Brian Schaefer
{{Short description|American soccer player}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox football biography
|name = Brian Schaefer
|image =
|image_size =
|caption =
|fullname =
|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|2002|4|17}}
|birth_place = Seattle, Washington, United States
|height = {{height|ft=6|in=3}}
|position = Defender
|currentclub = FC Cincinnati 2
|clubnumber = 38
|youthyears1 = |youthclubs1 = Jacksonville Armada
|collegeyears1 = 2020–2023
|college1 = South Florida Bulls
|collegecaps1 = 53
|collegegoals1 = 5
|years1 = 2021 |clubs1 = Jacksonville Armada U-23 |caps1 = |goals1 =
|years2 = 2022 |clubs2 = Tampa Bay United |caps2 = 3 |goals2 = 0
|years3 = 2023 |clubs3 = St. Petersburg FC |caps3 = |goals3 =
|years4 = 2024– |clubs4 = FC Cincinnati 2 |caps4 = 27 |goals4 = 2
|nationalyears1 =
|nationalteam1 =
|nationalcaps1 =
|nationalgoals1 =
|club-update = October 6, 2024
|nationalteam-update =
}}
Brian Schaefer (born April 17, 2002) is an American soccer player who plays for FC Cincinnati 2 in MLS Next Pro.
Early life
Schaefer played youth soccer with the Jacksonville Armada. Schaefer attended Fletcher High School and won the Gateway Conference championship in 2020 and was named the Player of the Year.{{cite web|url=https://www.jacksonville.com/story/sports/high-school/2020/01/17/schaefer-powers-fletcher-to-gateway-boys-soccer-championship/112218164/|title=Schaefer powers Fletcher to Gateway boys soccer championship|date=January 17, 2020|first=Clayton|last=Freeman|work=The Florida Times-Union}}{{cite web|url=https://www.news4jax.com/sports/2020/05/04/all-news4jax-boys-soccer-the-schaefer-family-secret-is-out/|title=All-News4Jax boys soccer: The Schaefer family secret is out|date=May 3, 2020|first=Justin|last=Barney|work=WJXT}}
College career
In 2020, Schaefer began attending the University of South Florida, where he played for the men's soccer team.{{cite web|url=https://gousfbulls.com/news/2019/12/2/mens-soccer-usf-soccer-inks-two-during-signing-period.aspx|title=USF Soccer Inks Two During Signing Period|date=December 2, 2019|work=USF Bulls}} On March 6, 2021, he scored the winning goal in a 2–1 victory over the Tulsa Golden Hurricane, for his first career collegiate goal,{{cite web|url=https://www.usforacle.com/2021/03/06/pair-of-freshmen-goals-boost-bulls-past-no-22-tulsa-for-third-consecutive-win/|title=Pair of freshmen goals boost Bulls past No. 22 Tulsa for third consecutive win|first=Leonardo|last=Santos|date=March 6, 2021|work=The Oracle}} subsequently being named to the American Athletic Conference Weekly Honor Roll.{{cite web|url=https://gousfbulls.com/sports/mens-soccer/roster/brian--schaefer/14066|title=Brian Schafer USF profile|work=USF Bulls}} At the end of his freshman season, he was named to the AAC All-Freshman Team.{{cite web|title=Four Bulls Earn Postseason AAC All-Conference Honors|url=https://gousfbulls.com/news/2021/4/14/mens-soccer-four-bulls-earn-postseason-aac-all-conference-honors.aspx|date=April 14, 2021|work=USF Bulls}} In 2022, he was named to the All-ACC Second Team and an Academic All-District selection.{{Cite web|url=https://gousfbulls.com/news/2022/11/9/usf-mens-soccer-standouts-salvatore-mazzaferro-and-brian-schaefer-earn-aac-honors.aspx|title=USF Men's Soccer Standouts Salvatore Mazzaferro and Brian Schaefer Earn AAC Honors|date=November 9, 2022|work=USF Bulls}}{{cite web|url=https://gousfbulls.com/news/2023/12/19/mens-soccer-south-floridas-brian-schaefer-selected-by-cincinnati-fc-in-first-round-of-2024-mls-superdraft.aspx|title=South Florida’s Brian Schaefer Selected by Cincinnati FC In First Round Of 2024 MLS Superdraft|date=December 19, 2023|work=South Florida Bulls}}
Club career
In 2021, he played with the Jacksonville Armada U-23 in the National Premier Soccer League.{{cite web|url=https://www.npsl.com/21935/|title=13 NPSL alums selected in MLS SuperDraft 2024|work=National Premier Soccer League|date=December 20, 2024}}
In 2022, Schaefer played with Tampa Bay United in USL League Two.{{cite web|url=https://www.uslleaguetwo.com/roster_players/56273555|title=Brian Schaefer 2022 USL2 Stats|work=USL League Two}} In 2023, he played with St. Petersburg FC in USL League Two.{{cite web|url=https://www.uslleaguetwo.com/news_article/show/1294884|title=50 players selected in 2023 MLS SuperDraft|date=December 20, 2023|work=USL League Two}}
At the 2024 MLS SuperDraft, Schaefer was selected in the first round (27th overall) by FC Cincinnati.{{cite web|title=Super Senator: Fletcher grad Brian Schaefer drafted in first round by FC Cincinnati of MLS|first=Clayton|last=Freeman|date=December 19, 2023|url=https://www.jacksonville.com/story/sports/mls/2023/12/19/brian-schaefer-fc-cincinnati-drafts-fletcher-high-school-graduate/71978998007/|work=The Florida Times-Union}}{{cite web|url=https://areasportsnetwork.us/fc-cincinnati-2024-mls-superdraft/|title=FC Cincinnati Draft Schaefer, Mboma Dem in the 2024 MLS SuperDraft|first=Kenta|last=Hagiwara|work=Area Sports Network|date=December 19, 2023}} After participating in training camp with the first team, he signed a professional contract with the second team, FC Cincinnati 2 of MLS Next Pro, in February.{{cite web|url=https://www.fccincinnati.com/fccincinnati2/news/fc-cincinnati-2-sign-defender-brian-schaefer|title=FC Cincinnati 2 sign defender Brian Schaefer|date=February 15, 2024|work=FC Cincinnati}} He made his debut on March 17 against Chicago Fire FC II.{{Cite web|url=https://www.fccincinnati.com/fccincinnati2/news/fc-cincinnati-2-earn-a-point-in-mls-next-pro-season-opener-against-chicago-fire-|title=FC Cincinnati 2 earn a point in MLS NEXT Pro season opener against Chicago Fire FC II|date=March 17, 2024|work=FC Cincinnati}} He scored his first goal on June 15 against Carolina Core FC.{{cite web|url=https://www.fccincinnati.com/fccincinnati2/news/fc-cincinnati-2-earn-3-1-win-against-carolina-core-fc-in-first-trip-to-truist-point|title=FC Cincinnati 2 earn 3-1 win against Carolina Core FC in first trip to Truist Point|date=June 15, 2024|work=FC Cincinnati}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{soccerway|brian-schaefer/578949}}
{{FC Cincinnati 2 squad}}
{{2024 MLS SuperDraft}}
{{FCCincinnatiFirstPick}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Schaefer, Brian}}
Category:American men's soccer players
Category:Men's association football defenders
Category:Soccer players from Seattle
Category:Jacksonville Armada U-23 players
Category:National Premier Soccer League players
Category:USL League Two players
Category:FC Cincinnati draft picks
Category:FC Cincinnati 2 players