League News

The 2021 League One Culture Collection is here! The collection’s first drop unveils unique, locally-inspired kit designs for Greenville Triumph SC, Chattanooga Red Wolves SC, FC Tucson, and North Texas SC. The “Fuerza Tucson” kit is inspired by Tucson’s scenic views and driven by our very own supporter, Ramses Abud.

USL League One announced on Wednesday the details of its 2021 Culture Collection. Kicking off on today Monday, March 15, the week-long event will feature unique, locally-inspired kit designs for eight League One clubs.

Fans will have the chance to vote for their favorite kit through a knockout-style bracket, and six lucky fans of the winning club will win a physical version of their club’s Culture Kit.

Voting is set to take place on both the USL League One website and the USL App. Votes cast in the USL App will count for double. The app will also feature an exclusive look at the first Culture Kit before it is released on social media.

The USL App is available for download via the Apple App Store or the Google Play Marketplace.

The schedule for the week is as follows:

• Monday, March 15: Culture Kits Unveiled for Greenville Triumph SC, Chattanooga Red Wolves SC, FC Tucson, and North Texas SC at 9 a.m. MT.

• Tuesday, March 16: Culture Kits Unveiled for Richmond Kickers, North Carolina FC, Union Omaha, and South Georgia Tormenta FC at 9 a.m. MT.

• Wednesday, March 17: Kit Bracket Release at 7 a.m. MT, Quarterfinal Voting Takes Place

• Thursday, March 18: Semifinal Voting Takes Place beginning at 7 a.m. MT

• Friday, March 19: Final Voting Takes Place beginning at 7 a.m. MT, runs through Sunday at 2 p.m. MT

• Monday, March 22: Winning Kit and Winning Fans Announced

Use or search #KitWeek to stay up-to-date with all things League One Culture Collection through the end of next week.

TUCSON, Ariz. (Mar. 11, 2021) — FC Tucson announced today that the club has added Argentinian forward Franco Perez on loan from Estudiantes de Río Cuarto, pending league and federation approval. 

“We are really excited to welcome Franco Perez to the club,” said FC Tucson Head Coach John Galas. “He fits our system and style very well and with his profile we expect him to have a great year in our league.  Beyond football, Franco is an incredible young man who is humble, a consummate professional and is so appreciative of the opportunity to represent this club and this city.”

Perez, 25, most recently played the 2020 season on loan with Independiente Rivadavia, of the Primera B, the second major league in the Argentine Football league system. A native of Cordoba, Argentina, Perez began his playing career with Newell’s Old Boys, making his professional debut with the club in the Argentine Primera Division in September 2015 in an away victory against Club Estudiantes. Following his professional debut season, Perez joined Liga MX side Morelia from 2016-2018, where the forward made 30 appearances and scored nine goals between the first-team and reserve team before returning to Newell’s Old Boys in 2018.

Internationally, Perez has represented Argentina’s National team at the Under-17 level, making nine appearances and netting two goals. The forward appeared at the 2013 South American U-17 Championship and the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup, featuring twice at the World Cup in matches against Canada and Mexico.

“I am very happy with this opportunity that FC Tucson has given me. I am excited about the new season and I am eager to meet the objectives that we have as a team,” said Franco Perez. “Personally, I want to help the team in any way that I can. I have heard highly of the club, the fans and the city, and after connecting with Coach Galas I am very anxious to get started.”

With the addition of Perez, the FC Tucson roster currently stands at 21 players ahead of the 2021 USL League One season. Fans can secure their seat for FC Tucson’s upcoming season by placing their season ticket deposit at https://www.fctucson.com/tickets.

Franco Perez

Country: Argentina

Born: January 1, 1996 (25)

Position: Forward

Height: 6 ft 1

Weight: 185 lbs

Loaning Club: Estudiantes de Río Cuarto

TUCSON, Ariz. (Mar. 10, 2021) — FC Tucson announced today that the club has signed former Portland Timbers 2 forward Giovanni Calixtro, pending league and federation approval. 

“Giovanni is a young, talented goal scorer that I have watched all throughout his time within the Portland Timbers system,” said FC Tucson Head Coach John Galas. “We believe that he is an ambitious young man who is poised to have a strong showing in USL League One and will make an immediate impact. Most importantly, he’s a proven professional who has logged over 3000 minutes in the USL Championship at just 20-years-old. We are thrilled to welcome him to Tucson.”

