Who are some Locomotive players to watch? New group looks to score more goals
The El Paso Locomotive eventually fought their way into the playoffs last season, but scoring goals in Brian Clarhaut's first season as manager didn't always come easily.
He inherited much of that team, which did get a result in four of its last five games to qualify for the postseason, but this team, which opens Saturday at Southwest University Park against Hartford, is Clarhaut's team.
More: USL Championship standings
The Locomotive have brought in a number of players new to the team, though not new to the USL Championship. This group is veteran. There are also three loaners from FC Juarez, as the two franchises are now full-fledged sister clubs under the MountainStar Sports banner.
A top goal is in fact to score more goals and this could be a group to do it.
"In terms of the playing side we have a few special individuals who can unlock teams, and there's a lot more depth," Clarhaut said. "Depth is probably the biggest piece.
"It's a resilient group. It's a group with a lot of games in this league so they are experienced, they know what it takes to be successful.
"It's a group that puts demands on each other. It's a high-player demand on one another and less voice from me, which I think top teams have."
Defensive midfielder Bolu Akinyode, who spent the previous two years at Miami FC and is a 10-year veteran of the USL Championship, expects to see fireworks.
"We have a lot of good attackers," he said. "We're going to go forward, we're going to show a lot of fight and togetherness and hopefully score a lot of goals."
Here are some players to watch this season.
Amando Moreno, attacking midfielder
Here's a way to stick it to the arch-rivals: Sign one of their best players. Moreno scored 10 goals for New Mexico United last season and added nine in his three seasons with El Salvador's national team.
He has had MLS stints with the New York Red Bulls and Chicago before getting 74 appearances and 24 goals over the last four seasons with New Mexico.
"Obviously Amando Moreno is a slippery guy we've all faced on the other side of the jersey," Clarhaut said.
Tumi Moshobanecan, striker
The South African scored 25 goals in the last four seasons for San Diego, which folded at the end of last season. He played in 113 games in that time.
"He's going now, to see his progression from the preseason to where he is now is exciting," Clarhaut said.
Jahmali Waite, keeper
El Paso's top goalie comes to El Paso after two years as the No. 1 keeper for Pittsburgh. In the last two years he has had six appearances with the Jamaican national team.
Brandan Craig, defensive midfielder
Craig is on loan from the Philadelphia Union, after spending last season on loan to Austin FC. He had two appearances with the United States U23 team last year and 17 appearances with the US U20 team in 2022 and '23.
Francisco Nevárez, defensive midfielder
One of three players on loan from sister club FC Juarez, he had 33 appearances for the Bravos over the previous five years, including 18 in 2022-23. He is a Juarez native.
"It's a good tool to have, it's a unique tool to have," Clarhaut said of the relationship with FC Juarez. "It's not something where any other team I know of has an ownership in a different club, let alone Liga MX.
"We were fortunate to get a few players we can help develop who will be good at our level. It's something we've focused on since last summer."
Bret Bloomquist can be reached at bbloomquist@elpasotimes.com; @Bretbloomquist on Twitter.
2024 El Paso Locomotive schedule
March
Sat. 9 Hartford
Wed. 13 Monterey Bay
Sat. 16 Louisville
20 FC Juarez (friendly)
Sat. 23 at Las Vegas
April
Sat. 6 at New Mexico
Sat. 13 Oakland
Sat. 20 at Tampa Bay
Sat. 27 Tulsa
May
Sat. 4 at Colorado Springs
Friday 10 at Loudoun
Friday 17 Memphis
Friday 24 at Charleston
June
Sat. 1 Birmingham
Wed. 5 at San Antonio
Sat. 15 Phoenix
Wed. 19 at Oakland
Wed. 26 at Rhode Island
July
Fri. 12 Las Vegas
Fri. 19 at Phoenix
Sat. 27 New Mexico
Aug.
Sat. 3 at Memphis
Sat. 10 Miami
Sat. 14 at Sacramento
Sat. 17 at Orange County
Sat. 24 at Monterey Bay
Sept.
Sat. 7 Detroit
Fri. 14 at Indy
Sat. 21 Colorado Springs
Sat. 29 North Carolina
Oct.
Sat. 5 at Tulsa
Wed. 9 San Antonio
Wed. 16 Orange County
Sat. 19 Sacramento
Sat. 26 at Pittsburgh
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: El Paso Locomotive players to watch heading into 2024 season
