Trio of players brings the number of announced players on inaugural United U-23 roster to twenty-seven.
New Mexico United and New Mexico 811 are thrilled to announce the ninth round of additions to the U-23 roster in the team’s history. Alejandro Garcia Lugo, Chris Mendez-Lemus, and Fernando Herrera join the inaugural roster to bring the number of announced players to eighteen ahead of the inaugural season.
“Alejandro, Chris, and Fernando all bring excellent skill sets to our club,” said New Mexico United U-23 Head Coach Luke Sanford. “They will strengthen our attack and midfield, providing dangerous options and incredible talent. I’m excited to welcome them to the 2022 roster, and can’t wait for them to join us on the road.”
Lugo is a striker and an Los Lunas-native who played club soccer with Rio Rapids before leaving New Mexico for Mexico. He has played the last several seasons in Ascenso MX with Club Necaxa II and Murcielagos FC in 2018, and Pacific FC in 2019. Lugo was one of more than one hundred participants in United’s U-23 2022 Open Tryout.
Mendez-Lemus is a winger from Salinas, California. He is the cousin of New Mexico United Academy Assistant Coach, and former first team player David Estrada. He joins the United family after successfully trialing with the U-23 club. He attended San Jose State in his first season of collegiate soccer, before transferring to Evergreen Valley College.
Herrera is a midfielder from Queretaro, Mexico. He is a sophomore at Colorado State University Pueblo, where he plays alongside U-23 teammate Lamar Bynum. In two seasons with the Thunderwolves, Herrera has appeared in more than two dozen matches, helping lead his team to the 2021 RMAC Championship Match.
United U-23 compete in the USL League Two Mountain Division in the 2022 season. Their next match is tomorrow, June 9th, at Capital High School in Santa Fe. Kick-off is set for 7:00 PM.
