American soccer player
Brian Schaefer (born April 17, 2002) is an American soccer player who plays for FC Cincinnati 2 in MLS Next Pro .
Early life
Schaefer played youth soccer with the Jacksonville Armada .[ 1] Schaefer attended Fletcher High School and won the Gateway Conference championship in 2020 and was named the Player of the Year.[ 2] [ 3]
College career
In 2020, Schaefer began attending the University of South Florida , where he played for the men's soccer team .[ 4] On March 6, 2021, he scored the winning goal in a 2–1 victory over the Tulsa Golden Hurricane , for his first career collegiate goal,[ 5] subsequently being named to the American Athletic Conference Weekly Honor Roll.[ 6] At the end of his freshman season, he was named to the AAC All-Freshman Team.[ 7] In 2022, he was named to the All-ACC Second Team and an Academic All-District selection.[ 8] [ 9]
Club career
In 2021, he played with the Jacksonville Armada U-23 in the National Premier Soccer League .[ 10]
In 2022, Schaefer played with Tampa Bay United in USL League Two .[ 11] In 2023, he played with St. Petersburg FC in USL League Two.[ 12]
At the 2024 MLS SuperDraft , Schaefer was selected in the first round (27th overall) by FC Cincinnati .[ 1] [ 13] After participating in training camp with the first team, he signed a professional contract with the second team, FC Cincinnati 2 of MLS Next Pro , in February.[ 14] He made his debut on March 17 against Chicago Fire FC II .[ 15] He scored his first goal on June 15 against Carolina Core FC .[ 16]
References
^ a b Freeman, Clayton (December 19, 2023). "Super Senator: Fletcher grad Brian Schaefer drafted in first round by FC Cincinnati of MLS" . The Florida Times-Union .
^ Freeman, Clayton (January 17, 2020). "Schaefer powers Fletcher to Gateway boys soccer championship" . The Florida Times-Union .
^ Barney, Justin (May 3, 2020). "All-News4Jax boys soccer: The Schaefer family secret is out" . WJXT .
^ "USF Soccer Inks Two During Signing Period" . USF Bulls . December 2, 2019.
^ Santos, Leonardo (March 6, 2021). "Pair of freshmen goals boost Bulls past No. 22 Tulsa for third consecutive win" . The Oracle .
^ "Brian Schafer USF profile" . USF Bulls .
^ "Four Bulls Earn Postseason AAC All-Conference Honors" . USF Bulls . April 14, 2021.
^ "USF Men's Soccer Standouts Salvatore Mazzaferro and Brian Schaefer Earn AAC Honors" . USF Bulls . November 9, 2022.
^ "South Florida's Brian Schaefer Selected by Cincinnati FC In First Round Of 2024 MLS Superdraft" . South Florida Bulls . December 19, 2023.
^ "13 NPSL alums selected in MLS SuperDraft 2024" . National Premier Soccer League . December 20, 2024.
^ "Brian Schaefer 2022 USL2 Stats" . USL League Two .
^ "50 players selected in 2023 MLS SuperDraft" . USL League Two . December 20, 2023.
^ Hagiwara, Kenta (December 19, 2023). "FC Cincinnati Draft Schaefer, Mboma Dem in the 2024 MLS SuperDraft" . Area Sports Network .
^ "FC Cincinnati 2 sign defender Brian Schaefer" . FC Cincinnati . February 15, 2024.
^ "FC Cincinnati 2 earn a point in MLS NEXT Pro season opener against Chicago Fire FC II" . FC Cincinnati . March 17, 2024.
^ "FC Cincinnati 2 earn 3-1 win against Carolina Core FC in first trip to Truist Point" . FC Cincinnati . June 15, 2024.
External links