LAST SEASON:
Barrera spent his 2023 season with The Green and Blue, holding a prominent midfield role. Throughout the season, Barrera made 30 appearances and 20 starts, tallying 1,800 minutes played. He racked up one goal and one assist throughout the year.
USL EXPERIENCE:
The USL has been Barrera’s home since 2015, and he has made an incredible impact in that time. From 2015 to 2017, he competed for Sacramento Republic FC. In those three seasons, he totaled six goals and 15 assists, with an impressive nine-goal season in 2016. He spent the 2018 season with Fresno FC, where he added one goal and five assists to his career totals. After a good season in Fresno, he signed on with Hartford Athletic. He has been with the team ever since, spending five consecutive seasons with the club. Those five seasons have proven successful, boasting 16 goals and 30 assists. His best season came in 2021, where he earned USL All-League First Team honors in a season where he tallied seven goals and a league-high 12 assists. He is the all-time leader in many of Hartford’s statistical categories, including goals, assists, appearances, and minutes played. He also ranks 3rd in league history in assists with 50.
OUTSIDE THE USL:
Barrera moved to the United States from Colombia at an early age. He was a highly touted high school recruit, playing with the US Soccer residency program and Westlake High School. He competed for the United States U-17 and U-18 in 2006 and 2007, making seven appearances and scoring a goal. Being one of the highest-ranked recruits in his class, he committed to play for the University of California, Santa Barbara. He played three seasons with the team between 2008 and 2010, making 66 appearances. In those matches, he scored 10 goals and added 22 assists. While in college, he joined Ventura County Fusion of the Premier Development League. During his four years with the club, he notched 13 goals and 15 assists in just under 40 appearances. He went on to win a league championship with the team before pursuing a professional career. Forgoing his senior year, he signed with Spartak Subotic of the Serbian SuperLiga. After a season, he came back to the States, signing with Atlanta Silverbacks FC of the North American Soccer League. In two seasons he accounted for five goals and 10 assists before going to Carolina Railhawks FC. After a one-goal and two-assist season, he signed with Texas club San Antonio Scorpions FC. He won the Championship Final to cap off his NASL career before heading to the USL.