Zach Loyd

Zach Loyd

Personal information
Full name	Zachary Robert Loyd
Date of birth	(1987-07-18) July 18, 1987
Place of birth	Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States
Height
Position(s)	Defender
Team information
Current team	FC Dallas
Number	17
Youth career
2006–2009	North Carolina Tar Heels
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2007–2009	Carolina Dynamo	25	(5)
2010–	FC Dallas	163	(4)
International career‡
2011–2012	United States	3	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of September 21, 2015 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of October 29, 2014

Zachary Robert Loyd (born July 18, 1987) is an American soccer player who currently plays for FC Dallas in Major League Soccer.

Career

College and Amateur

Loyd is the one of four sons of Alan and Kathleen Loyd. Loyd grew up in Verdigris, Oklahoma, attended Verdigris High School and played college soccer at the University of North Carolina from 2006 to 2009. While at UNC Loyd scored 7 goals and recorded 10 assists. Lloyd also garnered a spot on the NCAA College Cup All-Tournament Team his Junior year. Loyd assisted Brian Shriver for a game-winning goal No. 1 Wake Forest in the national semifinal advancing UNC to the College Cup final to face Maryland.

During his college years Lloyd also played for Carolina Dynamo in the USL Premier Development League.

At the 2010 MLS SuperDraft Combine, experts praised Loyd's efforts, saying, "If Tchani was the best player at the combine, Loyd was the second most impressive. His ability to play well at whatever position he was put in showed off all of his many qualities, including a good passing touch, hard-nosed defending, a good ability to read the game, and surprising pace."

"He's just a good all-around player, and the scary part is, he didn't really play much at what is probably his best position, defensive midfield," said another MLS head coach. "In our league, where you have the salary cap and the small roster, finding a player who can help you at a variety of positions is like finding gold."

Professional

Loyd was drafted in the first round (5th overall) of the 2010 MLS SuperDraft by FC Dallas. He made his professional debut on April 10, 2010, in a game against Columbus Crew with Loyd playing all 90 minutes of the 2–2 draw During the 2010 MLS Season Loyd appeared in 24 matches, and started 19 of them.

Loyd was named to the MLS Team of Week 1 of the 2011 season for his performance against Chicago Fire. He scored his first MLS goal on June 25, 2011, during a 4–0 win against the Portland Timbers. The goal came off a corner kick from Daniel Hernandez.

Loyd scored FC Dallas' opening goal for the 2012 MLS season, in a match against the New York Red Bulls.

International

On January 22, 2011, Loyd made his international debut in a friendly match against Chile, where he started at the left-back position. The game ended in a 1–1 draw with Loyd playing 73 minutes. He was named Man of the Match.

Personal life

During his time at North Carolina Loyd majored in exercise and sport science, and planned a career as a teacher and coach after soccer. Loyd has 3 brothers, two of whom played at Benedictine College. He married professional soccer player Casey Nogueira, whom he met when they both played soccer at North Carolina, on October 13, 2012. The couple coach Vickery United, a youth soccer team for refugees in the North Dallas neighborhood of Vickery Meadow.

Honors

University of North Carolina

• NCAA College Cup All-Tournament Team (1): 2008
• NCAA Final Four Appearances (2): 2008, 2009

FC Dallas

• Major League Soccer Western Conference Championship (1): 2010

External links

• MLS player profile
• North Carolina bio
• Zach Loyd at National-Football-Teams.com