December 27, 2022 – United Soccer League Championship (USL) – Monterey Bay FC News Release
SEASIDE, Calif. – Monterey Bay F.C. announced today that the club has agreed to terms with defender Alex Lara on a one-year contract with an option to extend for a further year, pending league and federation approval. Lara’s addition brings the club much-needed depth on the back line ahead of its sophomore campaign in USL Championship.
From Azusa, California, Lara played collegiately for California State Northridge from 2017-2019. After earning Second Team All-Big West honors in his final collegiate season, Lara signed his first professional contract with fellow USL Championship club Hartford Athletic. While in Hartford, Lara played the 2020 season as teammates with current Monterey Bay F.C. winger Alex Dixon, and the ensuing 2021 season with the Crisp and Kelp’s first-ever signing, Walmer Martínez.
“Alex is a young, strait-laced defender with a great work ethic who defends the box very well,” said Monterey Bay F.C. Sporting Director and Head Coach Frank Yallop. “He was a very consistent performer with Las Vegas last year and I heard really good things about him from their staff. He has good character, very good defending stats, and brings a personality that’s going to fit well into our group.”
The 24-year-old spent the 2022 season with Las Vegas Lights FC where he recorded the second-most minutes on the team with 2,862 across 33 appearances (all starts). He added team-highs in clearances (158) and blocks (33), while also adding 53 interceptions and 44 tackles won defensively. He finished the year with an 83.2% passing accuracy and one goal. Lara now returns home to California as a welcome addition to a back line that is expected to anchor one of the top-projected defenses in the league next season.
“I am super excited to sign with Monterey Bay. I’m ready to get to work and do what I can to help the team,” said Lara. “I am looking forward to playing for Frank. He has a lot of experience as a coach and as a player so I’m ready to learn as much as I can from him. I’m also looking forward to meeting the guys on the team and competing with the MBFC family. I have a couple of friends on the team that I have played with previously in Alex [Dixon] and Walmer [Martínez] and they’ve said great things about the club. My personal goal for next season is to do my best to help the squad make the playoffs and go on a run in the postseason.”
NAME: Alex Lara
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