Kalani Kossa-Rienzi (born June 27, 2002) is an American soccer player who plays for the Tacoma Defiance in MLS Next Pro.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | June 27, 2002 | ||
| Place of birth | Berkeley, California, United States | ||
| Height | 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Tacoma Defiance | ||
| Number | 85 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Mavericks SC | |||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2020–2023 | Washington Huskies | 76 | (6) |
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2023 | Crossfire Red | 4 | (5) |
| 2024– | Tacoma Defiance | 25 | (0) |
| 2024 | → Seattle Sounders FC (loan) | 1 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of October 6, 2024 | |||
Early life
editKossa-Rienzi played youth soccer with Mavericks SC.[1] He attended Berkeley High School, where he was named the WACC-Foothill Player of the Year, the North Coast Section Player of the Year, an All-USA Second Team selection, and an All-American, as a junior.[1][2]
College career
editIn 2020, Kossa-Rienzi began attending the University of Washington, where he played for the men's soccer team.[2] He recorded an assist in his collegiate debut on February 4, 2021, against the Northwest Eagles.[3] On September 24, 2021, he scored his first collegiate goal in a 2–0 victory over the Portland Pilots.[4] At the end of his sophomore season, he was named an All-Pac 12 Honorable Mention.[5] In 2022, he was named to the All-Pac 12 First Team and the All-Far West Region Second Team.[6][2] Ahead of his senior season, he was named to the Pac-12 All-Preseason Team.[7] At the end of the season, he was named to the All-Pac 12 First Team and the All West Region Second Team.[8] He was also invited to the MLS College Showcase.[9] Over his four seasons, he scored six goals and added 11 assists in 76 appearances.[10]
Club career
editIn 2023, Kossa-Rienzi played with the Crossfire Red in the National Premier Soccer League.[11]
At the 2024 MLS SuperDraft, Kossa-Rienzi was selected in the first round (23rd overall) by the Seattle Sounders FC.[12][13] After participating in pre-season with the first team,[14] he signed a contract with their second team, Tacoma Defiance, in MLS Next Pro in March 2024.[15][16] During the 2024 season, he went on short-term loans with the Seattle Sounders first team, making his first start on May 22 in a U.S. Open Cup match against Phoenix Rising FC in which he scored his first goal for the club, which was the winning goal in a 2–1 victory to help the club advance to the quarter-finals.[17][18]
Career statistics
edit- As of October 26, 2024[19]
| Club | Season | League | Playoffs | Domestic Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Crossfire Red | 2023[20] | National Premier Soccer League | 4 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | – | 8 | 8 | |
| Tacoma Defiance | 2024 | MLS Next Pro | 25 | 0 | 2 | 0 | – | – | 27 | 0 | ||
| Seattle Sounders FC (loan) | 2024 | Major League Soccer | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| Career total | 30 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 9 | ||
References
edit- ^ a b Bates, Greg (June 11, 2019). "Hard work, humility and dedication paying off for Berkeley soccer star Kalani Kossa-Rienzi". MaxPreps.
- ^ a b c "Kalani Kossa-Rienzi Washington profile". Washington Huskies.
- ^ "Huskies Start 2021 With A Bang". Washington Huskies. February 4, 2021.
- ^ "No. 3 Huskies Remain Undefeated with 2-0 Win at Portland". Washington Huskies. September 24, 2021.
- ^ "Eight Huskies Receive All-Pac-12 Honors". Washington Huskies. November 16, 2021.
- ^ "Ten Huskies Tabbed Pac-12 Postseason Honorees". Washington Huskies. November 15, 2022.
- ^ "Four Named To Pac-12 Preseason Team". Washington Huskies. August 22, 2023.
- ^ "Seven Huskies Tabbed Pac-12 Postseason Honorees". Washington Huskies. November 14, 2023.
- ^ "Jones, Kossa-Rienzi Invited To 2023 adidas MLS Showcase". Washington Huskies. December 5, 2023.
- ^ "Jones, Kossa-Rienzi Selected In 2024 MLS SuperDraft". Washington Huskies. December 19, 2023.
- ^ Engels, William (July 27, 2023). "Kossa-Rienzi, Crossfire Red Take Team Approach to NPSL National Semifinals". National Premier Soccer League.
- ^ Evans, Jayda (December 19, 2023). "Sounders select UW's Kalani Kossa-Rienzi with their top pick in the MLS SuperDraft". The Seattle Times.
- ^ Ostlund-Foss, Tim (December 19, 2023). "Seattle Sounders draft Kalani Kossa-Rienzi". Sounder at Heart.
- ^ Oshan, Jeremiah (January 29, 2024). "Kalani Kossa-Rienzi makes strong early impression". Sounder at Heart.
- ^ "Tacoma Defiance Signs Kalani Kossa-Rienzi and Antino Lopez". Seattle Sounders FC. March 7, 2024.
- ^ Ostlund-Foss, Tim (March 7, 2024). "Defiance sign Kossa-Rienzi and Lopez". Sounder at Heart.
- ^ "SEAvPHX Starting XI: Cristian Roldan wears the Captain's armband, Kalani Kossa-Rienzi gets first start with First Team". Seattle Sounders FC. May 22, 2024.
- ^ "Match Recap: Sounders FC Defeats Phoenix Rising FC 2-1 in Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Round of 16". Seattle Sounders FC. May 23, 2024.
- ^ Kalani Kossa-Rienzi at Soccerway
- ^ "2023 League Stats". National Premier Soccer League. Archived from the original on August 23, 2023.
External links
edit- Kalani Kossa-Rienzi at Soccerway