ONTARIO, Calif. - San José State men's soccer forward, Isaac Lomeli, was selected 30th overall in the Major Arena Soccer League (MASL) College Draft by the Empire Strykers. Lomeli was the fourth player chosen in the third round.
"I am super excited to be able to get drafted by the Empire Strikers, it means a lot to be able to play at the pro level and live out this dream" said Lomeli. "I am thankful for my family and friends who have stuck with me through the years and this journey. Lastly, I am thankful for my teammates and coaches at SJSU for all the help the past two years."
A native of Seaside, Calif., Lomeli transferred to the Spartans prior to his junior year after beginning his collegiate career at Feather River and Hartnell College. In two seasons at San José State, Lomeli led the Spartans' line as a false nine, scoring two goals and four assists in 34 matches. He started in 32 of the 34 appearances, helping lead the team to back-to-back WAC Tournament appearances and a runner-up finish in 2022.
"Isaac is a perfect fit for the pro indoor game" said San José State head coach Simon Tobin. "He has a wonderful touch and game intelligence. It is just reward for his hard work at SJSU."
The Strykers are currently in the middle of the 2023-24 season, playing their home matches inside Toyota Arena in Ontario, Calif. MASL is the highest level of arena soccer in North America and features teams across the United States and Mexico. The league draws talent from a global pool with players from MLS, LigaMX and many national teams.
Lomeli is the second player from the 2023 San José State men's soccer team to be drafted to a professional league. On December 19th, Beau Leroux was chosen in the second round of the MLS SuperDraft by the San Jose Earthquakes.
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