Derek Dodson (born November 3, 1998) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a wing-back for Major League Soccer club Minnesota United FC.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Derek Dodson | ||
| Date of birth | November 3, 1998 | ||
| Place of birth | Naperville, Illinois, United States | ||
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | ||
| Position(s) | Wing-back, forward | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Minnesota United | ||
| Number | 12 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2012–2016 | Sockers FC | ||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2017–2021 | Georgetown Hoyas | 72 | (32) |
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2018 | North County United | 6 | (2) |
| 2021 | Orlando City | 0 | (0) |
| 2021 | → Hartford Athletic (loan) | 22 | (5) |
| 2022 | Memphis 901 | 28 | (3) |
| 2023 | Charleston Battery | 34 | (2) |
| 2024– | Minnesota United | 0 | (0) |
| 2024 | Minnesota United 2 | 5 | (0) |
| 2024– | → Birmingham Legion (loan) | 23 | (1) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of October 20, 2024 | |||
Early years
editDodson was born in Naperville, Illinois. Growing up he was a three-year starter and one-year captain during his five seasons with the Sockers FC academy.[1] The club qualified for the playoffs in all five years and Dodson was named to the 2017 USSDA Central Conference Best XI.[2]
Georgetown Hoyas
editDodson played college soccer at Georgetown University, scoring 32 goals in 72 appearances for the Georgetown Hoyas between 2017 and 2021.[1]
He appeared in all 20 games as a freshman but was limited to seven starts. Despite this he led the Hoyas in scoring with 10 goals, including three game-winners, and was named Big East Freshman of the Year.[3]
Having secured a starting role as a sophomore, Dodson was a two-time First Team All-Big East selection in 2018 and 2019[1] and also earned United Soccer Coaches All-America third team honors in 2019.[4] During Georgetown's College Cup winning season in 2019, Dodson scored a career-high 11 goals as Georgetown won all three competitions they played in: defending the Big East regular season title, winning a third consecutive Big East tournament, and claiming the first National Championship in program history.[5] Dodson scored an 81st minute go-ahead goal in the final before fellow future Orlando City draftee Daryl Dike equalized five minutes later to take the game into overtime with the scores level at 3–3. Georgetown ultimately won in a penalty shoot-out.[6]
After the postponement of the 2020 fall season until spring 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic,[7] Dodson elected to return as a senior despite having been drafted by Orlando City in January 2021. He made a further sevens appearances for the Hoyas until his departure for Orlando in April having helped the team top the conference spring series standings.[8] He was named to the Big East All-Conference first team at the end of regular season awards.[9]
While at college, Dodson appeared for Premier Development League side North County United in 2018, scoring two goals in six appearances.[10]
Club career
editOrlando City
editOn January 21, 2021, Dodson was selected in the first round (8th overall) of the 2021 MLS SuperDraft by Orlando City. Orlando had traded $100,000 in general allocation money to Portland Timbers earlier in the day to acquire the pick.[11] Dodson missed preseason camp, electing to return to Georgetown to play during the delayed college season, but was eventually signed by the team on April 28 to a one-year contract with three separate option years.[12]
Hartford Athletic
editHaving not yet featured in a matchday squad for Orlando City, Dodson was loaned to USL Championship side Hartford Athletic on July 9, 2021.[13] He made his professional debut the following day as a 42nd-minute substitute replacing Richie Schlentz against New York Red Bulls II and scored in the 86th minute as Hartford came from two goals down to tie 2–2 in stoppage time.[14] He scored again three days later, the only goal in a 1–0 win over Tampa Bay Rowdies.[15] He scored five goals in 22 appearances as Hartford finished fifth in the Atlantic Division. Dodson had his contract option declined by Orlando City at the end of the 2021 season.[16]
Memphis 901
editOn February 18, 2022, Dodson signed with USL Championship side Memphis 901 ahead of their upcoming 2022 season.[17]
