Tino Nuñez
Encyclopedia
Agustin "Tino" Nuñez is an American
soccer player.
in Long Beach, California
. With Nuñez on the squad, Millikan ran to four consecutive Moore League
Championships as well as one CIF
Championship in Nuñez's junior year. Personally, Nuñez claimed numerous awards, including Freshman of the Year in his first year and First Team All-Moore League, All-CIF, and league offensive player of the year in his last. As a senior, Nuñez scored a team high 25 goals and 18 assists.
After high school, Nuñez moved on to Compton Community College's soccer team. With the Tartars for only the 2003 season, he earned team MVP
honors with 15 goals.
After the 2003 season, Nuñez transferred to the University of California, Santa Barbara
. In 2004, his first season with the Gauchos, Nuñez played in 23 games (starting 6), scoring 2 goals and adding 6 assists. In addition to Nuñez, the UCSB's 2004 team also featured several other now-professional players including Tyler Rosenlund
, Andy Iro
, Bryan Byrne
, and Ivan Becerra
, and the Gauchos marched all the way to the 2004 Division I Men's College Cup
, losing on penalties to Indiana University.
Nuñez had to redshirt
the 2005 season to rehabilitate a torn ACL
, but made a strong return the following season. In 2006, Nuñez played in 19 games (starting 7), scoring 1 goal, as the Gauchos were crowned champions of Division I college soccer by beating the Bruins
from the University of California, Los Angeles
in the 2006 Division I Men's College Cup
in St. Louis, Missouri
. This marked UCSB's first ever national championship in soccer and only second overall.
In 2007, Nuñez played in 21 games (all starts), scoring 5 goals and adding 5 assists for the Gauchos.
in the 2nd Round (17th Overall) of the 2008 MLS Supplemental Draft.
His first action with the RSL first team came in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
against the San Jose Earthquakes
on April 30, 2008. He came in as a 75th minute substitute and assisted on the final goal of the game scored by Andy Williams.
Nuñez's first Major League Soccer
appearance came on May 31, 2008, again against the San Jose Earthquakes. This time he was an 85th minute substitute. His first MLS goal was a game-winner which came on 21 June 2008 against New England Revolution
in the 60th minute. Nuñez finished his rookie season with 9 league appearances (2 starts) and 1 goal. He also scored 5 goals in Reserve League play.
The following season, Nuñez found playing time more difficult to come by, making just three appearances during RSL’s 2009 MLS Cup
-winning campaign. Real Salt Lake waived Nuñez in March 2010.
In April 2010, Nuñez signed with USSF D-2 Pro League
club Rochester Rhinos for the 2010 season. He played with the Rhinos for one season.
NSC Minnesota Stars
of the North American Soccer League
signed Nuñez on March 22, 2011. He was released by the club on November 29, 2011.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
soccer player.
Youth and College
Nuñez was a four year letter-winner at Millikan High SchoolMillikan High School
Robert A. Millikan Senior High School is a high school in Long Beach, California administered by the Long Beach Unified School District. It is located near the intersection of Spring Street and Palo Verde Avenue in East Long Beach on a campus approximately one square mile...
in Long Beach, California
Long Beach, California
Long Beach is a city situated in Los Angeles County in Southern California, on the Pacific coast of the United States. The city is the 36th-largest city in the nation and the seventh-largest in California. As of 2010, its population was 462,257...
. With Nuñez on the squad, Millikan ran to four consecutive Moore League
Moore League
The Harry J. Moore League is a high school sports league in Southern California. It comprises seven schools: six public traditional high schools of the Long Beach Unified School District, and Compton High School...
Championships as well as one CIF
California Interscholastic Federation
The California Interscholastic Federation is the governing body for high school sports in the state of California. It mirrors similar governing bodies in other states; however, it differs from some of the others in that it covers most high schools in the state of California, both public and...
Championship in Nuñez's junior year. Personally, Nuñez claimed numerous awards, including Freshman of the Year in his first year and First Team All-Moore League, All-CIF, and league offensive player of the year in his last. As a senior, Nuñez scored a team high 25 goals and 18 assists.
After high school, Nuñez moved on to Compton Community College's soccer team. With the Tartars for only the 2003 season, he earned team MVP
Most Valuable Player
In sports, a Most Valuable Player award is an honor typically bestowed upon the best performing player or players on a specific team, in an entire league, or for a particular contest or series of contests...
honors with 15 goals.
After the 2003 season, Nuñez transferred to the University of California, Santa Barbara
University of California, Santa Barbara
The University of California, Santa Barbara, commonly known as UCSB or UC Santa Barbara, is a public research university and one of the 10 general campuses of the University of California system. The main campus is located on a site in Goleta, California, from Santa Barbara and northwest of Los...
. In 2004, his first season with the Gauchos, Nuñez played in 23 games (starting 6), scoring 2 goals and adding 6 assists. In addition to Nuñez, the UCSB's 2004 team also featured several other now-professional players including Tyler Rosenlund
Tyler Rosenlund
Tyler Robert Rosenlund is an Canadian soccer player currently playing for Rochester Rhinos in the USL Professional Division.-College and amateur:...
, Andy Iro
Andy Iro
Andrew "Andy" Iro is an English footballer who currently plays for Toronto FC in Major League Soccer.-Youth and college:...
, Bryan Byrne
Bryan Byrne
Bryan Byrne is an Irish soccer midfielder who currently plays for amateur team Doxa Italia in the United States.-Youth and College:...
, and Ivan Becerra
Ivan Becerra
Ivan Becerra is a Mexican footballer currently playing for Wilmington Hammerheads in the USL Professional Division.-College:...
