Garrett McLaughlin (born November 10, 1997) is an American soccer player who currently plays for USL Championship side North Carolina FC.

Garrett McLaughlin
Personal information
Date of birth (1997-11-10) November 10, 1997 (age 26)
Place of birth Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S
Height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
North Carolina FC
Number 19
Youth career
Oklahoma FC 97
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016–2019 SMU Mustangs 72 (36)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016–2018 OKC Energy U23 27 (4)
2020 Rio Grande Valley FC 11 (0)
2021 Toronto FC II 25 (8)
2022– North Carolina FC 61 (23)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of October 18, 2023

Career edit

Youth and college edit

McLaughlin played high school soccer at Heritage Hall, where he was a two-time Oklahoma Gatorade Player of the Year[1] and led the school to 3 state championships.[2][3]

McLaughlin played four years of college soccer at Southern Methodist University between 2016 and 2019. McLaughlin made 72 appearances, scored 36 goals and tallied 13 assists for the Mustangs.[4] He was named the 2016 American Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year, first team All-AAC in 2017 and 2019, second team All-AAC in 2018, and United Soccer Coaches third team All-American in 2017.[5]

While at college, McLaughlin appeared for USL PDL side OKC Energy U23.[6]

Professional edit

On January 9, 2020, McLaughlin was selected 8th overall in the 2020 MLS SuperDraft by Houston Dynamo.[7]

On February 27, 2020, McLaughlin signed for Houston's USL Championship affiliate side Rio Grande Valley FC.[8] He made his professional debut on March 8, 2020, starting in a 5–1 loss to LA Galaxy II.[9]

On April 22, 2021, McLaughlin signed with USL League One side Toronto FC II.[6] He scored two goals on his debut for the club on May 22, 2021, against North Texas SC.[10] On July 18, he scored a hat trick in a 4–2 victory over North Carolina FC, including a bicycle kick on his second goal.[11][12] He finished the season as the team's leading goal scorer with 8 goals[13] and was named Player of the Week twice.[14][15] After the season, he went on trial with Major League Soccer club Real Salt Lake.[16]

McLaughlin joined North Carolina FC on February 11, 2022.[13] On May 30, 2022, McLaughlin was named USL League One Player of the Week for Week 9 of the 2022 season, in recognition of his brace over Richmond Kickers on May 28.[17]

Career statistics edit

As of October 18, 2023[18][19]
Club Season League Playoffs Domestic Cup Continental Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
OKC Energy U23 2016 Premier Development League 12 0 0 0 12 0
2017 8 1 0 0 8 1
2018 7 3 7 3
Total 27 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 27 4
Rio Grande Valley FC 2020 USL Championship 11 0 11 0
Toronto FC II 2021 USL League One 25 8 25 8
North Carolina FC 2022 USL League One 30 14 1 0 31 14
2023 31 9 0 0 1 0 32 9
Total 61 23 0 0 2 0 0 0 63 23
Career Total 124 35 0 0 2 0 0 0 126 35

References edit

  1. ^ Parker, Derek (March 8, 2021). "'This market is a sleeping giant': How Energy FC coach John Pascarella is building soccer culture in OKC". The Oklahoman.
  2. ^ Evans, Murray (May 14, 2016). "Class 5A boys soccer: Heritage Hall rolls to 4-1 win over McGuinness". The Oklahoman.
  3. ^ Unrah, Jacob (May 10, 2016). "Heritage Hall's Garrett McLaughlin named Gatorade Oklahoma Player of year again". The Oklahoman.
  4. ^ "Garrett McLaughlin SMU Mustangs profile". SMU Mustangs.
  5. ^ "M Soccer 2020-21 Factbook (PDF)" (PDF). SMU Mustangs.
  6. ^ a b "Toronto FC II sign Garrett McLaughlin". Toronto FC. April 22, 2021.
  7. ^ "Dynamo Select Garrett McLaughlin, Luka Prpa In MLS SuperDraft". Houston Dynamo FC. January 9, 2020.
  8. ^ "Rio Grande Valley FC sign Houston Dynamo Draft Picks Garrett McLaughlin and Luka Prpa". Rio Grande Valley FC. February 27, 2020.
  9. ^ "RGV FC Drops Home Opener to Los Dos". Our Sports Central. March 8, 2020.
  10. ^ "Match Report: Toronto FC II Wins On League One Return". USL League One. May 23, 2021.
  11. ^ "Match Report: Hat Trick Lifts TFC II Over NCFC". USL League One. July 18, 2021.
  12. ^ Steiner, Ben (July 19, 2021). "McLaughlin's bicycle kick leads TFC II to victory against North Carolina". Waking the Red.
  13. ^ a b "Garrett McLaughlin joins 2022 North Carolina FC roster". North Carolina FC. February 9, 2022. Retrieved February 11, 2022.
  14. ^ "Toronto FC II's Garrett McLaughlin named Player of the Week". Toronto FC. May 24, 2021.
  15. ^ "TFC II's Garrett McLaughlin named Player of the Week". Toronto FC. July 19, 2021.
  16. ^ "RSL Kicks Off 2022 Preseason". Real Salt Lake. January 20, 2022.
  17. ^ "USL League One Team of the Week – Week 9". uslleagueone.com. May 30, 2022. Retrieved May 31, 2022.
  18. ^ Garrett McLaughlin at Soccerway
  19. ^ "Garrett McLaughlin PDL Stats". USL League Two.

External links edit