Kevin Politz

Kevin Politz
Personal information
Date of birth (1996-03-22) March 22, 1996 (age 28)
Place of birth New Haven, Connecticut, United States
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Defender
Youth career
2010–2014 New York Red Bulls
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2014–2017 Wake Forest Demon Deacons 72 (3)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016–2017 New York Red Bulls U-23 20 (0)
2018 New York Red Bulls 0 (0)
2018 → New York Red Bulls II (loan) 24 (0)
2019 Greenville Triumph 25 (1)
2020 Hartford Athletic 14 (1)
2021 Toronto FC II 21 (1)
International career
2012 United States U17 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of October 29, 2021

Kevin Politz (born March 22, 1996) is an American former soccer player.

Career

Youth

Politz was born in New Haven, Connecticut, but grew up in the Morganville section of Marlboro Township, New Jersey, where he attended Marlboro High School and was a member of the New York Red Bulls Academy. He was also a member of the US Soccer residency program at IMG Academy.[1] He attended college at Wake Forest University and played on the Demon Deacons soccer team for three seasons, making 72 appearances, scoring 3 goals and tallying 1 assist. In 2017, Politz was named an All-American and the ACC Defender of the Year.[1]

While in college, Politz appeared for Premier Development League side New York Red Bulls U-23.[2]

New York Red Bulls

On January 3, 2018, Politz signed a homegrown contract with the New York Red Bulls.[3] On March 15, 2018, the New York Red Bulls entered into a loan agreement with New York Red Bulls II, and Politz was listed on the Red Bulls II 2018 USL season roster.[4] He made his professional debut on March 17, 2018, for United Soccer League side New York Red Bulls II, coming on as a second half substitution in a 2–1 win over Toronto FC II.[5] Politz and Red Bull II finished in 5th place in the Eastern Conference standings. Red Bull II advanced to the USL Championship Eastern Conference finals by defeating Charleston Battery and FC Cincinnati on the road by 1-0 scorelines before falling to eventual USL Championship champions, Louisville City FC.[6] Politz was released by the Red Bulls at the end of their 2018 season.[7]

Greenville Triumph

In February 2019 Politz signed with USL League One team Greenville Triumph SC.[8] Politz scored the game-winning goal for Greenville in the team's inaugural home match victory over Lansing Ignite, it was Politz's first professional goal and he was named to the USL one team of the week.[9] For the 2019 season he appeared in 27 of the team's 28 games, starting 25 of them.[10] Greenville advanced to the USL League One final, falling to North Texas SC in the championship match.[11]

Hartford Athletic

On December 19, 2019, Greenville transferred Politz to USL Championship team Hartford Athletic.[10] In his second match with the team he scored his second career professional goal.[12] Politz started 14 of 16 regular season games, helping Hartford finish with the second most points in the USL Championship. Politz started in Hartford's first ever playoff game, a 1–0 home loss to Saint Louis FC.[13]

Toronto FC II

On May 5, 2021, Politz joined USL League One side Toronto FC II.[14] He scored his first goal for the team in a 1–0 victory on October 8 against New England Revolution II.[15]

International career

In 2012, Politz made one appearance for the United States U17 team.[14]

Career statistics

As of October 29, 2021[16]
Club Season League League Playoffs Domestic Cup Continental Total
League Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
New York Red Bulls U-23 2016 Premier Development League 11 0 – – – 11 0
2017 9 0 0 0 – – 9 0
New York Red Bulls II 2018 USL 21 0 3 0 – – 24 0
Greenville Triumph 2019 USL League One 25 1 2 0 2 0 – 29 1
Hartford Athletic 2020 USL Championship 14 1 1 0 0 0 – 15 1
Toronto FC II 2021 USL League One 21 1 — – – 21 1
Career total 101 3 6 0 2 0 0 0 109 3

Honors

Club

New York Red Bulls

References

  1. ^ a b "Kevin Politz". godeacs.com. Retrieved October 26, 2020.
  2. ^ "Kevin Politz Premier Development League". USLPDL.com.
  3. ^ "New York Red Bulls Sign Kevin Politz as Homegrown Player". NewYorkRedBulls.com.
  4. ^ Whitelaw, Willy (March 15, 2018). "NYRB II Announce 26-Man Roster for 2018 USL Season". New York Red Bulls. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  5. ^ "New York Red Bulls II 2-1 Toronto FC II". NewYorkRedBulls.com. Archived from the original on March 19, 2018. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
  6. ^ "Louisville City FC rout Red Bulls on the way to the USL Cup Final". rbnn.us.
  7. ^ "New York Red Bulls Announce End of Season Roster Updates". NewYorkRedBulls.com.
  8. ^ Triumph, Greenville (February 8, 2019). "Kevin Politz & Omar Mohamed Join Greenville Triumph". Greenville Triumph SC.
  9. ^ Triumph, Greenville (April 9, 2019). "Jake Keegan and Kevin Politz named to USL League One Team of the Week". Greenville Triumph SC.
  10. ^ a b Athletic, Hartford (December 10, 2019). "Hartford Athletic Signs Defender Kevin Politz". Hartford Athletic | Connecticut's Professional Soccer Team.
  11. ^ Triumph, Greenville (October 21, 2019). "Greenville Triumph Fall in Frisco in Inaugural USL League One Final". Greenville Triumph SC.
  12. ^ Athletic, Hartford (July 20, 2020). "RECAP: Blast the Bonanza". Hartford Athletic | Connecticut's Professional Soccer Team.
  13. ^ "Hartford Athletic vs Saint Louis FC". USL Championship. October 10, 2020.
  14. ^ a b "Toronto FC II sign Kevin Politz". torontofc.ca. May 5, 2021.
  15. ^ "Match Report: Toronto Tops Revs II With First Half Header". USL League One. October 8, 2021.
  16. ^ Kevin Politz at Soccerway