EDINBURG, Texas (February 22, 2022) – Rio Grande Valley FC announced today the club has re-signed defender Erik Pimentel, midfielder Emilio Ycaza and midfielder Juan David Cabezas ahead of the 2022 USL Championship season, pending league and federation approval.
Pimentel (5-foot-10, 138lbs, PEE-mehn-tell) returns to the RGV FC back line for the upcoming campaign having helped lead the side to the Western Conference Semifinals of the 2021 USL Championship Playoffs. The 31-year-old stood as a solid veteran for the Toros in his first season in the USL Championship, accounting for 30 tackles, 50 clearances, 11 blocked shots, and 46 interceptions. His prior experience – including time in Liga MX at Club America – made him a natural leader on the pitch, especially on the back line as he was a vocal piece, directing traffic despite language barriers.
Toros Sporting Director and Head Coach, Wilmer Cabrera knows how impactful the defender is on the field but more importantly in the locker room. “Erik was a pillar of the team’s success last season, and we are excited to have him again as one of the key players on and off the field for us.”
Pimentel’s career in Liga MX saw him earn four championships with Club América – two Liga MX titles (2014/2015, 2012/2013) and two Concacaf Champions League titles (2015/2016, 2014/2015), and has made appearances in the FIFA Club World Cup and the Liga MX’s Campeón de Campeones during his professional career.
Ycaza (5-foot-6, 154lbs, EE-cah-zah) made 17 appearances for Austin Bold FC during the 2021 USL Championship season prior to his transfer to RGVFC on September 3. The 24-year-old then went one to make 13 appearances for the Toros and recorded two goals and two assists in the club’s drive to the postseason.
“Emilio made a great impact last season despite arriving late,” said Cabrera. “This season he is motivated to become one of the top players in this league and a leader with positive impact in the club.”
Ycaza played collegiate soccer at the University of South Florida. He had a short stint in the academy program of Swedish club IF Brommapojkarn from Sweden in 2017 before returning to the United States to join the Bulls collegiately.
Cabezas (6-foot, 180lbs) returns for a second season at H-E-B Park after having started in 15 of 19 appearances for the Toros a season ago, including appearing in both postseason contests. Cabezas has logged 21 appearances and 1,546 minutes of action in the Championship, captaining the Toros on 11 occasions. The Cali, Colombia native showed positive distribution a season ago, recording an 84.6 passing accuracy rate last year.
“Juan David is coming back to the team with a desire and mentality to play more games and become the leader of the team on and off the field,” said Cabrera.
Cabezas’ experience will be crucial this season as RGV FC makes its first appearance in the historic Lamar Hunt U.S Open Cup, the oldest soccer tournament in North America. In 2018 while at Houston Dynamo, he played a key role in the Open Cup Final that saw Houston defeat the Philadelphia Union 3-0 for the title.
In the international ranks, Cabezas has played at the Under-20 level, representing his home country, Colombia, at the South American U-20 Championship in 2011, making six appearances of nine Colombia’s matches, and at the 2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup, played in Colombia. Cabezas started all five of Colombia’s matches at the U-20 World Cup that led to a Quarterfinal appearance. Cabezas played a key defensive midfield role in the tournament alongside of other Colombian stars such as forward James Rodriguez, defender Jeison Murillo, striker Luis Muriel and winger Fabian Castillo.
Beginning his professional career in 2010, Cabezas played on loan with Cúcuta Deportivo, La Equidad (2011-12), Once Caldas (2013-14) and Independiente Medellín (2016).
TRANSACTION: Rio Grande Valley FC sign defender Erik Pimentel, midfielders Emilio Ycaza and Juan David Cabezas.
PLAYER PROFILE
FULL NAME: Erik Pimentel
POSITION: Defender
DATE OF BIRTH: May 15, 1990
HEIGHT: 5’10”
WEIGHT: 168
BIRTHPLACE: Coacalco de Berriozábal, México
HOMETOWN: Coacalco de Berriozábal, México
FIFA NATIONALITY: México
PLAYER PROFILE
FULL NAME: Emilio Ycaza
DATE OF BIRTH: July 10, 1997
HEIGHT: 5’6”
WEIGHT: 154 lbs.
BIRTHPLACE: St. Petersburg, Florida
HOMETOWN: St. Petersburg, Florida
NATIONALITY: USA / Sweden
PLAYER PROFILE
FULL NAME: Juan David Cabezas
DATE OF BIRTH: February 27, 1991
HEIGHT: 6’0”
WEIGHT: 180 lbs.
BIRTHPLACE: Cali, Colombia
HOMETOWN: Cali, Colombia
NATIONALITY: Colombia
About Rio Grande Valley FC
The Rio Grande Valley FC Toros (RGV FC) enter their seventh season in the United Soccer League (USL) Championship in 2022. The club plays at H-E-B Park, a state-of-the-art soccer specific stadium that holds 9,700 people, the club trains in H-E-B Park’s world class training facility adjacent to the stadium. RGV FC is the only professional soccer team located within the Rio Grande Valley. In 2016, RGV FC became USL’s first team to develop a hybrid affiliation model with a Major League Soccer (MLS) franchise. This partnership, with Houston Dynamo FC, began in 2016. The relationship has now evolved into a more traditional USL/MLS affiliation where RGV FC manages all aspects of the club and the Dynamo are able to loan players to the Toros for development purposes. For more information, please visit www.RGVFC.com.