Calixtro brings four years of USL Championship experience to FC Tucson by way of his time with Portland Timbers 2. The Cornelius, Oregon native made his professional debut at 16-years-old for the Portland Timbers 2 on June 11, 2017, against Real Monarchs. The forward made a total of 55 appearances for the Portland Timbers reserve side from 2017-2020, logging a total of 3,463 minutes, scoring nine goals and tallying five assists. Calixtro is the youngest player in T2 history to score two goals in a game (18 years, 9 months, 3 days), registering a brace on March 30, 2019, against LA Galaxy II.

“I’m very thankful for the opportunity to play and be a part of this great club, and a growing organization in FC Tucson,” said Giovanni Calixtro. “My goal is to help this team win a USL League One Championship. I can’t wait to get on the field and showcase my talent and hopefully bring the fans a lot of great moments.”

The 20-year-old was a member of the Westside Timbers before joining the Portland Timbers youth academy in 2015. Calixtro made a total of 105 appearances for the academy from 2015-2018, scoring 40 goals in U.S. Soccer Development Academy play.

With the addition of Calixtro, FC Tucson’s roster currently stands at 20 players with more players to be announced ahead of the 2021 USL League One season.
 

Giovanni Calixtro

Country: USA

Born: June 27, 2000 (20)

Position: Forward

Height: 5 ft 11

Weight: 165 lbs

Previous Club: Portland Timbers 2

TUCSON, Ariz. (Monday, March 8, 2021) – FC Tucson midfielder Gerard Lavergne has been named to the final 20-man roster for the Dominican U-23 National Team for the CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying Championship in Guadalajara, Mexico from March 18 to March 30, 2021. 

Lavergne made his senior debut for the Dominican National team on March 22, 2018, coming on as a second-half substitute in a 4-0 friendly win against the Turks and Caicos Islands National team. The 22-year-old midfielder has made nine appearances and logged 636 minutes of play for his senior national team through CONCACAF Nations League play and international friendlies.

The Dominican National team’s first match will be against the Mexican national team on March 18 at 5:30 pm MT at the Jalisco Stadium. The Dominican National team sits within Group A alongside Mexico, the United States and Costa Rica. The 2020 Concacaf Men’s Olympic Qualifying tournament will kick off with an initial group stage on March 18. After group stage round-robin play, the top two finishers from each group will move on to the semifinals. The winner of the semifinal matches will determine the two qualified teams to the summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan.

Upon completion of the qualification stage, Lavergne will return to Tucson to begin his first season with the Men in Black. FC Tucson will begin preseason training camp on March 15 and is scheduled to start the 2021 USL League One season on or about May 8.

Fans can secure their seat for FC Tucson’s upcoming season by placing their season ticket deposit at https://www.fctucson.com/tickets.

TUCSON, Ariz. (Mar. 5, 2021) — FC Tucson announced today that the club has signed former Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC defender Dakota Barnathan, pending league and federation approval. 

“I’ve known Dakota for years from his time in USL League Two with Portland Timbers U23’s,” said FC Tucson Head Coach John Galas. “First and foremost he’s a tremendous competitor who wants to win a championship here in Tucson. Secondly, he’s a proven pro who has logged nearly 4000 minutes in the USL Championship. Beyond that, he is a leader and an amazing young man who I believe the fans will grow to love. Absolutely thrilled to welcome him to the club.”

Barnathan brings four years of USL Championship experience to the Men in Black. The Massapequa, New York native was drafted by FC Dallas with the 59th pick in the third round of the 2017 MLS SuperDraft, later joining Sporting Kansas City II on February 24, 2017, where he would make his professional debut in the season opener. Barnathan would play 25 games with the club from 2017-2018, helping the squad reach the 2017 USL Championship title match. The defender joined Canadian side Ottawa Fury FC for the 2019 USL Championship season, playing a career-high 28 games and recording two assists.

The 26-year-old most recently played for the Pittsburgh Riverhounds for the 2020 USL Championship season, appearing in eight matches at the center back position, finishing the season with three clearances, two blocks and five interceptions. 

“The club’s vision and style of play are what really excites me about joining FC Tucson,” said Dakota Barnathan. “Winning a championship for this club and city is something I hope I can help achieve. I’m looking forward to getting started here in Tucson to continue to build on the culture and win a trophy.”

