Jacob Labovitz
{{Short description|American soccer player (born 1998)|bot=PearBOT 5}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Jacob Labovitz
| image =
| fullname =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1998|9|14}}
| birth_place = Great Falls, Virginia, U.S.
| height = 6 ft 2 in
| position = Forward
| currentclub = Vermont Green
| clubnumber =
| youthyears1 = 2013–2015
| youthclubs1 = Loudoun Soccer
| youthyears2 = 2016–2017
| youthclubs2 = Annandale United
| collegeyears1 = 2017–2018
| college1 = Fairleigh Dickinson Knights
| collegecaps1 = 30
| collegegoals1 = 9
| collegeyears2 = 2019–2021
| college2 = Virginia Tech Hokies
| collegecaps2 = 51
| collegegoals2 = 23
| years1 = 2018
| clubs1 = Ocean City Nor'easters
| caps1 = 3
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2022–2023
| clubs2 = Greenville Triumph
| caps2 = 57
| goals2 = 18
| years3 = 2024–
| clubs3 = Vermont Green
| caps3 = 14
| goals3 = 8
| nationalyears1 =
| nationalteam1 =
| nationalcaps1 =
| nationalgoals1 =
| medaltemplates =
| pcupdate = August 2, 2024
| ntupdate =
}}
Jacob Labovitz (born September 14, 1998) is an American former professional soccer player who currently plays for USL League Two club Vermont Green FC.
Early life
Labovitz attended Langley High School and led the Saxons to a 19–1–2 record and a Group 6A State Championship. Labovitz scored 45 goals across his 22 games, helping the team to Virginia State Championships in 2015 and 2017.{{Cite web|url=https://fduknights.com/sports/mens-soccer/roster/jacob--labovitz/4898|title=Jacob Labovitz – 2018 – Men's Soccer|website=Fairleigh Dickinson University Athletics}} Labovitz played club soccer at Loudoun Soccer, where he won two state cup championships in 2013 and 2014.{{Cite web|url=https://ussocceracademyllc.com/news/mufc-select-xi-vs-malaga-c-f-u18s|title=MUFC Select XI vs. Malaga C.F. U18's|website=BUFC, llc|date=27 November 2015 }}{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/recruiting-insider/wp/2016/05/20/seventeen-year-old-american-jacob-labovitz-navigates-europe-in-search-of-a-pro-soccer-career/ |title=Seventeen-year-old American Jacob Labovitz navigates Europe in search of a pro soccer career |date=2016-05-20 |author1=Nick Eilerson |newspaper=The Washington Post|issn=0190-8286 |oclc=1330888409}}
He returned to the United States in 2016, playing locally with Annandale United, winning a state championship in 2016.{{Cite web|url=https://annandaleunitedfc.sportngin.com/alumni-2017|title=CLASS OF 2017|website=annandaleunitedfc.sportngin.com}}
College career
In 2017, Labovitz attended Fairleigh Dickinson University to play college soccer. He played two seasons with the Knights, making 30 appearances, scoring nine goals and tallying five assists. In his freshman season, he was named NEC Rookie of the Year, as well as All-NEC Second Team and All-Rookie Team. In 2019, he transferred to Virginia Tech, playing 51 games for the Hokies and bagging 23 goals and adding nine assists to his name. In his senior season, Labovitz earned All-ACC, VaSID All-State team and Player of the Year honors.{{Cite web|url=https://hokiesports.com/sports/mens-soccer/roster/jacob-labovitz/10649|title=Jacob Labovitz – Men's Soccer|website=Virginia Tech Athletics}}
During his 2018 season, Labovitz also appeared in the USL PDL, making three appearances for Ocean City Nor'easters.{{Cite web|url=https://www.uslleaguetwo.com/roster_players/24326605?subseason=583580|title=Ocean City Nor'easters – 2018 Regular Season – Roster – # – Jacob Labovitz -|website=www.uslleaguetwo.com}}
Professional career
On February 8, 2022, Labovitz signed his first professional contract with Greenville Triumph of the USL League One.{{Cite web|url=https://www.greenvilletriumph.com/news/triumph-pens-all-acc-forward-for-2022-season/|title=Triumph Pens All-ACC Forward for 2022 Season}} He made his professional debut on April 2, 2022, appearing as a 67th–minute substitute in a 0–2 loss to Central Valley Fuego.{{Cite web|url=https://www.uslleagueone.com/greenvilletriumphsc-centralvalleyfuegofc-2264064|title=Match Center | USLLeagueOne.com|website=www.uslleagueone.com}} On May 28, 2022, Labovitz scored his first professional goal in a 1–0 victory over Chattanooga Red Wolves SC. On July 18, 2022, Labovitz was named USL League One Player of the Week for Week 16 of the 2022 season. Labovitz scored a brace in a 5–5 draw over Tormenta FC and his first professional hat-trick in a 3–1 win over Richmond Kickers to set the record for most goals scored by a single player in one week in USL League One history.{{Cite web|url=https://www.uslleagueone.com/news_article/show/1232957|title=USL League One Team of the Week – Week 16|website=uslleagueone.com|date=18 July 2022|access-date=21 July 2022}} Labovitz retired from professional soccer following the 2023 USL League One season.{{cite web |title=Celebrating an incredible chapter as we wish Jacob Labovitz the best in his retirement. Relive the Labovitz magic with this montage of some of his best goals ⚽🪄 |url=https://twitter.com/GVLTriumph/status/1749537612996489435 |website=Twitter.com |publisher=Greenville Triumph |access-date=25 January 2024}}
Post-professional career
Labovitz joined USL League Two club Vermont Green in February 2024. He scored in his club debut, a 4–3 win over Lexington SC in the 2024 U.S. Open Cup.{{cite web |last1=Minton |first1=Sam |title=Vermont Green Signs USL League One Forward |url=https://www.theblazingmusket.com/p/vermont-green-signs-usl-league-one-forward-2024 |website=TheBlazingMusket.com |publisher=The Blazing Musket |access-date=20 March 2024}}
Personal life
Labovitz's great-great-grandfather was born in Hungary, which allowed him to gain a Hungarian passport.{{Cite web|url=https://roanoke.com/sports/college/va_tech/virginia-techs-jacob-labovitz-has-a-head-for-soccer/article_f010af8c-2564-11ec-a4d1-ff3e84d64b47.html|title=Virginia Tech's Jacob Labovitz has a head for soccer|author=Mark Berman|website=Roanoke Times|date=5 October 2021 }}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{USL League One player|jacob-labovitz}}
- {{soccerway|jacob-labovitz/549483}}
{{VaSID Award - Men's Soccer}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Labovitz, Jacob}}
Category:American people of Hungarian descent
Category:Sportspeople of Hungarian descent
Category:American men's soccer players
Category:Men's association football forwards
Category:Greenville Triumph SC players
Category:Ocean City Nor'easters players
Category:Sportspeople from Great Falls, Virginia
Category:Soccer players from Fairfax County, Virginia
Category:USL League Two players
Category:USL League One players
Category:Virginia Tech Hokies men's soccer players
Category:21st-century American sportsmen
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