National News

 May 4, 2012

HOUSTON — Former San Jacinto College (SJC) soccer forward Roy Hernandez is yet another SJC soccer alum to play professionally.

After his sophomore season at the College in 2007, Hernandez went on to play for Texas A&M International University in Laredo, Texas. He then made his mark in the Southern Premier Soccer League for both the Galveston Pirate SC and the Houston Regals FC, leading the Regals to the 2011 U.S. Open Cup and earning the Southern Premier Soccer League’s Golden Boot and Player of the Year honors that same year.

In order to continue pursuing his dream to play professional soccer, Hernandez will play for F.C. Excelsior in his native country of Mexico, one of the best teams in the Mexican second division. Hernandez sees this as a great opportunity to be seen by Mexican first division teams.

“I bring a lot of ambitions to Mexico,” said Hernandez in an interview with RUMBO Houston newspaper. “One of them is to win the championship in my first season with Excelsior and I think we have the team to do it. The technical level in the second division is very good, and I think I will grow a lot as a player.”

Hernandez ended his interview by thanking his coaches, mentors, and teammates he’s had thus far in his soccer career for helping him get this far, and wished all of them continued success.

Hernandez is the 10^th San Jacinto College soccer player to play professionally. Other SJC soccer alumni that have gone on to professional careers include Cyprian Hedrick (Sporting Kansas City), Francisco Calvo (Costa Rica), Dane Richards (New York Red Bulls), Kieron Bernard (Orlando City), Carlos Villa (CSD Municipal), Mozesh Gyorio (Tampa Bay Rowdies), Ryan Maxwell (New England Revolution), Brandon Durden (River Plate Puerto Rico), and Ken Hoerner (Houston Dynamo reserves).

For more information about San Jacinto College men’s soccer, visit www.sanjacsports.com.