college soccer on their paths to the professional level.
OFFICIAL PDL RELEASE
The PDL Players to Watch in College list includes players named to and considered for the six 2017 PDL Top Prospects lists throughout the summer. A total of 24 scouts – including head coaches, technical directors and coaching directors – across North America provided the PDL with insight on players who were performing at the highest level within the league, possessed strong technical and tactical qualities and had the potential to play at the professional level.
Herrera adds the honor to his rapidly growing list of accolades including his recently earned spot on the Top Drawer Soccer Best XI earlier in August. He spent his summer playing for FC Tucson as well as competing with Team USA in the U-20 World Cup. Herrera is one of just 12 defenders to make the list and is joined by just one other C-USA defender, Paul Marie of FIU.
Lawrence, who played for the Albuquerque Sol over the summer, is one of 31 forwards on the list and joins C-USA’s Santiago Patino of FIU. Also making the list of forwards is Daniel Musovski of UNLV, which the Lobos will face on Friday night at 7 p.m. in their home opener.
This is Lawrence’s first honor of the season.
Both Lobo returners will look to lead UNM to its 13th NCAA postseason appearance in 17 seasons. Herrera started every game in the 2016 season, totaling 2,050 minutes on the pitch. He notched six points on two goals and two assists while Lawrence, who also saw time on the field in all 22 matches, scored three goals on the season.
Both Lawrence and Herrera started for the Lobos in both the season opener against Washington and UNM’s second match against Seattle. So far this season, the Lobos have scored just once, off the foot of Lawrence in the narrow 2-1 loss at then No. 11 Washington. Lawrence found the back of the net with less than four minutes on the clock in a last-minute comeback attempt.
The Lobos will host their first home game of the 2017 season on Friday, Sept. 1 at the UNM Soccer Complex. Kickoff against UNLV is scheduled for 7 p.m.