Matt Hedges

Matt Hedges
Personal information
Full name Matthew James Hedges
Date of birth (1990-04-01) April 1, 1990
Place of birth Rochester, New York, United States
Height 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Playing position Defender
Club information
Current team
 FC Dallas
Number 24
Youth career
2008–2010 Butler Bulldogs
2011 North Carolina Tar Heels
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2010–2011 Reading United 24 (4)
2012– FC Dallas 150 (11)
National team‡
2015– United States 1 (0)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of November 8, 2016.

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of February 8, 2015

Matthew James "Matt" Hedges (born April 1, 1990) is an American soccer player who currently plays as a central defender for FC Dallas in Major League Soccer. Hedges has been one of the better defenders in MLS since 2014, landing on the MLS Best XI in 2015 and winning the MLS Defender of the Year in 2016.

Hedges also has one cap for the United States national team.

Career

College and Amateur

Hedges played college soccer at Butler University between 2008 and 2010, and at the University of North Carolina in 2011. During his time at Butler, Hedges was named NSCAA All-America Second Team as a junior, and he was also named Horizon League Defender of the Year in both his junior and sophomore years. After transferring to North Carolina, he was named ACC Defensive Player of the Year and NSCAA All-America First Team. He scored 6 times on the season and helped lead the Tar Heels defense to a 0.69 goals against average en route to the 2011 NCAA National Championship.

Hedges spent time with USL Premier Development League club Reading United in 2010 and 2011, scoring 4 goals in 24 appearances.[1]

Professional

FC Dallas selected Hedges in the first round (No. 11 overall) of the 2012 MLS SuperDraft.[2] He made his professional debut on April 5, 2012 in a 1–0 victory against the New England Revolution. Due to injuries and his excellent play for a rookie, he became a regular starter for the club. His first goal in the 2014 season was a header in the 90th minute against Sporting Kansas City off a free kick taken by Michel. The goal tied the game, 1–1.[3]

Hedges captained the team for the first time in 2014,[4] a move that eventually became permanent.[5] Since becoming captain, he has led the club into the MLS playoffs in both 2014 and 2015. Also in 2015, the club was the Western Conference regular season champions and Supporters' Shield runner-up. For the 2015 MLS season, he was named to the Best XI[6] and as a finalist for Defender of the Year.[7]

International

Hedges made his United States men's national soccer team debut on February 8, 2015 when he came on as a substitute in the 72nd minute against Panama in a friendly.[8]

Honors

University of North Carolina

FC Dallas

Individual

See also

References

  1. ↑ "United Soccer Leagues (USL)". Uslsoccer.com. Retrieved May 13, 2014.
  2. ↑ SportsDayDFW.com. "FC Dallas drafts defender Matt Hedges in SuperDraft | Dallas Morning News". Dallasnews.com. Retrieved May 13, 2014.
  3. ↑ "By The Numbers: Sporting KC at FC Dallas - March 14, 2015".
  4. ↑ "Why FC Dallas coach Oscar Pareja made Matt Hedges youngest captain in team history".
  5. ↑ "8 New Faces Klinsmann Should Consider for the U.S.".
  6. ↑ "2015 MLS Best XI revealed: 10 first-time selections get the nod".
  7. ↑ "MLS Announces 2015 Awards Finalists".
  8. ↑ "MNT Earns First Win of 2015, Shuts Out Panama 2-0 at StubHub Center".
  9. ↑ http://www.butlersports.com/news/2009/11/10/11_10_2009_379.aspx?path=msoc. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  10. ↑ http://www.horizonleague.org/blog/horizon-league-announces-mens-soccer-award-winners. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  11. ↑ "2015 MLS Best XI revealed: 10 first-time selections get the nod".
Sporting positions
Preceded by
Andrew Jacobson		 FC Dallas captain
2014–present 		Incumbent
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