PLAYERS

Written by Don Simkovich 

Kevin Garcia-Lopez knows that when he’s looking to stop an attacker and regain possession for his team, he can count on fellow Rose City Futbol Club defender Gabe Robinson to back him up. 

The defenders for Pasadena-based Rose City FC have played nearly 200 matches together in the UPSL and in the USL Championship with the Las Vegas Lights. 

Both learned a key lesson in their time together: when you’re playing at any level, you never know who’s watching. 

Their careers intersected after Kevin, a standout at North High School in Torrance, California, and Gabe, who hails from Hart High School in Santa Clarita, California, excelled throughout their collegiate careers and ended up playing in the UPSL for the LA Wolves in 2017. 

Their coach with the Wolves was Eric Wynalda, former U.S. national team player and among the first pro players in the MLS, who was later hired to coach in Las Vegas. 

“I learned a lot from Coach Wynalda,” said Kevin. “He made it possible for me to follow him to play in the USL. I was in great shape and played 90 minutes in 25 out of 30 games. Gabe and I played alongside each other and developed a tremendous chemistry in the back.” 

Wynalda also chose to bring Gabe with him to the Las Vegas Lights. 

“He helped me understand how to go faster, play at a higher level and go all out. We’d practice at 1,000 percent, that way the games seemed slower to us” Kevin explains. 

After playing in the USL in Las Vegas in 2019, both players then signed pro with different teams, with Gabe making professional appearances in Guatemala and Iceland. 

They’ve now reunited in the UPSL Premier Division with Rose City. 

“The UPSL helps keeps me in the game,” says Gabe, “and its fun being with Kevin, working hard and improving with someone you know and trust. We’ll see what happens next.” 

Kevin’s advice to younger players?  

“Strive to play your best and carry yourself like a pro before you even get to that level. You never know who’s watching.”