Barnathan played all four years of NCAA Division I soccer for Virginia Commonwealth University, featuring as the squad’s team captain. From 2013-2016, Barnathan played in 56 matches throughout his VCU collegiate career, showcasing versatility by playing in the midfield and backline. To finish off his career with VCU Barnathan started all 21 games of the senior season, recording three goals and tallying four assists. 

Dakota Barnathan

Country: USA

Born: November 9, 1994 (26)

Position: Defender

Height: 6 ft 2

Weight: 174 lbs

Previous Club: Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC

TUCSON, Ariz. (Mar. 4, 2021) — FC Tucson announced today that the club has signed Dominican Republic National Team midfielder Gerard Lavergne, pending league and federation approval. 

“Gerard is a versatile central midfield player that will offer this team so much. With nine caps with the Dominican Republic, he’s growing his profile and we are really looking forward to helping him develop and continue his growth as a player,” said FC Tucson Head Coach John Galas. “At 22 with a strong international career and bright future ahead of him, we are delighted to welcome him to FC Tucson.”

Lavergne, 22, began his playing career in the Dominican Republic, making his professional debut at 16-years-old for Cibao FC. Since then, Lavergne has played for Atlético San Cristóbal and most recently Atlético Pantoja. The central midfielder’s experience in the Carribean includes captaining the Atlético San Cristóbal side and helping lead Atlético Pantoja to the club’s first-ever Liga Dominicana de Fútbol Super Cup title, playing alongside FC Tucson 2021 signee Daniel Bedoya.

The 22-year-old’s Dominican National team experience includes time with the U15, U17, U20, and senior squads. Lavergne made his senior debut for the Caribbean Football Union members on March 22, 2018, coming on as a second-half substitute in a 4-0 friendly win against the Turks and Caicos Islands National team. The midfielder has made nine appearances and logged 636 minutes of play for his senior national team through CONCACAF Nations League play and international friendlies.

“Before anything, I am super happy to join FC Tucson. I feel that it is the step that I should take for my career and my future with such an ambitious club,” said Gerard Lavergne. “I hope to be able to contribute my grain of sand to this team and continue to grow as a footballer and as a person throughout the season.”

With the addition of Lavergne, FC Tucson’s roster currently stands at 18 players with more players to be announced ahead of the 2021 USL League One season.

Gerard Lavergne

Country: Dominican Republic

Born: January 25, 1999 (22)

Position: Midfielder

Height: 5 ft 8

Weight: 142 lbs

Previous Club: Atlético Pantoja

Wallis Lapsley, a 23-year-old Seattle, Washington native, didn’t play much as a goalkeeper until he moved to Mexico when he was 10 years old. During his time in Mexico, Lapsley was a head taller than all the other kids and often found wearing an Oswaldo Sanchez goalkeeper jersey, a player regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in Mexican football history. So when Lapsley went out one day to join a team, the local kids naturally responded with, “Okay, but you’re portero.” The rest was history and from there Wallis set out on a path that would lead to success with UC Davis, New York Red Bulls II, MLS SuperDraft, and a new start with FC Tucson.

 

How and what got you into soccer?

Lapsley: Growing up I competed in all sports. I used to joke that my favorite sport was the sport I was playing right now. The moment I got into soccer was when my family moved to San Cristobal de las Casas, a town in Chiapas, Mexico. I knew I wanted to play soccer so my dad and I would go to the park and look for teams. Eventually, we found a team that would come and let me play. The only jersey that I had was an Oswaldo Sanchez goalkeeper jersey and I was a head taller than everyone else, so from then on, I played in goal. Once I came back to the U.S. and played seriously in high school, I realized I could have an opportunity to keep playing collegiate soccer. 

 

What was it like to grow up in Mexico? 

Lapsley: It was an awesome experience in many ways. I remember when I found out we were moving to Mexico I had just come back from basketball practice and my sister was sad. She said “we are moving to Mexico,” and since she was my younger sister I thought she was joking. Then my parents told me we were moving and I was sad at first because I wasn’t going to be able to hang out with my friends and play little league in Seattle. Mostly I was afraid because there are a lot of new things when you are little and moving to a different country. We had to learn Spanish quickly to communicate with people, so when we first got there it was hard to adjust, but over time it was great. The people were super welcoming and patient with me. After a few months, I felt comfortable with the language and it only got better from there. Now it is a great skill to be able to speak another language. Overall I would say the experience was life-altering as a 10-year-old kid getting to experience a different culture that has shaped who I am today.

