University of North Carolina Athletics
Tar Heels In Pro Soccer Update
June 18, 2014 | Men's Soccer
With MLS taking a break for the 2014 World Cup, its time to update the progress of our former Tar Heels in pro soccer.
MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER (MLS)
PLAYERS
Jalil Anibaba, in his fist season with the Seattle Sounders and fourth overall in MLS, has appeared in six matches and made four starts on defense. He earned an assist during a wild 4-4 draw at Seattle on April 5.
Corey Ashe, now in his eighth season with the Houston Dynamo, has started 15 matches on defense and ranks third on the club with three assists. He is on the MLS All-Star ballot.
Tyler Deric is in his sixth season with the Houston Dynamo. He has served as the backup keeper and has made one start thus far in 2014.
Danny Garcia is in his second season with FC Dallas. He has started four matches thus far in 2014 with two shots on goal.
Michael Harrington's first season with Portland and eighth overall in MLS has seen the veteran defender make 11 starts. He has earned one assist thus far in 2014.
Matt Hedges' fourth season with FC Dallas has been a good one thus far, scoring two goals and one assist in 16 starts on defense. He is on the MLS All-Star ballot.
Zach Loyd, now in his fifth season with FC Dallas, has made 11 starts and 12 appearances on defense. He has scored one goal on two shots in 2014.
Stephen McCarthy returns for his fourth season with the New England Revolution. He has yet to see the field in 2014 after making 17 starts the year prior.
Dax McCarty, the 10-year MLS veteran is currently in his fourth season with the New York Red Bulls. He has scored one goal and one assist in 14 games (13 starts) and has played a club-high 1,209 minutes in the midfield. McCarty is on the MLS All-Star ballot.
Logan Pause, the longest tenured member of the Chicago Fire, has played in four matches as a reserve in his 12th MLS season in the midfield.
Billy Schuler has started one match and made four appearances in his first season with the San Jose Earthquakes after playing the previous two years for Hammarby IF in Sweden.
Ben Speas, now in his third season with the Columbus Crew, ranks third on the club with two assists while playing in three matches and making one start in the midfield.
Sheanon Williams has appeared in 10 matches and made nine starts during his fifth season with the Philadelphia Union. He has scored one goal thus far in 2014 splitting time between defense and midfield and is on the MLS All-Star ballot.
COACHES
Gregg Berhalter is in his first season as the head coach for the Columbus Crew. He has his club in sixth place in the Eastern Conference.
Marco Ferruzi is in his 11th season as assistant coach and third as Reserve Team Coach for FC Dallas. FC Dallas is fourth in the Western Conference standings with 22 points.
Chad Ashton is in his eighth season as assistant coach for DC United. The club leads the Eastern Conference with 25 points, bouncing back from a down year for DC United in 2013.
Kerry Zavagnin is back for his sixth season as an assistant coach for Sporting Kansas City. The 2013 MLS Cup champions currently sit in third place in the Eastern Conference.
NORTH AMERICAN SOCCER LEAGUE (NASL)
Jordan Gafa is currently in his second season with the Tampa Bay Rowdies.
Scott Goodwin has begun his first season with the Carolina RailHawks. He replaced injured starter Akira Fitzgerald and helped lead Carolina over MLS club Chivas USA in the fourth round of the 2014 U.S. Open Cup on June 15. Goodwin made three saves in the seven-round shootout, and also came up big in regulation to send the match into penalty kicks.
Enzo Martinez ranks second on the Carolina Railhawks with two goals scored thus far in eight matches during the 2014 NASL campaign.
Brian Shriver has scored once thus far in his first season with the Tampa Bay Rowdies in five appearances. Shriver led the league with 15 goals for the Carolina RailHawks in 2013, receiving the Golden Boot award and named to the 2013 NASL Best XI.
Jamie Watson has made six appearances during his first season with Minnesota United FC and ranks second on the club with two assists. Minnesota United FC plays at MLS club Sporting KC on June 18 in the U.S. Open Cup.
UNITED SOCCER LEAGUE PRO (USL PRO)
Mike Callahan's fourth season with the Richmond Kickers has seen him notch two assists in 11 matches thus far in 2014. Richmond will host the New England Revolution of Major League Soccer on Wednesday in the fourth round of the U.S. Open Cup.
Alex Dixon is currently in his first season with the Rochester Rhinos. He was named an honorable mention selection for the USL PRO Team of the Week on Tuesday, June 17. He ranks second on the team with eight points with three goals and two assists on a team-high 19 shots.
Mikey Lopez started the season on loan to Orlando City, contributing one assist in nine appearances. Was later recalled to Sporting KC on June 4 and has since been sent out on loan to OKC Energy FC.
NON U.S. LEAGUES
Eddie Ababio played in his first season with Club Deportivo Aguila of the El Salvador Premier League. He appeared in 16 games, starting six matches during the 2013-14 season.
Ryan Adeleye completed his second season with Hapoel Ashkelon FC, which competes in Israeli's 2nd Division. He scored two goals and started all 27 matches he competed in during the 2013-14 season.
Michael Farfan completed his first season with Cruz Azul of the Mexico Liga MX after being sold on permanent transfer from the Philadelphia Union and Major League Soccer. He made one appearance for the club during the 2013-14 season.
Eric Lichaj completed his first season with Nottingham Forest FC of England's Football League Championship. He appeared in 26 matches (23 starts) for Nottingham Forest, including two FC Cup contests during the 2013-14 season.