Charleston Battery
editOn December 15, 2022, it was announced Dodson had moved to USL Championship side Charleston Battery to reunite with recently appointed head coach Ben Pirmann, who had coached Memphis for the 2022 season.[18] Dodson was a key figure in the Battery's Eastern Conference title and run to the 2023 USL Championship Final, recording three goals and five assists in 38 games across the regular season and playoffs. He became a free agent following Charleston's 2023 season.[19]
Minnesota United
editDodson joined Major League Soccer club Minnesota United on January 15, 2024.[20] He joined USL Championship side Birmingham Legion FC on a season-long loan from May 22, 2024.[21]
Personal life
editTwo of Dodson's older siblings also played college soccer. His brother, Ryan, played for the North Carolina Tar Heels (2011) and Denver Pioneers (2012–14).[22] His sister, Kristen, played for the Auburn Tigers (2014–17).[23]
Career statistics
editCollege
edit| School | Season | Division | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Georgetown Hoyas | 2017 | Div. I | 20 | 10 |
| 2018 | 21 | 9 | ||
| 2019 | 24 | 11 | ||
| 2020–21 | 7 | 2 | ||
| Career total | 72 | 32 | ||
Club
edit- As of October 31, 2021[24]
| Club | Season | League | National cup | Playoffs | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| North County United | 2018[10] | PDL | 6 | 2 | — | — | 6 | 2 | ||
| Orlando City | 2021 | MLS | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Hartford Athletic (loan) | 2021 | USL Championship | 22 | 5 | — | — | 22 | 5 | ||
| Memphis 901 FC | 2022 | USL Championship | 7 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | 8 | 1 | |
| Career total | 35 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 8 | ||
Honors
editGeorgetown Hoyas
- Big East Conference regular season: 2018, 2019
- Big East Conference Tournament: 2017, 2018, 2019
- NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Tournament: 2019
Individual
- Big East Freshman of the Year: 2017[3]
References
edit- ^ a b c "Derek Dodson - Men's Soccer". Georgetown University Athletics.
- ^ "U.S. Soccer Development Academy End of Year awards 2017". www.ussoccerda.com.
- ^ a b "BIG EAST Announces Men's Soccer Regular Season Awards". www.bigeast.com.
- ^ "NCAA Division I Men's All-America Team Announced". United Soccer Coaches.
- ^ "Hoyas win first Men's College Cup in penalty kick shoot out". NBC Sports.
- ^ "Georgetown outlasts Virginia in 2019 College Cup for first national championship". www.ncaa.com.
- ^ "NCAA DI Council approves moving fall championships to the spring". www.ncaa.com.
- ^ Goff, Steven. "Georgetown Hoyas win again but lose two players to pros". Washington Post.
- ^ "BIG EAST Men's Soccer Regular Season Awards announced". SoccerWire.
- ^ a b "Treasure Coast Tritons - 2018 Regular Season Roster - Derek Dodson". www.uslleaguetwo.com.
- ^ "Orlando City trades up, picks Derek Dodson at No. 8 in MLS SuperDraft". news.yahoo.com. 21 January 2021.
- ^ "Orlando City SC Signs 2021 MLS SuperDraft Selection Derek Dodson". www.orlandocitysc.com.
- ^ "Orlando City SC Forward Derek Dodson Joins Hartford Athletic On Loan". Hartford Athletic.
- ^ "Hartford Athletic vs. New York Red Bulls II - July 10, 2021". www.uslchampionship.com.
- ^ "Matchday Report: Hartford Holds Firm for Victory against Rowdies". USL Championship. July 13, 2021.
- ^ "Orlando City Exercises Contract Options on 11 Players Following 2021 MLS Season". Orlando City SC.
- ^ "Graham Smith Highlights Three Arrivals for 901 FC".
- ^ USLChampionship com Staff (December 15, 2022). "Charleston inks defender Derek Dodson to deal". USL Championship.
- ^ nicholas.murray@uslsoccer.com, NICHOLAS MURRAY- (8 January 2024). "11 Free Agents to watch as the USL Championship preseason approaches". USL Championship.
- ^ "Loons Sign Fullback Derek Dodson". MNUFC.com. Minnesota United. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
- ^ https://www.bhmlegion.com/news/2024/05/22/derek-dodson-joins-legion-fc-on-loan-from-minnesota-united/
- ^ "Ryan Dodson - Men's Soccer". University of Denver Athletics.
- ^ "Kristen Dodson - Soccer". Auburn University Athletics.
- ^ "Derek Dodson Soccerway profile". Soccerway.
External links
edit- Derek Dodson at Georgetown Hoyas
- Derek Dodson at Orlando City SC
- Derek Dodson at Soccerway.com
- Derek Dodson at FBref.com