 

What was the soccer culture like in Mexico?

Lapsley: In Mexico, it is the undisputed number one sport, whereas here in the U.S. we have a few sports including soccer that can be argued as the number one sport. Everyone is watching and talking about soccer all the time. Also, every person has a club team they grew up watching since they were a kid and everyone watches the national team when they play. 

 

What led you to play goalkeeper?

Lapsley: I was always ball-oriented as a kid. My parents would bring up that my first word was “ball”. I think being able to use my hands was a big factor because I was not very good with my feet. I was not very good at the beginning of being a goalkeeper and I was begging the coach to let me play other positions. Once we got back to the U.S. I got back into playing goalie and I had some success early on in my career, which was key for a position where you fail a lot. It is a pretty high-profile position because everybody can see the ball go in the back of the net. Getting used to using my hands and then having some early success kept me going and I only got better from there.

 

Who is your biggest influence both on and off the pitch? And in Mexico?

Lapsley: For sure my parents are a big influence. I got my work ethic from my dad who is a high school teacher and my mom who is an oncology nurse. They both work hard and I followed their lead in diligently working no matter how I feel. Both my parents have been supportive in different ways, my Dad would always take me to the soccer field at the school he worked at. My Mom was not as involved on the training side of soccer but she was always very supportive. She also always had a different perspective of the game when I was playing badly.

On the pitch, I would say Kasey Keller who was the starting goalkeeper for the Seattle Sounders. He is from Washington so he was always one person that I looked up to and enjoyed watching. Once he retired I liked watching Nick Rimando, which is funny because we are very different physically in terms of the way we play the position, but I was inspired by his longevity. 

In Mexico, I would say my coach Profe Oscar and his son Oscarín were two really important influences in teaching me about the game of soccer and toughening me up. They take soccer very seriously and did not coddle me after I made mistakes which helped me.  

 

What was it like playing professionally for the first time? 

Lapsley: It was something that I had wanted to do for a long time and I worked hard for it, so it felt awesome. When I made my debut last year in New York, it was one of those moments during that national anthem that I took a step back and thought, wow I am a professional soccer player. From there once the game started I let that feeling go and just played.

 

What was it like getting drafted in the MLS SuperDraft?

Lapsley: My family and I were watching the draft on my Mom’s computer in the kitchen. We were keeping an eye on the names coming up and then at the 36th pick my name popped up. It was cool to share that moment with other people and it was fun to respond to other people’s phone calls congratulating me. It was also a moment where all the hard work and the hard work of the people around me paid off which felt amazing.   

 

What brought you to FC Tucson?

Lapsley: I was looking for a team in the offseason and it is a strange market due to covid. When coach Galas and the FC Tucson staff reached out to my agent, I was excited. I had been to Tucson with the New York Red Bulls during the preseason last year, so I had the chance to check out the facility and town. I was impressed and I enjoyed the two weeks I spent in Tucson. When the opportunity presented itself I was excited and it became apparent to me that this could be a good fit for me. I am happy that we got a deal done and I am excited to join the team.

Colorado Rapids, LA Galaxy, Portland Timbers, Real Salt Lake, and Sporting Kansas City, plus USL sides to face off in Tucson

TUCSON, Ariz. (Mar. 3, 2021) — FC Tucson announced today the club’s plans to hold the 2021 Visit Tucson Sun Cup and MLS Preseason Event along with the official list of participants that will begin playing matches at Kino North Complex in Tucson, Ariz., on March 16, 2021. 

The preseason scrimmages will include five Major League Soccer (MLS) clubs — Colorado Rapids, LA Galaxy, Portland Timbers, Real Salt Lake, and Sporting KC — in addition to USL Championship sides El Paso Locomotive FC, LA Galaxy II, New Mexico United and Phoenix Rising FC. The 2021 Visit Tucson Sun Cup will consist of Colorado Rapids, LA Galaxy, Real Salt Lake, Sporting KC and Phoenix Rising FC. This will be the 11th consecutive season that FC Tucson has hosted teams for MLS preseason, providing a further testament to FC Tucson’s commitment to being a pillar to the community through the game of soccer. 

“We are incredibly proud of the legacy of the MLS Preseason Event and are very happy to be able to bring this back to share more high-level soccer with this community after such a difficult year,” said FC Tucson Director of Soccer Operations Jon Pearlman. “I’d like to thank the Pima County Stadium District, our dedicated staff, and all of the clubs joining us this year for helping us make this event a possibility.”

