Connor Maloney

Connor Maloney
Maloney with Columbus in 2017
Personal information
Date of birth (1995-05-18) May 18, 1995
Place of birth Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, United States
Height 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)
Playing position Fullback
Club information
Current team
 Columbus Crew SC
Number 31
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2013–2016 Penn State Nittany Lions 73 (26)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2014 Reading United 1 (0)
2017– Columbus Crew SC 3 (0)
2017–2018 → Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (loan) 4 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of September 19, 2018

Connor Maloney (born May 18, 1995) is an American professional soccer player who plays for MLS club Columbus Crew SC as a fullback.

Youth and college

Born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Maloney attended Bishop McDevitt High School, where he played football and soccer. He was a three-year captain of the varsity soccer team, where he set a school and conference record with 110 career goals, and set a school record with 68 assists.[1] In 2012, his senior season with the Crusaders, Maloney was named an NSCAA High School All-American after scoring 45 goals with nine hat tricks.[2] Maloney was named as an All-Pennsylvania midfielder twice, and spent time with the Philadelphia Union Academy during his junior and senior seasons with Bishop McDevitt. He also played football for the Crusaders, starting all four years as a kicker. He set a state record with 328 points scored.[3]

Maloney was a four-year starter for the Penn State Nittany Lions, starting in every game he played over his four years with the Nittany Lions.[3] As a freshman, Maloney scored 2 goals in a career-high 21 appearances. He scored his first collegiate goal in a 2–1 loss to Akron,[4] and scored his first postseason goal in a 1–0 victory over UC Santa Barbara that advanced Penn State to the Sweet 16 of the 2013 NCAA Tournament.[5] Maloney capped the season by being named to the All-Big Ten Freshman team as a unanimous selection.[6] Maloney started every game his sophomore season, leading the Nittany Lions with 10 goals. He scored in three of the first four matches on the season, including the game-winning goal in the season opener against Oakland.[7] Two days later, he tallied his first multi-goal game in a victory over St. John's.[8] Maloney scored in the 2014 NCAA Tournament against Syracuse, albeit in a season-ending defeat.[9] He was named as the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year and was a unanimous selection to the All-Big Ten First Team.[10] Maloney was named a team captain his junior season, and led the Nittany Lions with seven goals. He also led the team in shots, shots on goal, and points. For the second consecutive season, Maloney was named to the All-Big Ten First Team.[11] Maloney closed his college career with seven goals and five assists his senior season, making him the Nittany Lions' leading scorer for the third consecutive year. He was named the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week in late October after tallying three goals and an assist in games against Rutgers and Wright State.[12] He capped the season by being named to the All-Big Ten First Team for the third straight season[13] and was named to the All-Great Lakes Region Second Team.[14] Maloney finished his career with the Nittany Lions having scored 26 goals in 73 appearances for Penn State.

Reading United

In 2014 Maloney spent time during the college offseason with Reading United of the PDL. He made just one appearance during his brief stint with the club.[15]

Club career

Columbus Crew SC

Maloney was selected by MLS side Columbus Crew SC in the third round of the 2017 MLS SuperDraft. He was the 49th overall pick of the draft.[16] He officially signed for Crew SC on February 20, 2017 after taking part in preseason with the team.[17] Although Maloney played as a forward in college, he changed positions with Columbus to become a defender, capable of playing at either right or center back.[18]

Maloney made his professional debut for Crew SC on March 11, 2017 in a 3–1 loss away to Houston Dynamo. He entered at halftime for Harrison Afful at right back and played the final 45 minutes of the defeat.[19] On July 29, Maloney started for Columbus in a match against Real Salt Lake, marking his second appearance for the club with his first start. In 82 minutes on the field, he tallied his first career assist when Ola Kamara turned in his cross in the 15th minute, and also was credited with a shot before being replaced by Hector Jiménez.[20] Maloney was unable to play a part in Crew SC's playoff run after undergoing a meniscectomy on his left knee on October 24,[21] a surgery that put him out for the remainder of the season. Maloney finished his first professional season having made two appearances for Columbus. On December 1, he was one of nine Crew SC players who had their contract options picked up, ensuring that he would return for the 2018 season.[22]

Loan to Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC

On May 19, 2017 Maloney was sent on loan to Crew SC's affiliate in the USL, Pittsburgh Riverhounds, on a game-by-game basis.[23] He made his club debut the next day, starting a 1–0 loss to Louisville City on May 20. Maloney played 61 minutes before being replaced by Ben Fitzpatrick.[24] Maloney made just two appearances during the loan spell before returning to Columbus.

