Raptor Reinforcements have arrived! The Iowa Raptors FC are proud to announce the commitment of Alejandro Pacheco, Zach Reget, Jesus Cervantes and Rapha Nascimento for this summer outdoor season.
Alejandro Pacheco is an Iowa City local joining the Raptor squad for this season with his twin Fernando Pacheco. Pachceco was born on July 29, 1995, son of Jorge and Maria Pacheco. He majored in Business Management at Western Illinois and played for the Leatherneck soccer team. Throughout high school, he played under coach Jose Fajardo at Iowa City- earning three varsity letters, was named Honorable Mention All-State his junior season after totaling 12 goals and six assists and was named First Team All-Conference honoree. He lists Ronaldinho as an influence on his career "because of the tricks and moves he did and the way he could change a game at any moment". His hobbies include ping pong and soccer freestyling.
Zach Reget is a native of Kenosha, Wisconsin and began playing youth soccer at the age of three, but enjoyed participating in a variety of sports. He played local club soccer for the Kenosha Crew and regionally for SC Waukesha. Reget played collegiate soccer at Trinity International University, Deerfield, Illinois, where he was a four year starter, NCCAA All- American, four time CCAC All- Region Team, two time CCAC first team selection, NCCAA All- Midwest Region first team, team captain, four time Offensive Player of the Year, three time Trinity MVP and third on the list of all-time goal scorers. Reget studied Sports Management at Trinity International. He has also worked as a youth club coach at the Kenosha Crew Soccer Club. Reget also plays for the MASL and has past experience with the St. Louis Ambush and Florida Tropics.
Jesus Cervantes comes from Chicago and has experience playing professionally in South America for Cacique Diriangen FC and in the National Independent Soccer Association prior to its shut down for the 2020 season.
Rapha Nascimento was born in Boston, Massachusetts. Nascimento grew up primarily in Brazil, playing for local clubs America, Santa Cruz, and Clube Atletico Mineiro at the youth level. He came back to the U.S. and attended college at Marshalltown Community College before transferring to Grand View University. In his professional outdoor career, Nascimento has played with the Des Moines Menace and Tampa Bay Rowdies 2 organizations. Nascimento played in the MASL for the St. Louis Ambush, Florida Tropics and last season for the Orlando Seawolves. In addition, Marshalltown Community College was happy to announce Nascimento will be the new head soccer coach starting early this May of 2020.
All four of these players will be arriving this weekend in time for the upcoming matches! Your Iowa Raptors are participating in the Heartland Super Cup over the next two weekends! We will be hosting the Springfield FCand The Omaha Kings FC throughout the tournament at the Metro Youth Football Association.
No fans will be allowed at this tournament due to the ongoing circumstances but the games will be live streamed via our friends at KCRG and KCRG 9.2!
For live updates follow us on all social media platforms, find us at @iaraptorsfc.