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Career Summary
Mehdi Ballouchy, a versatile midfielder with nearly a decade of MLS experience, was selected by Whitecaps FC in Stage 2 of the 2013 MLS Re-Entry Draft on December 18 and was officially signed on January 27, 2014. The Casablanca, Morocco native previously played for San Jose Earthquakes, New York Red Bulls, Colorado Rapids, and Real Salt Lake making 190 MLS regular season and playoff appearances, including 142 starts, while recording 13 goals, and 25 assists.<br>
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<strong>MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER </strong><br>
<strong>2013: </strong>Started one of his five appearances while missing most of the season with an anterior-cruciate ligament injury. Also played the full 90 minutes in San Jose's lone U.S. Open Cup match, a 1-0 loss at Charleston Battery. <strong>2012: </strong>Traded to San Jose Earthquakes on July 30 in exchange for 2013 international spot and 2013 conditional draft pick, and went on to start four of his six appearances. Prior to joining San Jose, Ballouchy played in 16 matches with New York Red Bulls, making 10 starts. In that time, he provided a goal and two assists. Scored in the Red Bulls’ 5-2 victory over the Montreal Impact on March 31. <strong>2011:</strong> Appeared in a career-high 29 games in his first full-season for the Red Bulls, including 17 starts. Scored 2 goals and added one assist in the MLS regular season, including a stoppage time equalizer at Houston on May 21. Assisted on Joel Lindpere’s winning goal for New York in the Eastern Conference Play-In Round of the MLS Playoffs. <strong>2010: </strong>Made six appearances for the Red Bulls after being acquired from Colorado, scoring a goal and providing an assist. Made New York debut on Sept. 16 at FC Dallas, scoring his first New York goal in a 2-2 draw. Started and played 90 minutes in 2-0 win at Los Angeles on Sept. 24. Appeared in 21 matches for Colorado prior to joining the Red Bulls, starting 19 games and notching three goals and five assists. <strong>2009:</strong> Appeared in 28 games, 23 starts, playing a career-high 2,148 minutes with two goals and a career-high and team-second seven assists. Tied for ninth in MLS in assists (7) and tied for eighth in corner kicks (67). Made game-winning assist on corner kick vs. Houston on Aug. 30. Set a new single season career-high with his fifth assist of the season vs. FC Dallas on June 24 on Omar Cummings’ game-tying 84th minute goal. Scored the game-winning goal on a penalty kick, his first score of the season, in a 3-2 win over New York on May 30 and added an assist. Played in 74 minutes at Los Angeles on April 7 in U.S. Open Cup play-in match and scored in penalty kick shootout victory. <strong>2008:</strong> Played his first full season in a Rapids kit in 2008 recording a then career-high four assists in 12 starts and 18 games played. Played all 90 minutes of his first five consecutive starts. Scored his first goal and first assist of the season in the same match in a 4-0 victory against New York on July 4. <strong>2007:</strong> Started eight of the nine games he appeared in for the Rapids logging 614 minutes. Made his Rapids debut playing 90 minutes on July 22 at Kansas City. Started all 14 games he appeared in with Real Salt Lake before being traded to the Rapids. <strong>2006:</strong> Drafted by Real Salt Lake with the second overall selection in the 2006 MLS SuperDraft. Appeared in all 32 games for Real Salt Lake, including 26 starts, while logging 2,162 minutes and tallying two goals and two assists. Named one of three finalists for the 2006 MLS Gatorade Rookie of the Year Award. Made MLS debut in the starting XI on April 2 at Chivas USA, playing 73 minutes in a 3-0 defeat. Notched first career MLS assist on April 29 vs. Los Angeles, coming off the bench to help on Atiba Harris’s 74th minute goal in a 3-2 loss. First career MLS goal on May 20 vs. Kansas City in the 78th minute sparked RSL to a 2-1 comeback win. <br>
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<strong>COLLEGE </strong><br>
Played one season at Creighton, leading the Bluejays to the semifinals of the 2002 College Cup, before transferring to Santa Clara, where he played two seasons. Was a two-time All-American selection, including a First Team selection in 2005. <br>
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<strong>HIGH SCHOOL/YOUTH </strong><br>
Graduated from Gunn High School in Palo Alto, Calif. Played in Raja Casablanca’s youth system in his native Morocco until moving to the United States at 16. Has represented Morocco at the U16 and U17 level. <br>
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<strong>PERSONAL </strong><br>
Son of Driss and and Malika Ballouchy. Father is a former French second division player. Lists Scarface and Gladiator as favorite movies. Major in college was finance.<br>