Mathieu Laurent

Mathieu Laurent
Personal information
Full name Mathieu Simon Laurent
Date of birth (1996-02-28) February 28, 1996 (age 28)
Place of birth Markham, Ontario, Canada
Height 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
Vaughan Azzurri
Youth career
Unionville Milliken SC
Markham SC
Mississauga SC
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2014–2018 UAB Blazers 66 (2)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2014–2015 Vaughan Azzurri
2016–2017 K–W United 17 (1)
2018 Birmingham Hammers 12 (3)
2019–2020 Birmingham Legion 25 (2)
2024– Vaughan Azzurri 15 (2)
International career
2013 Canada U17 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of September 1, 2024

Mathieu Simon Laurent (born February 28, 1996) is a Canadian soccer player who plays as a defender for Vaughan Azzurri in League1 Ontario.

Early life

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He began playing youth soccer at age five with Unionville Milliken SC.[1] HE later played youth soccer with Markham SC and Mississauga SC. He played with Team Ontario at the 2013 Canada Summer Games, winning a bronze medal and being named to the tournament all-star team.[1][2]

College career

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In 2014, he began attending the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where he played for the men's soccer team.[2] After his freshman season, he was named to the All-Conference USA Freshman Team,[3] He redshirted his sophomore season due to injury.[2] In 2016, he was named team captain and was named to an NSCAA Division I Scholar All-South Region Team.[2] He scored his first collegiate goal on October 3, 2017 against the Georgia State Panthers.[4] On October 21, 2017, he scored the game-winning goal against the Florida Atlantic Owls.[5] After the season, he was named a Conference USA Second Team All-Star.[6] In 2018, he was named to the Preseason All-Conference USA Team,[7] a Scholar First Team Scholar All-South Region selection,[8] Third Team Scholar All-American,[9] and was once again named a Conference USA Second Team All-Star.[10]

Club career

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In 2014 and 2015, he played with Vaughan Azzurri in League1 Ontario.[11][12]

In 2016 and 2017, he played with K-W United in the Premier Development League, scoring one goal over the course of two seasons.[13][14]

In 2018, he played with the Birmingham Hammers in the PDL.[15]

In January 2019, he attended an open combine with USL Championship side Birmingham Legion ahead of their inaugural season,[16][17] after which he signed a professional contract with the club.[18] In September 2019, he tore his ACL and would miss the remainder of the season.[19] Following the 2019 season, he was named the team Newcomer of the Year and signed an extension with the club for the 2020 season.[20] In August 2020, it was announced that Laurent had torn his ACL again and would miss the remainder of the season.[21]

In 2024, he played with Vaughan Azzurri in League1 Ontario and was named a league First Team All-Star.[22]

International career

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He made his debut in the Canadian program, attending a camp with the Canada U17 team in November 2012.[1] He won a bronze medal at the 2013 CONCACAF U-17 Championship, featuring in one match, while also being named to the roster for the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Mathieu Laurent at the Canadian Soccer Association
  2. ^ a b c d "Mathieu Laurent UAB profile". UAB Blazers.
  3. ^ "Seven Blazers earn All-Conference USA honors". AL. November 11, 2014.
  4. ^ "Blazers Fall On the Road at Georgia State, 4-1". UAB Blazers. October 3, 2017.
  5. ^ "Blazers Defeat Florida Atlantic to Keep Home Unbeaten Streak Alive". UAB Blazers. October 21, 2017.
  6. ^ "Men's Soccer Season Preview Part 2: The Defenders". UAB Blazers. August 6, 2018.
  7. ^ "Mathieu Laurent Tabbed to Conference USA Preseason Team". UAB Blazers. August 7, 2018.
  8. ^ "MSOC: Five On Scholar All-Region Teams". Conference USA. December 10, 2018.
  9. ^ "MSOC: Two Named Scholar All-Americans". Conference USA. December 11, 2018.
  10. ^ "Quartet of Blazers Earn Postseason Honors". UAB Blazers. November 6, 2018.
  11. ^ "Woodbridge Strikers 0 - Vaughan Azzurri 3". League1 Ontario. June 20, 2014.
  12. ^ "74 Current And Former League1 Ontario Men's Players Leave Mark In NCAA DI 2017 Season". League1 Ontario. January 18, 2018.
  13. ^ "Mathieu Laurent 2016 PDL Stats". USL League Two.
  14. ^ "Mathieu Laurent 2017 PDL Stats". USL League Two.
  15. ^ "Mathieu Laurent 2018 PDL Stats". USL League Two.
  16. ^ Wray, Cheryl (March 7, 2019). "Meet your Birmingham Legion FC soccer players". AL.
  17. ^ Wray, Cheryl (April 24, 2019). "'Easy transition': Former UAB soccer players stay home, earn spots with Birmingham Legion FC". AL.
  18. ^ "Legion FC Inks UAB Duo Laurent, Mabiala". USL Championship. January 28, 2019.
  19. ^ "Defender Mathieu Laurent to Miss Remainder of Season with Torn ACL". Our Sports Central. September 25, 2019.
  20. ^ "Legion FC Announces Initial Offseason Roster Moves".
  21. ^ "Laurent to Miss Remainder of Season with Torn ACL". Birmingham Legion. August 6, 2020.
  22. ^ "Premier Division stars celebrated in 2024 awards". League1 Ontario. November 1, 2024.
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