Chris Pontius (soccer)

Christopher Richard "Chris" Pontius (born May 12, 1987) is an American soccer player who currently plays for Philadelphia Union in Major League Soccer and the United States men's national soccer team.

Playing career

Youth and college

Pontius attended Servite High School, and played club soccer with the Irvine Strikers, who he helped win the Nomads College Showcase in 2005.

He played college soccer at the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he was named Big West Conference Offensive Player of the Year in 2007, and Hermann Trophy candidate in 2008. In 2006, Pontius and the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos won the NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship.

Professional

Despite being originally named to Ventura County Fusion's roster in 2008 along with a number of other Gauchos, he did not appear in any matches for the club.

D.C. United

Pontius was drafted in the first round (7th overall) of the 2009 MLS SuperDraft by D.C. United. He made his professional debut, and scored his first professional goal, on March 22, 2009, in DC United's first game of the 2009 MLS season against Los Angeles Galaxy. On May 23, 2010 Pontius scored DC's 2nd goal in the 3-2 victory against Italian giants A.C. Milan. On July 25, 2012 he scored the MLS All-Star's 2nd goal against Chelsea F.C. to equalize their eventual 3-2 win. Also in 2012, Pontius emerged as DC United's leading goal scorer with 10 goals through the first 27 league matches. On September 14, 2012, DC United announced Pontius' signing to a long-term contract extension with the club (terms of the extension are as yet undisclosed).

Pontius has had a career riddled with injuries. In September 2010, he had a hamstring injury that required surgery and ended his season. Again in 2011, his season ended early with a fractured tibia. In 2012, his first injury free season since his debut, he scored a career high 12 goals. Injuries again plagued Pontius in 2013 and he only played in 22 of the 34 matches that year. D.C. United announced in April 2014, that Pontius would again undergo hamstring surgery and would likely miss most of the 2014 season. Pontius eventually returned to the lineup as a substitute on September 10, 2014 with a mere 8 games left in the regular season.

Philadelphia Union

On December 7, 2015, Pontius was traded to the Philadelphia Union for allocation money. Pontius saw a resurgence to form and became a major contributor to the Union's 2016 season as he led the team in scoring with 12 goals from 34 appearances on the left wing. This return to form earned him the 2016 MLS Comeback Player of the Year.

International

On December 22, 2009, Pontius received his first call up to train with the senior US national team. Training in Carson, California began for Pontius and the other players called up on January 4, 2010, leading up to a friendly match against Chile. On August 29, 2011, Pontius was called up by the US National Team for friendlies against Costa Rica and Belgium. Pontius made his debut for the national team on January 29, 2017 as a substitute in a friendly against Serbia.

Career statistics

As of January 2, 2017

Honors

Club

UC Santa Barbara

• NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship (1): 2006

D.C. United

• Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup: 2013

Individual

• Big West Conference Offensive Player of the Year (1): 2007
• Comeback Player of the Year: 2016
• MLS All-Star (1): 2012
• MLS All-Star MVP (1): 2012
• MLS Best XI (1): 2012