Neagle’s progress lifts soccer squad

When Lamar Neagle joined the UNLV men's soccer team in 2005, he was touted as one the top newcomers in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation.

After two season of frustration, he finally is living up to that billing.

Neagle, of Federal Way, Wash., has become one of the league's biggest scoring threats. The 5-foot-11-inch forward has six goals and two assists, and suddenly has become opponents' point of focus. Most importantly, he has helped turn around a program that has struggled for years.

Second-year UNLV coach Mario Sanchez said he knew it was just a matter of time.

"We're just starting to see Lamar come into his own," Sanchez said. "He's been kind of a raw talent. He's always been gifted athletically, and now he's learning about the tactical side of soccer."

For the first time in his collegiate career, Neagle also is getting some help. Freshman Daniel Cruz, known for his relentless work ethic and explosive scoring ability, suddenly is creating new opportunities.

"They're not going to stop both of us," said Cruz, who has four goals and three assists. "Maybe they can stop one of us, but not both."

Neagle agreed.

"Teams can't cover us the same way," said Neagle, who no longer consistently draws two or three defenders at a time. "If there are two guys on Danny, I'm going to be open. If there are two guys on me, he's going to be open. We really work well together."

Neagle said the improved results have come as a great relief.

"My first two seasons weren't too good," he said. "They definitely were not what I expected. But this year we just came out with a whole new look. We have a lot of new players and a lot of confidence. The whole team has changed."

Indeed, the Rebels won a combined total of three games in Neagle's first two seasons. This season they are 5-6-2, 1-3-0 in the MPSF, after losing matches to Sacramento State and San Jose State over the weekend.

Despite those outcomes, Neagle is thinking big.

"My main focus right now is winning conference," said Neagle, who hasn't seen anything resembling championship play since 2004, when he led Washington's Ironwood High School to a state title.

"We know we can win the games we need to win. We're just trying to take things one game at a time. I do expect to be competing for the conference championship."

Even so, Neagle said the season still could be considered a success even without an MPSF championship.

"No matter what happens, when you have this kind of progress, you're being successful," Neagle said. "If we don't make it this season, we don't make it."

But Neagle confessed that he feels a sense of urgency to make things happen as soon as possible.

"I've been thinking," he said, "and I just realized I'm a junior now. One day I want to be able to look back and tell people that I helped change the program around."

When that time comes, Neagle hopes he'll be wearing a professional uniform. With all of his success this year, he is beginning to consider his post-college options.

"Hopefully I'll still be playing," said Neagle, who scored his second career golden goal in a 1-0 win over Air Force on Oct. 5. "I still feel the same way about soccer as when I was little. I'm hoping I can start talking to (professional clubs) if things keep going the way they're going now."