Last year, FC Tucson held the 10th edition of its preseason soccer exhibitions, with Columbus Crew SC taking home the 2020 Visit Tucson Sun Cup nine months before capturing the 2020 MLS Cup. With 2020 MLS is Back Tournament winner Portland Timbers competing this year, it will mark the fifth time an MLS team has visited Tucson after winning a title the year before. FC Tucson and the club’s leadership of Owner Brett Johnson, President Amanda Powers, and Director of Soccer Operations Jon Pearlman are looking forward to adding to the long-established history of hosting MLS preseason that includes a total of 138 matches played over the first 10 years, over five thousand hotel room nights, and more than $6 million in economic impact for the city of Tucson.

A combined 16 matches will be played from mid-March and onward at Kino North Complex. The Visit Tucson Sun Cup winner will be determined by the total points earned in three matches from the final week of preseason play, ending on Saturday, April 10. Teams will earn a possible three points for a win, one point for a draw, and zero points for a loss.

This news follows Major League Soccer’s latest announcement of the 2021 preseason start dates of March 1 for a seven-day quarantine and testing period ahead of team training getting underway on March 8. MLS announced a season start date of April 17 after the ratification of a new Collective Bargaining Agreement with the MLS Players Association.

Below is the current 2021 Visit Tucson Sun Cup schedule, subject to change:

Saturday, April 03	Sporting KC vs LA Galaxy					12:00 PM MT
Saturday, April 03	El Paso Locomotive vs LA Galaxy II					2:30 PM MT
Saturday, April 03	Colorado Rapids vs Real Salt Lake					6:00 PM MT
Wednesday, April 07	Colorado Rapids vs LA Galaxy					3:00 PM MT
Wednesday, April 07	Phoenix Rising vs Real Salt Lake					6:00 PM MT
Saturday, April 10	LA Galaxy vs Real Salt Lake					5:00 PM MT
Saturday, April 10	Colorado Rapids vs Phoenix Rising					7:30 PM MT

 

Due to health and safety regulations, media and limited fan attendance are soon to be determined. To stay up to date on all the latest Visit Tucson Sun Cup news, download the FC Tucson app or subscribe to the FC Tucson newsletter.

 

TUCSON, Ariz. (Mar. 2, 2021) — FC Tucson announced today that the club has signed former New York City FC (NYCFC) midfielder Daniel Bedoya, pending league and federation approval. 

“Daniel Bedoya is a player we have been following for many years and can’t wait to have him represent the club,” said FC Tucson Head Coach John Galas. “We are very excited to have a player of his caliber with domestic experience with MLS and USL Championship, along with success in the Dominican Republic. His terrific play in the midfield and wealth of experience will be a big help to us in 2021.”

Bedoya began his professional career with New York Red Bulls II of the USL Championship, making his professional debut in April of 2015. Bedoya, born in Medellin, Colombia and raised in Queens, NY, played for the New York Red Bulls for two seasons, making 27 appearances before making an April of 2017 move to the Long Island Rough Riders of USL League Two. The midfielder made 21 appearances, notching four goals and three assists before signing for NYCFC in August of 2018 after catching the eye of then Head Coach Domènec Torrent in a scrimmage between NYCFC and the Rough Riders.

After spending 11 months with the Major League Soccer side, Bedoya was loaned to the USL Championship’ Hartford Athletic for the remainder of the 2019 season, where he registered three goals in nine appearances. 

“I am very happy to be joining this amazing club. The team’s philosophy aligns with the way I feel and live football,” said Bedoya. “I’m hoping my experience can help Tucson build on the good season they had last year and take this team even higher. I can’t wait to get started.”

Bedoya spent the 2020 season with Dominican Republic side Atlético Pantoja of the Liga Dominicana de Fútbol, helping the club win the league’s Super Cup. After eight months, the 27-year-old joined New York City-based team, New Amsterdam Football Club of the National Independent Soccer Association (NISA) in August of 2020 before making the latest move to FC Tucson. 

With the addition of Bedoya, FC Tucson’s roster currently stands at 17 players total with more players to be announced ahead of the 2021 USL League One season. 

Daniel Bedoya

Country: Colombia

Born: February 13, 1994 (27)

Position: Midfielder

Height: 5 ft 7

Weight: 130 lbs

Previous Club: New Amsterdam FC