Salvador Bernal (footballer)

Salvador Bernal Flores (born August 13, 1992) is a Mexican former footballer.

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Bernal and the second or maternal family name is Flores.
Sal Bernal
Personal information
Full name Salvador Bernal Flores
Date of birth (1992-08-13) August 13, 1992
Place of birth Morelia, Mexico
Height 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Position(s) Forward
Youth career
Neusport FC
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2011–2014 UNLV Rebels 72 (26)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2014 Las Vegas Mobsters 12 (5)
2015–2016 Toronto FC II 35 (3)
2017 Las Vegas Mobsters
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of August 7, 2016

Early life

Bernal was born in Mexico and moved to the United States at age seven, earning a work permit through the DACA program.[1] Bernal played youth soccer with Neusport FC in Las Vegas, winning multiple state cup titles.[2][3] He attended Ed W. Clark High School, where he holds the school record for most goals in a season, was named a two-time region player of the year in 2009 and 2010, and earned first team all-state honors, while leading Clark High to a conference championship and the state semifinals.[2][4]

College career

In 2011, Bernal began attending the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where he played for the men's soccer team. He scored his first collegiate goal on September 3, 2011 against the Cal State Fullerton Titans.[5] On October 16, 2011, he scored a brace against the Denver Pioneers.[6] In his freshman season, he led the team in scoring with 14 points and was named the MPSF Newcomer of the Year, was named an All-MPSF First Team All-Star and College Soccer News All-Freshman Third Team honors.[7][2] In his sophomore season, he earned NSCAA All-Far West Third Team honors and was named to the All-MPSF First Team for the second consecutive year.[8][9]

In his junior season, he once again was named to the NSCAA All-Far West Region Third Team, as well as being named to the All-WAC First Team.[10][11][12] On August 31, 2014, scored a hat trick against in a 4-3 victory over the Bradley Braves,[13] a performance which earned him national Team of the Week honors.[14] In his senior season, he helped UNLV win the WAC title[15] and was named a College Soccer News 2014 Men's Second Team All-American and a NSCAA Third Team All-American.[16][17] He was also named to the NSCAA All-Far West Region First Team,[18] the WAC Offensive Player of the Year, and a All-WAC First Team, becoming the first player in team history to be named first-team all-conference all four years.[19] He was also named the UNLV Sportsman of the Year for the 2014-15 season.[20][21] After the season, he was invited to the MLS Combine, ahead of the MLS SuperDraft.[22] Over his four years, he made a total of 72 appearances for the Rebels, scoring 26 goals and adding 16 assists.[23]

Club career

In 2014, Bernal played with the Las Vegas Mobsters in the Premier Development League.[24]

In January 2015, Bernal was selected in the fourth round (70th overall) of the 2015 MLS SuperDraft by Toronto FC.[25][26] In March 2015, he signed a professional contract with the second team, Toronto FC II in the USL.[27] After missing the beginning of the season due to visa issues, Bernal made his professional debut on July 24, 2015, in a 1–0 win against the Charleston Battery.[28] He scored his first professional goals on September 19, 2015, scoring both goals in a 2-2 draw against the Wilmington Hammerheads.[29]

In 2017, he returned to the Las Vegas Mobsters, now in the United Premier Soccer League.[30]

References
  1. Lapan, Tovin (February 18, 2015). "Soccer star Salvador Bernal is fast, fierce, and headed to the pros". Las Vegas Weekly.
  2. "Salvador Bernal UNLV profile".
  3. Kantowski, Ron (September 9, 2012). "Bernal siblings share roles, goals on and off pitch". Las Vegas Review-Journal.
  4. "Bernal scores twice in Clark boys' win". Las Vegas Review-Journal. October 20, 2018.
  5. "Rebels Fall To Titans". UNLV Rebels. September 3, 2011.
  6. "High Scoring Contest Ends In OT Heartbreaker". UNLV Rebels. October 16, 2011.
  7. "Bernal Earns Conference Honors". UNLV Rebels. September 9, 2011.
  8. "Bernal Earns Region Recognition". UNLV Rebels. December 10, 2012.
  9. "Three Earn All-Conference Nods". UNLV Rebels. November 7, 2012.
  10. "Two Straight For Bernal". UNLV Rebels. December 9, 2013.
  11. "All-Conference Rebels". November 12, 2013.
  12. Leiker, Al (November 12, 2013). "UNLV's Bernal makes All-WAC soccer first team". Las Vegas Review-Journal.
  13. "Hat Trick Bernal". UNLV Rebels. August 31, 2014.
  14. "Bernal Earns Weekly Honors". UNLV Rebels. September 1, 2014.
  15. "UNLV's Bernal taken in MLS draft". Las Vegas Review-Journal. January 20, 2015.
  16. "Bernal Named To A Second All-American Team". UNLV Rebels. December 23, 2014.
  17. "Bernal Becomes Third All-American In UNLV History". UNLV Rebels. December 12, 2013.
  18. "School-Record Five Rebels Named All-Region". UNLV Rebels. December 10, 2014.
  19. "Rebels Clean Up At WAC Postseason Awards Banquet". UNLV Rebels. November 12, 2014.
  20. "Salvador Bernal, Dana Finkelstein honored by UNLV". Las Vegas Review-Journal. July 8, 2015.
  21. "Sportsman And Sportswoman Of The Year Announced". UNLV Rebels. July 8, 2015.
  22. Kantowski, Ron (January 14, 2015). "Three Las Vegas stars shoot for MLS". Las Vegas Review-Journal.
  23. "Toronto FC Add Ramos, Bernal and Engel in 2015 MLS SuperDraft". Our Sports Central. January 20, 2015.
  24. "Semi-Pro Soccer Team, Las Vegas Mobsters, Announce Inaugural Roster". Las Vegas Sun. April 29, 2014.
  25. "Bernal Drafted In MLS Fourth Round By Toronto FC". UNLV Rebels. January 20, 2015.
  26. "UNLV's Bernal taken in MLS draft". Las Vegas Review-Journal. January 20, 2015.
  27. "Toronto FC II announces signing of eight players". Toronto FC. March 12, 2015.
  28. Campos, Anthony (July 24, 2015). "Match Recap: TFC II 1-0 Charleston Battery". Toronto FC.
  29. Campos, Anthony (September 19, 2015). "Match Recap: TFC II 2-2 Wilmington Hammerheads FC". Toronto FC.
  30. Gotz, Ben (December 9, 2017). "Players try to make quick impression at Las Vegas Lights FC combine". Las Vegas Review-Journal.
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