The Legends paid a $50,000 fee to the PASL to participate in the 2012-13 season. The team was initially to be called the Las Vegas Knights, after a local semi-pro soccer team under the same ownership, but a last-minute decision changed the team's name to Legends. KHDF-CD broadcasts select Las Vegas Legends games. In early January 2013, the Legends announced that their pivotal January 18 match against the San Diego Sockers would be dedicated to the memory of Allison Wyatt, one of the children murdered in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in December 2012. Wyatt was the oldest daughter of Ben Wyatt, the vice president of TransAct Technologies, a company with strong Las Vegas ties. The team is donating proceeds from ticket and merchandise sales, a silent auction, and other fundraisers to the Allison Wyatt Memorial Fund.
Roster moves
The Legends signed their first player, veteran Enrique Tovar, in a ceremony at the Luxor Las Vegas on August 7, 2012. Multiple rounds of tryouts in late August 2012 were used to winnow a field of more than 100 applicants to round out the team's final roster. Players selected include local standouts Eric Guzman and Edgar Nava. Guzman, just 19 when the season began, is the youngest player on the Legends roster. Veteran Emmanuel Ayim has a doctorate in sports education leadership and is an academic adviser at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Brazilian-born Ricardo Sobreira, better known as Ricardinho, emerged as the team's leading scorer. Ricardinho quickly became a fan favorite, drawing praise from his coach and attention from both fans and local media. Corey Adamson, most recently of the Panama City Beach Pirates, has made appearances on the Legends roster. Brian Fitzmaurice, a former standout soccerplayer at T. C. Roberson High School in Asheville, North Carolina, is now a defender for the Legends. Forward Franck Tayou and defender Uzi Tayou are brothers, two of nine siblings who emigrated to the United States with their father after fleeing Cameroon to escape political persecution. The brothers have lived in Las Vegas since 2006.
Awards and honors
On December 18, 2012, the Professional Arena Soccer League named Rodrigo Barbirato as its Player of the Week. The league cited his hat trick in Las Vegas' win over Real Phoenix on December 15 and his 14 points in the team's first 5 games this season. On February 19, 2013, the PASL named Enrique "Qeeks" Tovar as its Player of the Week. The PASL cited his three goals and five assists against the Anaheim Bolts in the Legends's final regular season match plus his setting of a new league record for assists in a single season. In postseason honors, defender Eric Guzman was named to the 2012-13 PASL All-League First Team and forward Enrique Tovar was named to the 2012-13 PASL All-League Second Team. Greg Howes was the runner-up for the 2012-13 PASL Coach of the Year honor.
Schedule
Pre-season
Regular season
† Game also counts for US Open Cup, as listed in chart below.
