SALINA – The Kansas Wesleyan University community is mourning the loss of two incoming soccer players following an accident near the Utah-Colorado border on Saturday afternoon as a group of three student athletes were on their way to Salina from Southern California.

Carlos Ornelas, 21, of South Gate, Calif., and Eddie Valencia, 20, of Los Angeles both died as a result of the accident, which occurred along I-70 about 30 miles west of Green River, Utah. A third student-athlete, Briant Reyes, was injured in the crash.

“We are devastated by the deaths of Carlos and Eddie. Our heartfelt love and condolences go out to the grieving families and friends,” Kansas Wesleyan President Fletcher Lamkin said. “To see their lives snuffed out so prematurely is tragic. They lost their opportunity to fulfill their potential. It also causes us to reflect on the potential of our own lives and rededicate ourselves leading good, successful, and significant lives, where we indeed serve others and make this better world.”

Ornelas, Valencia both played at Cerritos College in Norwalk, Calif., and were coming to Kansas Wesleyan as junior college transfers for the 2011 soccer season.

“I think we are all in a state of shock right now, trying to take it all in,” said Kansas Wesleyan Head Coach Mike Dibbini. “Carlos and Eddie were great kids, great players and great students. Their loss is not only a loss for the soccer program, but the entire university. Our condolences go out to their families in this difficult time.”

A Facebook page has been set up as a memorial to Ornelas and Valencia and can be found by logging onto Facebook and searching for R.I.P. Eddie Valencia & Carlos Ornelas. The page had nearly 1,450 likes as of 11:20 a-m, Monday morning.