skip navigation

New Mexico Native Goss Leads Four NMU Signings

By USLChampionship.com Staff, 02/21/19, 3:41PM EST

Share

Local standout inks deal with Locomotive FC; Rangers add SuperDraft selection to squad


New Mexico native Josh Goss was one of four signings unveiled by New Mexico United on Thursday. | Photo courtesy University of New Mexico Athletics

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – New Mexico native Josh Goss was one of four players unveiled as the latest signings by New Mexico United on Thursday as the club continued to build its squad for its inaugural season in the USL Championship in 2019. Goss was joined by midfielders Ken Akamatsu, Saalih Muhammed and defender Ethen Sampson on United’s roster, with the signings pending league and federation approval.

A player for USL League Two’s Albuquerque Sol FC last season, Goss spent four years playing for the University of New Mexico Men’s soccer team from 2013 to 2016, netting 67 appearances, 44 starts, 9 assists, and two goals. Goss was named C-USA Offensive Player of the Week in September 2014, Third Team All-Conference USA in 2015, and C-USA Commissioner’s Honor Roll in 2016 during his career with the Lobos.

“Josh persevered through our open trial, invite trial, and the first two weeks of our preseason to earn his opportunity with New Mexico United,” said New Mexico United Head Coach Troy Lesesne. “He's a versatile player, with a great mind for the game and each week he's grown more and more comfortable with our group. I'm looking forward to seeing him continue to progress in his first USL season.”  

Akamatsu hails from Niigata, Japan and joins NMU after a successful college career with the University of Denver. From 2015-18, Akamatsu made 77 appearances and recorded seven goals and 13 assists for the Pioneers and earned Summit League All-Conference Second Team and Summit League All-Tournament Team last fall. 

Muhammed arrives in New Mexico having spent the 2018 USL Championship season with Penn FC, the most recent stop in a career that has also seen him compete for the San Francisco Deltas in 2017, Croatia Đakovo in 2016 and HAŠK from 2015-2016.

Sampson, meanwhile, returns to North America after a stint in his native South Africa with Ubuntu Cape Town FC. A former member of Vancouver Whitecaps FC, during which time he got the chance to work with Lesesne through the club’s partnership with the Charleston Battery, Sampson also previously played on the South Africa U-20 National Team from 2011-2013, and the South Africa U-17 National Team from 2009-2010. 

LOCOMOTIVE FC ADDS LOCAL STANDOUT: El Paso Locomotive FC announced on Thursday it had signed midfielder Guillermo “Memo” Diaz. Born and raised in Gadsden, New Mexico, Diaz played his youth soccer career in El Paso as he attended Gadsden High School. While playing for the Panthers he was named the 2013-14 Gatorade New Mexico Boys Soccer Player of the Year after scoring 27 goals and 19 assists.

“When I got into the office and was offered a contract, I felt very thankful to the club and to [Locomotive FC] coach Mark Lowry for giving me this amazing opportunity,” said Diaz. “Getting to play for the professional team in your hometown is every kid’s dream.”

Diaz attended Yavapai Junior College in Arizona where he was a member of the highly competitive Roughriders soccer team. He was an NSCAA and NJCAA All-Region selection and helped the Roughriders to a top-five national finish.  Diaz then transferred to UNLV for his final two years of eligibility for the 2016 and 2017 season. In the 2016 season, Diaz started in 22 matches and was fifth in scoring for the Rebels.

Diaz is the third local player to make the Locomotive squad, joining forward Omar Salgado and midfielder Louis “Chapa” Herrera.

RANGERS SIGN SUPERDRAFT SELECTION: The Swope Park Rangers announced on Wednesday the club had signed 2019 MLS SuperDraft selection Camden Riley for the 2019 USL Championship season.

Riley was selected by Sporting Kansas City with the No. 45 overall pick in the 2019 MLS SuperDraft last month after a college career at the University of the Pacific that saw him make 66 appearances and record 19 goals and 10 assists.

As a senior in 2018, Riley notched a team-best nine goals and five assists and was named a United Soccer Coaches Second Team All-American, the West Coast Conference Player of the Year and a MAC Hermann Trophy Semifinalist. In addition to his collegiate career, Riley also competed in USL League Two for Burlingame Dragons FC in 2017 and the Portland Timbers U-23s in 2018.

Follow the USL Championship

Most Recent News

Most Read News

Latest Videos