Garrett McLaughlin

Garrett McLaughlin

Personal information
Date of birth	(1997-11-10) November 10, 1997 (age 27)
Place of birth	Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S
Height	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Position(s)	Forward
Team information
Current team	Forward Madison
Number	12
Youth career
	Oklahoma FC 97
College career
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2016–2019	SMU Mustangs	72	(36)
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2016–2018	OKC Energy U23	27	(4)
2020	Rio Grande Valley FC	11	(0)
2021	Toronto FC II	25	(8)
2022–2024	North Carolina FC	71	(23)
2024–	Forward Madison	11	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of November 22, 2024

Garrett McLaughlin (born November 10, 1997) is an American soccer player who currently plays for USL League One side Forward Madison FC.

Early life

McLaughlin played high school soccer at Heritage Hall, where he was a two-time Oklahoma Gatorade Player of the Year[1] and led the school to 3 state championships.[2][3]

College career

McLaughlin played four years of college soccer at Southern Methodist University between 2016 and 2019. McLaughlin made 72 appearances, scored 36 goals and tallied 13 assists for the Mustangs.[4] He was named the 2016 American Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year, first team All-AAC in 2017 and 2019, second team All-AAC in 2018, and United Soccer Coaches third team All-American in 2017.[5]

Club career

While at college, McLaughlin appeared for USL PDL side OKC Energy U23.[6]

On January 9, 2020, McLaughlin was selected 8th overall in the 2020 MLS SuperDraft by Houston Dynamo.[7]

On February 27, 2020, McLaughlin signed for Houston's USL Championship affiliate side Rio Grande Valley FC.[8] He made his professional debut on March 8, 2020, starting in a 5–1 loss to LA Galaxy II.[9]

On April 22, 2021, McLaughlin signed with USL League One side Toronto FC II.[6] He scored two goals on his debut for the club on May 22, 2021, against North Texas SC.[10] On July 18, he scored a hat trick in a 4–2 victory over North Carolina FC, including a bicycle kick on his second goal.[11][12] He finished the season as the team's leading goal scorer with 8 goals[13] and was named Player of the Week twice.[14][15] After the season, he went on trial with Major League Soccer club Real Salt Lake.[16]

McLaughlin joined North Carolina FC on February 11, 2022.[13] On May 30, 2022, McLaughlin was named USL League One Player of the Week for Week 9 of the 2022 season, in recognition of his brace over Richmond Kickers on May 28.[17]

After making ten appearances for North Carolina in their 2024 season, McLaughlin was transferred to Forward Madison on June 25.[18] McLaughlin stated in an interview that his contract with Forward Madison would run through the 2025 season.[19]

Career statistics

As of November 9, 2024 (2024-11-09).[20][21]

Club	Season	League			Playoffs		Domestic Cup		League Cup		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
OKC Energy U23	2016	Premier Development League	12	0	0	0	—		—		12	0
	2017		8	1	0	0	—		—		8	1
	2018		7	3	—		—		—		7	3
	Total		27	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	27	4
Rio Grande Valley FC	2020	USL Championship	11	0	—		—		—		11	0
Toronto FC II	2021	USL League One	25	8	—		—		—		25	8
North Carolina FC	2022	USL League One	30	14	—		1	0	—		31	14
	2023		31	9	2	0	1	0	—		32	9
	2024	USL Championship	10	0	—		2	0	—		12	0
	Total		71	23	2	0	4	0	0	0	77	23
Forward Madison FC	2024	USL League One	11	0	2	0	0	0	5	1	18	1
	2025		0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	Total		11	0	2	0	0	0	5	1	18	1
Career Total			145	35	4	0	4	0	5	1	158	36

References

1. Parker, Derek (March 8, 2021). "'This market is a sleeping giant': How Energy FC coach John Pascarella is building soccer culture in OKC". The Oklahoman.
2. Evans, Murray (May 14, 2016). "Class 5A boys soccer: Heritage Hall rolls to 4-1 win over McGuinness". The Oklahoman.
3. Unrah, Jacob (May 10, 2016). "Heritage Hall's Garrett McLaughlin named Gatorade Oklahoma Player of year again". The Oklahoman.
4. "Garrett McLaughlin SMU Mustangs profile". SMU Mustangs.
5. "M Soccer 2020-21 Factbook (PDF)" (PDF). SMU Mustangs.
6. "Toronto FC II sign Garrett McLaughlin". Toronto FC. April 22, 2021.
7. "Dynamo Select Garrett McLaughlin, Luka Prpa In MLS SuperDraft". Houston Dynamo FC. January 9, 2020.
8. "Rio Grande Valley FC sign Houston Dynamo Draft Picks Garrett McLaughlin and Luka Prpa". Rio Grande Valley FC. February 27, 2020. Archived from the original on February 28, 2020. Retrieved March 9, 2020.
9. "RGV FC Drops Home Opener to Los Dos". Our Sports Central. March 8, 2020.
10. "Match Report: Toronto FC II Wins On League One Return". USL League One. May 23, 2021.
11. "Match Report: Hat Trick Lifts TFC II Over NCFC". USL League One. July 18, 2021.
12. Steiner, Ben (July 19, 2021). "McLaughlin's bicycle kick leads TFC II to victory against North Carolina". Waking the Red.
13. "Garrett McLaughlin joins 2022 North Carolina FC roster". North Carolina FC. February 9, 2022. Retrieved February 11, 2022.
14. "Toronto FC II's Garrett McLaughlin named Player of the Week". Toronto FC. May 24, 2021.
15. "TFC II's Garrett McLaughlin named Player of the Week". Toronto FC. July 19, 2021.
16. "RSL Kicks Off 2022 Preseason". Real Salt Lake. January 20, 2022.
17. "USL League One Team of the Week – Week 9". uslleagueone.com. May 30, 2022. Retrieved May 31, 2022.
18. Wunschel, Kylie (June 25, 2024). "Forward Madison FC Receive Former North Carolina FC Player, Garrett McLaughlin, On Transfer". ForwardMadisonFC.com. Forward Madison FC. Archived from the original on June 25, 2024. Retrieved June 25, 2024.
19. McLaughlin, Garrett; Meerman, Mitchell; Pieters, Grant; Schmidt, Andrew (August 13, 2024). "NDZ Live 060: New Blood with Garrett McLaughlin" (Podcast). New Dogma Zine. Event occurs at 47:33. Retrieved August 26, 2024. You're kinda not saying it, but you're kind of saying it, that you may be here next year as well." "Well yeah, I signed for this year and next year.
20. Garrett McLaughlin at Soccerway
21. "Garrett McLaughlin PDL Stats". USL League Two.

External links

• Garrett McLaughlin at Soccerway