Chris Seitz

Chris Seitz

Personal information
Full name	Chris Seitz
Date of birth	March 12, 1987 (1987-03-12)
Place of birth	San Luis Obispo, California, United States
Height	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Playing position	Goalkeeper
Club information
Current club	FC Dallas
Number	30
Youth career
2005–2006	Maryland Terrapins
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2007–2009	Real Salt Lake	7	(0)
2009	→ Cleveland City Stars (loan)	1	(0)
2009	→ Portland Timbers (loan)	2	(0)
2010	Philadelphia Union	23	(0)
2011–	FC Dallas	1	(0)
National team‡
2007	United States U-20	4	(0)
2008	United States U-23	3	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of October 24, 2010. † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of October 13, 2009

Chris Seitz (born March 12, 1987 in San Luis Obispo, California) is an American soccer player who currently plays for FC Dallas in Major League Soccer.

Career

Youth and college

Seitz was famously cut by Steve Zoradi, coach of the 1995-1996 Under-10 San Luis Obispo Crossfire AYSO All-Star soccer team. Seitz had tried out as a field player and was told the following year by Zoradi he would make the U-11 SLOSC Crossfire, but only if he converted to goalkeeper. Seitz changed positions and has remained a force in the goal ever since.

Seitz was awarded Gatorade's California High School Soccer Player of the Year award in 2004 while playing for San Luis Obispo High School under the tutelage of coach Bob Galarneau. He also scored four goals in his junior season, all on penalty kicks.

Seitz played college soccer at the University of Maryland for the 2005 and 2006 seasons. As a freshman at Maryland, Seitz won the NCAA national championship by posting a 13-1-2 record with a 0.89 goals against average. He was named College Cup Defensive MVP. During Seitz's two year career at Maryland he registered a 28-5-3 record with a 0.77 GAA. He was the ACC Defensive Player of the Year in 2006.

Professional

Seitz was the first goalkeeper drafted during the 2007 MLS SuperDraft when he was selected fourth overall by Real Salt Lake. In his first two starts, Seitz had a 0-1-1 record and a 2.5 GAA. Also in 2009 Seitz played one game on loan for Cleveland City Stars of the USL First Division, a 3-1 loss to Miami FC, and two games on loan at the Portland Timbers, also of the USL First Division, both against the Carolina RailHawks.

In three seasons in Salt Lake, Seitz was never able to un-seat veteran Nick Rimando as RSL's first-choice keeper. On November 25, 2009, he was traded to MLS expansion franchise Philadelphia Union.

Seitz spent the first 22 games of Philadelphia's inaugural season as the Union's starter, before being dropped to the bench behind Brad Knighton. He posted a 1.80 goals against average, worst in the league for players with more than one start in goal. The Philadelphia Union did not choose to extend his contract, making him available for the 2 stages of the 2010 MLS Re-Entry Draft after the 2010 season.

Seitz was selected by Seattle Sounders FC in the second stage of the Re-Entry Draft. A contract was agreed with Seattle and he was immediately traded to FC Dallas in exchange for a fourth-round pick in the 2012 MLS SuperDraft.

Seitz started one game for FC Dallas in 2011, allowing four goals in a 4-2 loss to the San Jose Earthquakes.

International

Seitz earned his first full international call up for the game against Brazil on September 9, 2007, but did not see any playing time. He previously started games for the U-23 squad in the CONCACAF Pre-Olympic qualification tournament prior to the 2008 Olympic Games, and was on the roster for the 2008 Summer Olympic soccer tournament.

Honors

Real Salt Lake

• Major League Soccer MLS Cup (1): 2009
• Major League Soccer Eastern Conference Championship (1): 2009

Career statistics

Updated October 24, 2010

	Season	MLS		MLS Cup Playoffs		U.S. Open Cup		North America		Total
		App	Goals	App	Goals	App	Goals	App	Goals	App	Goals
Real Salt Lake	2007	3	0	-	-	-	-	-	-	3	0
	2008	0	0	-	-	-	-	-	-	0	0
	2009	4	0	-	-	-	-	-	-	4	0
	Club Total	7	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	7	0
Philadelphia Union	2010	23	0	-	-	1	0	-	-	24	0
	Club Total	23	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	24	0
Career Total		30	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	31	0

See also

• List of current MLS players

External links

• MLS player profile