Mona Shield Payne / Special to the Home News
Former Bishop Gorman soccer player Zac Zaher returned home to play outside midfielder for UNLV under coach Mario Sanchez after playing a year at Oregon State. Zaher was the 2006-07 Gatorade Player of the Year in Nevada.
Friday, Oct. 24, 2008 | midnight
UNLV's outside midfielder, Zac Zaher, right, vies for the ball against forward Daniel Cruz during a team practice.
While running possession drills, outside midfielder Zac Zaher shoots the ball during a team practice at UNLV.
Zac Zaher wasn't comfortable with the small town feel and constant rain.
The 2007 Bishop Gorman graduate gave leaving home to play college soccer a chance, but Oregon State ended up being too far of a cry from Las Vegas.
"It was just really depressing because I like the sun, and I like being in the city," Zaher said. "The soccer was quality and I liked being in the Pac-10, but I just couldn't see myself staying four years there."
Zaher's being uncomfortable in Corvallis, Ore., led to a meeting with Oregon State coach Dana Taylor. The coach gave Zaher his full release, thus allowing him to join another program without having to sit out a year.
"I went in and all the coaches were in there and I told them I wasn't happy," Zaher said. "He tried to talk me out of it at first, but he was cool with me coming home."
Zaher, the 2006-07 Nevada Gatorade Player of the Year, was recruited heavily by UNLV coach Mario Sanchez to play for his hometown team out of high school.
But Zaher chose Oregon State partially because his late brother, Joe, played for the school before passing away in a car accident midway through his freshman year in 2002.
When Zaher knew he wouldn't be returning to Oregon State, he immediately phoned UNLV's coaching staff and asked if there was still a place for him.
"We definitely recruited him out of high school, but I think one of the biggest reasons he wanted to leave was to experience something out of Las Vegas, which I completely understood," Sanchez said. "I told him when he left if he ever wanted to come back, we'd welcome him with open arms."
Besides playing in the sun and getting back to living in a large city, Zaher said, he is happy to be able to see his youngest brother, Sean Zaher, compete as a junior for Gorman and stay in touch with Gaels coach Nick Arbaleaz.
He also has been impressed with the progress of the Rebels' soccer program, which is off to an 8-4-1 record through Oct. 12.
"The guys are good, practice is always intense and there is a lot of competition," Zaher said. "We're doing well so far, better than UNLV has in the past as of now, so things are going good. "
Despite being a newcomer, Zaher has played in six of UNLV's games so far, splitting time at center midfield and outside midfield. Sanchez said he expects Zaher's role to increase as he gains more experience with the program.
"He's very skillful," Sanchez said. "He's very composed on the ball. He can play with his head up and he knows the game. He's one of those kids that has the ability to be in the right spot and make good decisions. "
Christopher Drexel can be reached at 990-8929 or [email protected].
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