With the second overall pick in the 2012 MLS SuperDraft, Vancouver Whitecaps FC today selected Jamaican striker Darren Mattocks from the University of Akron. A speedy goalscorer with game-changing qualities, Mattocks signed a Generation adidas contract with Major League Soccer on December 20, 2011.
WATCH: MLSsoccer.com interview Darren Mattocks
“Darren has great pace and an ability to get behind the opposition,” said Whitecaps FC head coach Martin Rennie. “He has power, athleticism, and a good eye for the goal, which is always hard to find. He also brings a solid scoring record and we are extremely pleased we were able to select Darren.”
Mattocks, 21, comes to Vancouver after two outstanding seasons with Akron. As a sophomore, the 6-foot, 155-pound striker finished second in scoring in NCAA Division I with 21 goals in 22 appearances with the Zips. The Caribbean forward’s efforts made him a semifinalist for the 2011 Missouri Athletic Club (MAC) Hermann Trophy as the top male player in NCAA Division I soccer. He was named Mid-American Conference (MAC) Player of the Year and to the All-MAC First Team for a second straight year.
“This will be my first time coming to Canada, so I’m very excited,” said Mattocks. “It’s always going to be a challenge coming to a new environment, but hopefully, I can adjust quickly and show my stuff.”
As a freshman, Mattocks was named MAC Newcomer of the Year after finishing third in NCAA Division I scoring (second among freshmen) with 18 goals in 25 appearances for the Zips in 2010. The striker’s efforts that year earned him Freshman All-American honours with College Soccer News, Goal.com, Soccer America, and Top Drawer Soccer.
A native of Portmore, Jamaica, Mattocks is currently a member of the Jamaican U-23 Olympic team player pool.
Darren Mattocks
Position: Striker
Height: 6-00
Weight: 155
Born: September 2, 1990, in Portmore, Jamaica
Hometown: Portmore, Jamaica
Citizenship: Jamaica
Last Club: University of Akron (National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I)
How Acquired: Selected second overall in the 2012 MLS SuperDraft by Whitecaps FC on January 12, 2012
Whitecaps FC 2012 Major League Soccer season tickets start at $329, plus applicable tax and a $10 processing fee per order. To secure a seat and for additional information about Whitecaps FC MLS season tickets, including loge seats and suites, call 604.669.9283 or visit whitecapsfc.com/tickets.
