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When he was signed to Las Vegas Lights Football Club’s preseason roster in January, Joel Huiqui’s résumé from 16 years as a professional soccer player spoke for itself.
He had instant credibility before making his U.S. debut, with years of LigaMX experience under his belt, 14 career caps for the Mexican National Team and an established reputation as the consummate professional. His accomplishments to date also made him an immediate fan favorite on a new roster still forming its identity.
Three games into his first season with Lights FC, he’s beginning to back it all up with his performance on the field.
The 35-year-old defender once again wore the captain’s armband for Lights FC Saturday night in its 2-1 home victory over previously unbeaten Swope Park Rangers. He led the effort on the back line, limiting what was the USL’s highest-scoring club coming into the match to just three shots on goal. The performance included a team-high 67 touches, with 82.6% accuracy on 46 passes.
He also had three interceptions, seven defensive clearances and helped stunt several potential scoring opportunities with savvy, instincts and physicality.
“Individually, it was a good performance,” Huiqui said. “I’m on a process to recover my best level. That goes hand-in-hand with the process this team is having to get to our best level. Saturday, it was against a tough team – It showed us where we stand and how far we can go. Our level, and my level, is acceptable, but it has all of the chances to still improve.”
Saturday provided a taste of what Huiqui was brought to Las Vegas to do – Be a high-level performer, and also a steadying influence who leads by example on a roster that features seasoned veterans like him, but also several young, still-developing talents.
But Huiqui has had to adapt, in ways, just like everyone else, in his first professional foray into the U.S. From the food, to the weather, to the training schedules, everything has been new.
There was also adjusting to the coaching style of Technical Director Chelís and Head Coach Isidro Sánchez, who he has clicked well with so far.
“They’re working to create this style, and it was different than what I was used to,” Huiqui said. “Once I did, everything started to fall into place.
“A good advantage I now have is Chelís and Isidro – The work they put in within the week, and how everything is related to what our opponent will do. That gave me an advantage on Saturday. I knew what I had to do, and how I had to do it.”
The signature performance from the early stages of his Lights FC career also earned him a spot on the USL’s Week 3 “Team of the Week” – Making him the second Lights FC player to earn such honor so far in 2018 (Matt Thomas – Week 1).
One area where Huiqui is also blossoming, according to Isidro Sánchez, is mentally. Just over two months into his time playing in the United States, despite being in the later stages of his pro career, Huiqui is seeing what doors within the game this new professional venture could potentially open.
“Nobody has any doubt about the quality of Joel, his experience or what he can give,” Sánchez said. “The thing that’s making the difference is that, in Mexico, we say ‘Don’t see the tree, see the complete forest.’ He’s the first foreign player (on the team) who has seen the complete forest in America. He has realized that the pitch speaks, and if he speaks in the pitch, there will be many opportunities for him.”
The team has gotten off to a solid start in its inaugural USL regular season, with seven points on the table through three matches, via two wins and one draw.
Besides his improved play, Huiqui is being leaned on to help make sure the momentum of the entire team doesn’t slip, as it won’t return to the field until next Saturday, April 14, at 8 p.m. at Cashman Field, when Sacramento Republic FC comes to town. It will be a battle between two of the top early season contenders in the Western Conference.
It’s too early in the season for the club to plateau or rest on its successes, with a long grind and many more challenges ahead. Huiqui is helping make that message clear by example.
“The tactical work, the intensity you have on the field, you have to keep improving that,” Huiqui said. “Because you have a break, you can also start working on other things.”
