Las Vegas Lights FC signs six players to USL Academy contracts

LAS VEGAS – Las Vegas Lights FC has signed six players to USL Academy contracts for the 2023 USL Championship season, with goalkeeper Marco Zuniga, defender Mauricio Camarena, defender Aldo Carmona, midfielder Anwar Ben Rhouma-Torres, midfielder Alexander Romero and forward Leo Rodriguez joining the squad.

As USL Academy signings, the six players can train and compete with Lights FC in the USL Championship and Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup while retaining their NCAA eligibility.

Of the six signings, Romero returns for his second season as a USL Academy signing with Lights FC with the Henderson, Nev. native having been part of the squad last season before making his debut for the side in its season-opener against Rio Grande Valley FC on March 12. Romero has previously been a member of the El Salvador U-20 Men’s National Team and scored one goal in three appearances at the 2022 Concacaf U-20 Championship.

Romero was joined in making his Lights FC debut against Rio Grande Valley FC by Rhouma-Torres, who came on as a second-half substitute for the side in its 1-1 draw with the Toros.

The signings continue the local pathway Lights FC has endeavored to incorporate into its squad since its launch. Since its inaugural season in 2018, Lights FC has seen 11 players with direct local ties appear in regular season matches. In the club’s current squad is Henderson, Nev. native Azriel Gonzalez, who joined the club this offseason after competing previously in the professional ranks with Major League Soccer’s Seattle Sounders FC and former USL Championship club Tacoma Defiance.