Unable to find playing time in Columbus to begin the 2018 season, Maloney was sent back on loan to Pittsburgh on May 25, 2018. Since Crew SC and Riverhounds SC were no longer affiliated, the loan was again on a match-by-match basis, with Maloney able to be recalled at any time by Columbus.[25] He made his second debut for the club the next day, starting and playing 86 minutes of a scoreless draw against Penn FC.[26]

International career

Maloney was called up to the United States U-23 national team while at Penn State, taking part in a college identification training camp ahead of the 2015 CONCACAF Men's Olympic Qualifying Championship.[27] Also called up to the camp were Maloney's future club teammates Alex Crognale and Niko Hansen. However, the camp did not include a match and Maloney never earned a cap for the U-23s.

Career statistics

As of September 19, 2018[28]
Club Season League Playoffs Cup Continental Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Reading United 2014 PDL 100000–10
Columbus Crew SC 2017 MLS 200000–20
2018 100010–20
Total 3000100040
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (loan) 2017 USL 20–00–20
2018 200000–20
Total 4000000040
Career total 8000100090

References

  1. ↑ "Connor Maloney @ Bishop McDevitt". highschoolsports.PennLive.com. Retrieved 1 June 2017.
  2. ↑ "2012 NSCAA Boys High School All-America Team". SoccerAmerica.com. Retrieved 1 June 2017.
  3. 1 2 "5 - Connor Maloney". GOPSUSPORTS.com. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  4. ↑ "NO. 11 NITTANY LIONS FALL AT NO. 9 AKRON, 2-1". GoPSUSports.com. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
  5. ↑ "MALONEY SENDS NO. 16 LIONS PAST NO. 15 UCSB, 1-0". GoPSUSports.com. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
  6. ↑ "2013 MEN'S SOCCER ALL-BIG TEN TEAMS AND INDIVIDUAL AWARDS" (PDF). BigTen.org. Retrieved 4 June 2017.
  7. ↑ "MALONEY HELPS NO. 15 MEN'S SOCCER OVERCOME OAKLAND, 1-0". GoPSUSports.com. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
  8. ↑ "SECOND-HALF SURGE SENDS NO. 15 LIONS PAST ST. JOHN'S, 3-0". GoPSUSports.com. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
  9. ↑ "LIONS EDGED BY SYRACUSE 2-1 IN NCAA SECOND ROUND THRILLER". GoPSUSports.com. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
  10. ↑ "Men's Soccer Postseason Honors". BigTen.org. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
  11. ↑ "Big Ten Conference Announces Men's Soccer Postseason Honors". BigTen.org. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
  12. ↑ "Maloney earns Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week honors". news.PSU.edu. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
  13. ↑ "Big Ten Conference Announces Men's Soccer Postseason Honors". BigTen.org. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
  14. ↑ "MALONEY EARNS NSCAA ALL-REGION HONORS". GoPSUSports.com. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
  15. ↑ "Seven United alums earn MLS Combine invites". ReadingUnitedAC.com. Retrieved 24 May 2017.
  16. ↑ "Crew SC selects Maloney & Ketterer 2017 MLS SuperDraft on Tuesday". ColumbusCrewSC.com. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  17. ↑ "MALONEY SIGNS WITH COLUMBUS CREW SC". GOPSUSPORTS.com. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  18. ↑ "Connor Maloney". MLSSoccer.com. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  19. ↑ "RECAP: Crew SC, Houston battle in Texas". ColumbusCrewSC.com. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  20. ↑ "Maloney records assist in 1st start for Crew SC against RSL". ColumbusCrewSC.com. Retrieved 10 August 2017.
  21. ↑ "Crew SC defender Connor Maloney undergoes successful left arthroscopic knee surgery". ColumbusCrewSC.com. Retrieved 11 December 2017.
  22. ↑ "Options exercised on 9 players ahead of 2018 season". ColumbusCrewSC.com. Retrieved 11 December 2017.
  23. ↑ "Crew SC loans defender Connor Maloney to the Pittsburgh Riverhounds on a game-by-game basis". ColumbusCrewSC.com. Retrieved 23 May 2017.
  24. ↑ "WIN STREAK HALTS AT THREE IN 1-0 LOSS TO LOUISVILLE". Riverhounds.com. Retrieved 23 May 2017.
  25. ↑ "HOUNDS RECEIVE MALONEY ON LOAN FROM CREW SC". Riverhounds.com. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
  26. ↑ "Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC 0–0 Penn FC" (PDF). Riverhounds.com. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
  27. ↑ "HERZOG CALLS 28 PLAYERS FOR COLLEGE IDENTIFICATION TRAINING CAMP". USSoccer.com. Retrieved 11 December 2017.
  28. ↑ Connor Maloney at Soccerway
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