, and the Gauchos marched all the way to the 2004 Division I Men's College Cup
2004 Division I Men's College Cup
The 2004 NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship was a tournament of 48 teams from NCAA Division I. This year's College Cup Final Four was held at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California. All the other games were played at the home field of the higher seeded team. The final was held on...
, losing on penalties to Indiana University.
Nuñez had to redshirt
Redshirt (college sports)
Redshirt is a term used in American college athletics that refers to a delay or suspension of an athlete's participation in order to lengthen his or her period of eligibility...
the 2005 season to rehabilitate a torn ACL
Anterior cruciate ligament
The anterior cruciate ligament is a cruciate ligament which is one of the four major ligaments of the human knee. In the quadruped stifle , based on its anatomical position, it is referred to as the cranial cruciate ligament.The ACL originates from deep within the notch of the distal femur...
, but made a strong return the following season. In 2006, Nuñez played in 19 games (starting 7), scoring 1 goal, as the Gauchos were crowned champions of Division I college soccer by beating the Bruins
UCLA Bruins
The UCLA Bruins are the sports teams for University of California, Los Angeles . The Bruin men's and women's teams participate in NCAA Division I as part of the Pacific-12 Conference and the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation . For football, they are in the Football Bowl Subdivision of Division I...
from the University of California, Los Angeles
University of California, Los Angeles
The University of California, Los Angeles is a public research university located in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, USA. It was founded in 1919 as the "Southern Branch" of the University of California and is the second oldest of the ten campuses...
in the 2006 Division I Men's College Cup
2006 Division I Men's College Cup
The 2006 NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship was a tournament of 48 teams from NCAA Division I who played for the NCAA Championship in soccer. The College Cup Final Four was held at Hermann Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri. All the other games were played at the home field of the higher-seeded...
in St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
. This marked UCSB's first ever national championship in soccer and only second overall.
In 2007, Nuñez played in 21 games (all starts), scoring 5 goals and adding 5 assists for the Gauchos.
Professional
Nuñez was drafted by Real Salt LakeReal Salt Lake
Real Salt Lake is an American professional soccer club based in Sandy, Utah, a suburb of Salt Lake City. The team competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. They currently play their home games at Rio Tinto Stadium. Real Salt Lake won...
in the 2nd Round (17th Overall) of the 2008 MLS Supplemental Draft.
His first action with the RSL first team came in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is a knockout tournament in American soccer. The tournament is the oldest ongoing American soccer competition and is presently open to all United States Soccer Federation affiliated teams, from amateur adult club teams to the professional clubs of Major League...
against the San Jose Earthquakes
San Jose Earthquakes
The San Jose Earthquakes professional soccer team is located in the San Jose, California, United States suburb of Santa Clara, and participates in Major League Soccer , the top level soccer league in the United States and Canada....
on April 30, 2008. He came in as a 75th minute substitute and assisted on the final goal of the game scored by Andy Williams.
Nuñez's first Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
appearance came on May 31, 2008, again against the San Jose Earthquakes. This time he was an 85th minute substitute. His first MLS goal was a game-winner which came on 21 June 2008 against New England Revolution
New England Revolution
The New England Revolution is an American professional association football club based in Foxborough, Massachusetts which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada...
in the 60th minute. Nuñez finished his rookie season with 9 league appearances (2 starts) and 1 goal. He also scored 5 goals in Reserve League play.
The following season, Nuñez found playing time more difficult to come by, making just three appearances during RSL’s 2009 MLS Cup
MLS Cup 2009
The 2009 MLS Cup was the championship match of the 2009 Major League Soccer season, the 14th season of the league. The final was played at Qwest Field in Seattle, Washington on November 22, 2009. The match was contested by Eastern Conference champion Real Salt Lake and Western Conference champion...
-winning campaign. Real Salt Lake waived Nuñez in March 2010.
In April 2010, Nuñez signed with USSF D-2 Pro League
USSF Division 2 Professional League
USSF Division 2 Professional League was a temporary professional soccer league created by the United States Soccer Federation in 2010 to last just one season. The twelve-team league was formed as a compromise between the feuding United Soccer Leagues and the North American Soccer League...
club Rochester Rhinos for the 2010 season. He played with the Rhinos for one season.
NSC Minnesota Stars
NSC Minnesota Stars
The NSC Minnesota Stars is an American professional soccer team based in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul area in Minnesota, United States. Founded in 2010, the team plays in the North American Soccer League , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid...
of the North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League (2010)
The North American Soccer League is a professional men's soccer league in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico which began league play on April 9, 2011. It has been provisionally sanctioned as the second tier of soccer in the United States soccer pyramid, behind Major League Soccer in the...
signed Nuñez on March 22, 2011. He was released by the club on November 29, 2011.
Real Salt Lake
- Major League SoccerMajor League SoccerMajor League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
MLS Cup (1): 20092009 Major League Soccer seasonThe 2009 Major League Soccer season was the 14th season of Major League Soccer. The season began on March 19 and ended with Real Salt Lake winning the MLS Cup 2009, on November 22 at Qwest Field in Seattle, Washington-Changes from the 2008 season:... - Major League SoccerMajor League SoccerMajor League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
Eastern Conference Championship (1): 20092009 Major League Soccer seasonThe 2009 Major League Soccer season was the 14th season of Major League Soccer. The season began on March 19 and ended with Real Salt Lake winning the MLS Cup 2009, on November 22 at Qwest Field in Seattle, Washington-Changes from the 2008 season:...
Rochester Rhinos
- USSF Division 2 Pro League Regular Season Champions (1): 2010
UC Santa Barbara
- NCAA Men's Division I Soccer Championship (1): 20062006 Division I Men's College CupThe 2006 NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship was a tournament of 48 teams from NCAA Division I who played for the NCAA Championship in soccer. The College Cup Final Four was held at Hermann Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri. All the other games were played at the home field of the higher-seeded...