Nick Taylor (soccer)

Nick Taylor (born September 2, 1998) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a forward for Orlando City B in MLS Next Pro.

Nick Taylor
Personal information
Date of birth (1998-09-02) September 2, 1998
Place of birth Coppell, Texas, United States
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Position(s) Winger
Club information
Current team
 Orlando City B
Number 67
Youth career
Dallas Texans
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2017–2018 New Mexico Lobos 29 (6)
2019–2021 SMU Mustangs 31 (2)
2021 UCF Knights 16 (3)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2022– Orlando City B 1 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of March 26, 2022

Early years

Growing up in Coppell, Texas, Taylor played soccer for Coppell High School where he won the Texas UIL 6A State Championship in 2016 and was named to the 2016–17 NSCAA Winter-Spring High School Boys All-American Team. He was a two-time Gatorade State Player of the Year nominee, finishing as runner-up in 2016. Taylor also played club soccer for Dallas Texans, helping the team become U.S. Youth Soccer National bronze medalist in 2013. With Dallas Texans, Taylor also won two State Cups and two Classic League Division I titles.[1]

College career

Taylor played five seasons of college soccer between 2017 and 2021 while majoring in marketing. Although he received numerous Division 2 and Division 3 offers, Taylor's only D1 offer was from Conference USA team New Mexico Lobos, coached by Paul Souders. Souders had heard of Taylor as early as middle school because their mothers worked together at the school Taylor was at and later also attended his alma mater, Coppell High School. Despite inviting Taylor to a New Mexico talent ID camp and eventually getting him to verbally commit to New Mexico, Souders left the program to become an assistant to Scott Calabrese at UCF Knights the day before signing day but made a phone call to Taylor, convincing him to remain committed.[2] Taylor ultimately played two seasons at New Mexico, making 29 appearances, scoring six goals and five assists. He earned 2018 All-Conference USA Second Team honors.[1][3]

When the Lobos program was shut down following the 2018 season, Taylor initially reached out to Souders but UCF already had depth at the winger position.[2] Instead he joined SMU Mustangs of the American Athletic Conference. As a junior, he played 20 games in the 2019 season, registering three assists including one in a 3–3 tie with UCF during the regular season. SMU also beat UCF 1–0 in the 2019 American Athletic Conference Men's Soccer Tournament final. With the 2020 season delayed until Spring 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Taylor started all 11 matches during the shortened season, scoring two goals including one against UCF.[4]

Having been granted an additional year of eligibility due to the shortened nature of the pandemic season, Taylor entered the NCAA transfer portal. Souders spotted his name on the transfer portal and convinced head coach Calabrese to offer Taylor a spot on the team that night having been impressed during frequent meetings between SMU and UCF.[2] In his fifth year, Taylor started all 16 of UCF's games, scoring three goals and nine assists.[5]

Club career

Orlando City B

On January 11, 2022, Taylor was selected in the third round (74th overall) of the 2022 MLS SuperDraft by Orlando City.[6] Having spent time with the club in preseason camp, he signed a professional contract with the team's reserve affiliate, Orlando City B, in MLS Next Pro ahead of 2022 season.[7] He made his professional debut on March 26 in the season opener.

International career

Born in the United States, Taylor's mother is Cambodian making him eligible to represent Cambodia internationally.[5]

Career statistics

College
School Season Division Apps Goals
New Mexico Lobos 2017 Div. I 122
2018 174
Total 296
SMU Mustangs 2019 Div. I 200
2020–21 112
Total 312
UCF Knights 2021 Div. I 163
Career total 7611

Club
As of March 26, 2022[8]
Club Season League Cup Playoffs Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Orlando City B 2022 MLS Next Pro 10——10
Career total 10000010

Honors

SMU Mustangs

References
  1. "Nick Taylor – New Mexico Lobos". University of New Mexico. Archived from the original on April 14, 2021. Retrieved March 26, 2022.
  2. David, Austin. "Nick Taylor's twisting journey leads to chance with Orlando City". Orlando Sentinel. Archived from the original on March 10, 2022. Retrieved March 26, 2022.
  3. "MSOC: All-Conference Awards Announced". conferenceusa.com. Archived from the original on May 21, 2021. Retrieved March 26, 2022.
  4. "Nick Taylor – SMU Men's Soccer". SMU Athletics. Archived from the original on March 26, 2022. Retrieved March 26, 2022.
  5. "Nick Taylor – UCF Men's Soccer". UCF Athletics. Archived from the original on March 26, 2022. Retrieved March 26, 2022.
  6. "Orlando City Selects Forward Jack Lynn in First Round of 2022 MLS SuperDraft". www.orlandocitysc.com. Archived from the original on January 13, 2022. Retrieved March 26, 2022.
  7. "Orlando City B Announces 2022 Roster Ahead of Inaugural MLS NEXT Pro Season". www.orlandocitysc.com. Archived from the original on March 25, 2022. Retrieved March 26, 2022.
  8. "Nick Taylor Soccerway profile". Soccerway. Archived from the original on March 26, 2022. Retrieved March 26, 2022.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.