Mike Fucito

Michael Fucito (born March 29, 1986) is a retired[1] American soccer player.

Mike Fucito
Personal information
Full name Michael Fucito
Date of birth (1986-03-29) March 29, 1986
Place of birth Concord, Massachusetts, United States
Height 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s) Forward, Winger
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2004–2008 Harvard Crimson 69 (32)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2009–2011 Seattle Sounders FC 23 (3)
2012 Montreal Impact 1 (0)
2012 Portland Timbers 12 (0)
2013–2015 San Jose Earthquakes 17 (0)
2014Sacramento Republic (loan) 5 (2)
Total 58 (5)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of July 29, 2015

Career

High School and College

Fucito played for the Brooks School in North Andover, Massachusetts for three years where he was senior Captain. He played forward/striker alongside Charlie Davies, making the striking duo one of (if not) the most lethal HS scoring combination(s) in the country. He also wrestled and played hockey.[2] In 2003, he led Brooks to the first undefeated/untied season in (ISL) league history, and to winning the New England Prep 'A' Championship. He was also voted All-New England, All-State, and All-League. He was the league leader in assists, third overall in points scoring, and was the ISL coaches' runner-up to Davies for MVP. From 2002–2004, he also played for FC Greater Boston Bolts, who were the U-18 Region 1 Champions in 2004. Fucito was MVP of the 2003 MA State Finals. The Bolts also won: the Region 1 Premier League Championship (2003), Disney Showcase Championship (2002, 2003), and MA State Championship (2000–04).[3]

Fucito attended the Ivy League university Harvard where he played varsity soccer for four years. In 2004, he was named Ivy League Rookie of the Year, scoring three goals and tallying three assists, and was named to the All-Ivy second team as a freshman. Fucito did not play in 2005, instead playing the eventual Acton Indoor Soccer Champion, Mean Machine. He had tremendous success at Harvard from 2006 to 2008 playing both left wing and forward. He was named NSCAA All-America second team in 2007 and 2008 (both as a forward); All-Northeast Region first team and All-Ivy League first team in 2006–2008, as well as the team MVP in 2006. That year he scored nine goals and ranked among the nation’s leaders with a total of nine assists, playing left wing. Fucito was also honored as SoccerTimes’ National Player of the Week as a result of scoring the game-winning goal against Fairfield in double overtime, and two goals and three assists against Brown. He led Harvard to the NCAA-tournament three consecutive years. In 2007 and 2008, he was named Academic All-Ivy League. He was also named to the ESPN Academic All-District team in 2007. He completed his Harvard career ranked 4th All-time in scoring with 32 career goals, and 24 assists, despite playing injured his final two seasons, and undergoing hip surgery in the off-season. He was named Captain as a senior, and was a Finalist for the Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award. He ranked 21st in the nation averaging 1.57 points per game.[4]

Professional

Fucito was drafted in the fourth round (46th overall) of the 2009 MLS SuperDraft by Seattle Sounders FC.[5] He attended part of the Sounders preseason, including traveling with the team to Argentina in March 2009. He returned to Harvard to finish his degree, before rejoining the Sounders on July 3, 2009, when he signed a developmental contract.[6]

Despite returning quickly to full health, Fucito was not activated for the remainder of the 2009 MLS season after being diagnosed with sesamoiditis in his right foot. He was briefly waived on November 25, 2009, before he could make his professional debut.[7] Nonetheless, Fucito was invited back to camp and was then re-signed prior to the 2010 season. He accompanied the team to Spain, and scored three goals in preseason, including two in the first half against the Sounders starters in the final contest. As a result, he was finally rewarded by being designated to the "dress-18", and subsequently made his professional debut on March 25, 2010, in the opening game of the 2010 MLS season against Philadelphia Union.[8]

On April 17, 2010, Fucito scored his first MLS goal, a game-winning strike in stoppage time off a throw-in by Brad Evans during a match between Sounders FC and the then Kansas City Wizards. Fucito finished strong with his right foot over the left shoulder of Jimmy Nielsen.

Fucito earned his first professional start on September 22, 2010 versus Monterrey in the CONCACAF Champions League group stage. He scored a goal and forced an own-goal in that match.[9] His first start in league play came on May 25, 2011 versus FC Dallas. Fucito became a particular fan favorite for his intensity and "never-say-die" attitude.[10]

Fucito in the 2011 US Open Cup Final

Fucito was traded to Montreal Impact on February 18, 2012 along with teammate Lamar Neagle, in exchange for Eddie Johnson.[11]

Fucito failed to settle in Montreal, and was traded to Portland Timbers on April 20, 2012 in exchange for an international roster spot.[12]

On January 17, 2013, Fucito was traded to San Jose Earthquakes for a second-round 2013 MLS SuperDraft pick.[13]

Statistics

Club performance League Cup League Cup Continental Total
SeasonClubLeague AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals
USA League Open Cup League Cup North America Total
2009Seattle Sounders FCMajor League Soccer0000000000
20104100104394
2011192422042296
Canada League Voyageurs Cup League Cup North America Total
2012Montreal ImpactMajor League Soccer1000000010
USA League Open Cup League Cup North America Total
2012Portland TimbersMajor League Soccer120000000120
2013San Jose Earthquakes7010000080
20145020000070
Sacramento Republic FC (loan)USL Pro5200000052
Total USA 5257230857012
Canada 1000000010
Career total 5357230857112

Honors

Seattle Sounders FC

References

  1. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on July 1, 2016. Retrieved June 6, 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. "Mike Fucito - Sounder At Heart". Sounderatheart.com. Archived from the original on July 6, 2009. Retrieved December 17, 2015.
  3. "Michael Fucito - Seattle Sounders Football Club". Archived from the original on July 10, 2009. Retrieved July 9, 2009.
  4. "Sounders | Fourth-round pick: Michael Fucito, F/M, Harvard | Seattle Times Newspaper Blog". Blog.seattletimes.nwsource.com. January 15, 2009. Archived from the original on December 22, 2015. Retrieved December 17, 2015.
  5. "Sounders | Mike Fucito signs with Sounders FC | Seattle Times Newspaper Blog". Blog.seattletimes.nwsource.com. Archived from the original on December 22, 2015. Retrieved December 17, 2015.
  6. Sounders FC waives Brown, Fucito and Neagle
  7. "Gamecast: Seattle Sounders FC v Philadelphia Union - Major League Soccer - ESPN Soccernet". Archived from the original on June 22, 2011. Retrieved March 26, 2010.
  8. Matt Gaschk (September 22, 2010). "Stunning Turnaround Leads Monterrey Past Seattle | Seattle Sounders FC". Soundersfc.com. Retrieved December 17, 2015.
  9. Mayers, Joshua (February 17, 2012). "Sounders FC Blog | Sounders react to the big trade | Seattle Times Newspaper". Seattletimes.nwsource.com. Retrieved December 17, 2015.
  10. Press Release (February 17, 2012). "The Montreal Impact acquires Mike Fucito and Lamar Neagle | Montreal Impact". Impactmontreal.com. Retrieved December 17, 2015.
  11. "Timbers acquire forward Mike Fucito from Montreal | Portland Timbers". Timbers.com. April 20, 2012. Retrieved December 17, 2015.
  12. Archived January 20, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
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