Zach Loyd
Encyclopedia
Zachary Robert Loyd is an American
soccer player who currently plays for FC Dallas
in Major League Soccer
.
, attended Verdigris High School and played college soccer at the University of North Carolina
from 2006 to 2009. While at UNC Loyd scored 7 goals and recorded 10 assists. Loyd also garnered a spot on the NCAA College Cup All-Tournament Team his Junior year. Loyd assisted Brian Shriver
for a game-winning goal No. 1 Wake Forest in the national semifinal advancing UNC to the College Cup final to face Maryland.
During his college years Loyd also played for Carolina Dynamo
in the USL Premier Development League
.
At the 2010 MLS SuperDraft
Combine, many reputable Soccer experts praised Loyd's efforts, saying, "If Tchani
was the best player at the combine, Loyd was the second most impressive. His ability to play well at whatever position he was put in showed off all of his many qualities, including a good passing touch, hard-nosed defending, a good ability to read the game, and surprising pace."
"He's just a good all-around player, and the scary part is, he didn't really play much at what is probably his best position, defensive midfield," said another MLS head coach. "In our league, where you have the salary cap and the small roster, finding a player who can help you at a variety of positions is like finding gold."
by FC Dallas
. He made his professional debut on April 10, 2010, in a game against Columbus Crew
with Loyd playing all 90 minutes of the 2-2 draw During the 2010 MLS Season Loyd appeared in 24 matches, and started 19 of them.
Loyd was named to the MLS Team of Week 1 of the 2011 season for his performance against Chicago Fire.
He scored his first MLS goal on June 25, 2011, during a 4-0 win against the Portland Timbers
. The goal came off a corner kick from Daniel Hernandez
.
against Chile
, where he started at the left-back
position. The game ended in a 1-1 draw with Loyd playing 73 minutes. He was honored Budweiser Man of the Match.
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
soccer player who currently plays for FC Dallas
FC Dallas
FC Dallas is an American professional soccer club based in the Dallas suburb of Frisco, Texas which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States of America and Canada...
in Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
.
College and Amateur
Loyd is the one of four sons of Alan and Kathleen Loyd. Loyd grew up in Verdigris, OklahomaVerdigris, Oklahoma
Verdigris is an incorporated town in Rogers County, Oklahoma, United States, in the Tulsa metropolitan area. It straddles former U.S. Highway 66 between Catoosa and Claremore.The latitude of Verdigris is 36.234N...
, attended Verdigris High School and played college soccer at the University of North Carolina
University of North Carolina
Chartered in 1789, the University of North Carolina was one of the first public universities in the United States and the only one to graduate students in the eighteenth century...
from 2006 to 2009. While at UNC Loyd scored 7 goals and recorded 10 assists. Loyd also garnered a spot on the NCAA College Cup All-Tournament Team his Junior year. Loyd assisted Brian Shriver
Brian Shriver
Brian Shriver is an American soccer player currently playing for Fort Lauderdale Strikers in the North American Soccer League.-Youth and College:...
for a game-winning goal No. 1 Wake Forest in the national semifinal advancing UNC to the College Cup final to face Maryland.
During his college years Loyd also played for Carolina Dynamo
Carolina Dynamo
Carolina Dynamo is an American soccer team based in Greensboro, North Carolina, United States. Founded in 1993, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the South Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference.The team plays its home...
in the USL Premier Development League
USL Premier Development League
The USL Premier Development League is the amateur league of the United Soccer Leagues in the United States, Canada, and Bermuda, forming part of the American Soccer Pyramid...
.
At the 2010 MLS SuperDraft
2010 MLS SuperDraft
The 2010 MLS SuperDraft was the eleventh annual SuperDraft presented by Major League Soccer. It was held on January 14, 2010 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, during the 2010 NSCAA Convention. The 2010 SuperDraft consisted of four rounds with sixteen selections each, for a total of 64 players...
Combine, many reputable Soccer experts praised Loyd's efforts, saying, "If Tchani
Tony Tchani
Tony Tchani is a Cameroonian footballer who plays for Columbus Crew in Major League Soccer.-Amateur and college:...
was the best player at the combine, Loyd was the second most impressive. His ability to play well at whatever position he was put in showed off all of his many qualities, including a good passing touch, hard-nosed defending, a good ability to read the game, and surprising pace."
"He's just a good all-around player, and the scary part is, he didn't really play much at what is probably his best position, defensive midfield," said another MLS head coach. "In our league, where you have the salary cap and the small roster, finding a player who can help you at a variety of positions is like finding gold."
Professional
Loyd was drafted in the first round (5th overall) of the 2010 MLS SuperDraft2010 MLS SuperDraft
The 2010 MLS SuperDraft was the eleventh annual SuperDraft presented by Major League Soccer. It was held on January 14, 2010 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, during the 2010 NSCAA Convention. The 2010 SuperDraft consisted of four rounds with sixteen selections each, for a total of 64 players...
by FC Dallas
FC Dallas
FC Dallas is an American professional soccer club based in the Dallas suburb of Frisco, Texas which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States of America and Canada...
. He made his professional debut on April 10, 2010, in a game against Columbus Crew
Columbus Crew
The Columbus Crew is an American professional soccer club based in Columbus, Ohio which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada...
with Loyd playing all 90 minutes of the 2-2 draw During the 2010 MLS Season Loyd appeared in 24 matches, and started 19 of them.
Loyd was named to the MLS Team of Week 1 of the 2011 season for his performance against Chicago Fire.
He scored his first MLS goal on June 25, 2011, during a 4-0 win against the Portland Timbers
Portland Timbers
Portland Timbers may refer to any of four distinct professional soccer teams:*Portland Timbers, a Major League Soccer expansion team that began playing in 2011....
. The goal came off a corner kick from Daniel Hernandez
Daniel Hernandez
Daniel Demetrio Hernández is an American soccer player who currently plays for FC Dallas in Major League Soccer.-Youth and College:...
.
International
On January 22, 2011, Loyd made his international debut in a friendly matchExhibition game
An exhibition game is a sporting event in which there is no competitive value of any significant kind to any competitor regardless of the outcome of the competition...
against Chile
Chile national football team
The Chilean national football team represents Chile in all major international football competitions. The team is controlled by the Federación de Fútbol de Chile which was established in 1895. They have appeared in eight World Cup tournaments and were hosts of the 1962 FIFA World Cup finishing in...
, where he started at the left-back
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
position. The game ended in a 1-1 draw with Loyd playing 73 minutes. He was honored Budweiser Man of the Match.
Personal Life
During his time at North Carolina Loyd majored in exercise and sport science, and plans a career as a teacher and coach after soccer. Zach has 3 brothers, two of which play at Benedictine CollegeBenedictine College
Benedictine College is a co-educational university in Atchison, Kansas, founded in 1971 by the merger of St. Benedict's College for men and Mount St. Scholastica College for women. It is a Roman Catholic, Benedictine, liberal arts, and residential college located on bluffs overlooking the...
.
University of North Carolina
- NCAA College Cup All-Tournament Team (1): 2008
- NCAA Final Four Appearances (2): 2008, 2009
FC Dallas
- Major League SoccerMajor League SoccerMajor League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
Western Conference Championship (1): 20102010 Major League Soccer seasonThe 2010 Major League Soccer season was the 98th season of FIFA-sanctioned soccer, the 32nd with a national first-division league, in the United States and Canada, and the 15th in MLS history. It began on March 25 at Seattle's Qwest Field with Seattle Sounders FC defeating the expansion...