University of Tulsa men’s soccer signs three players from Spain

The University of Tulsa men’s soccer team signed Mariano Fazio, Henry Sach and Alvaro Torrijos for the 2020 season, as announced by head coach Tom McIntosh.

Fazio, a 6-3 defender from Sevilla, Spain, and Sach, a 6-1 defender from Benitachell, Spain, both transferred to Tulsa from Richland Community College.  While at RCC, the duo led Richland to 2018 and 2019 national championships with a 35-2-1 overall record in those two seasons.

Fazio started in 36 games and tallied seven goals and six assists for 20 points at RCC. He was tabbed as a two-time National Junior College All-American and as the Defensive District Player of the Year both seasons, and earned 2019 Finals MVP honors.  Fazio played club soccer for Real Betis Balompie.

“Mariano is an excellent ball playing center back, and combines excellent technical ability with a strong physical presence,” McIntosh said.  “He is good in the air, reads the game well, works hard, and is a very composed and steady player.  Mariano has an excellent attitude and is a proven winner due to helping lead his Richland junior college team to back-to-back national championships.”

Sach started in 39 games and recorded five goals and 10 assists for 20 points at RCC.  He was tabbed as an NJCAA All-American as a sophomore, and was a two-time first-team all-conference and second-team all-region honoree.  Sach picked up NJCAA all-tournament team accolades as a sophomore.  He played club soccer with CD Denia for four years.

“Henry is a physically strong defender and an excellent communicator,” McIntosh said.  “He reads the game quite well and is comfortable playing out of the back.  Henry can play both center back and defensive midfield.  He has an excellent work rate and attitude, as well as a winner’s mindset from helping lead RCC to two national championships.”

A 5-9 midfielder from Valencia, Spain, Torrijos was a four-year letterwinner at IES Lluis Vives High School.  He helped his high school team claim the Valencian Autonomic League title.  Torrijos played club soccer for Valencia C.F. for three years and Granada C.F. for one season.

“Alvaro is an excellent center midfield player who can help link our attack from our back line going forward,” McIntosh said.  “He has good awareness in possession, and does a good job reading the game defensively and intercepting passes.  Alvaro can play as the deepest midfield player or as a box-to-box midfield player.  He has very good experience with Valencia, which is one of the top professional youth academies in Spain, as well as playing with Granada.