Nyal Higgins

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Nyal Higgins
Personal information
Full name Nyal Christian-Anthony Higgins
Date of birth (1998-01-19) January 19, 1998 (age 23)
Place of birth Ajax, Ontario, Canada
Height 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s) Centre-back
Club information
Current team
 Toronto FC II
Youth career
Ajax SC
Vaughan SC
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016–2018 Oakland Golden Grizzlies 49 (4)
2019 Syracuse Orange 19 (1)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016 Vaughan Azzurri 5 (0)
2017 Michigan Bucks 8 (0)
2018 Vaughan Azzurri 3 (0)
2020– Toronto FC II 9 (0)
2020 → Nyköpings BIS (loan) 17 (1)
2021– → Atlético Ottawa (loan) 8 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of October 21, 2021

Nyal Christian-Anthony Higgins (born January 19, 1998) is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays as a defender for Toronto FC II.

College[]

In 2016, he attended Oakland University, playing for the Golden Grizzlies soccer team. As a freshman, he was named to the Horizon League All-Freshman Team and the NSCAA All-Great Lakes Regional Third Team. In his sophomore and junior seasons, he was named to the All-Horizon League Second Team.[1] In 2019, he transferred to Syracuse University to play for the Syracuse Orange soccer team.[2]

Club career[]

Early career[]

During the 2016 and 2018 seasons, he played with Vaughan Azzurri in League1 Ontario.[3] In 2017, he played with the Michigan Bucks in the Premier Development League.[4] In 2018, he trained with three Major League Soccer clubs - Sporting Kansas City, Columbus Crew SC, and Nashville SC.[5] He later trained with Toronto FC in 2019.[6]

Toronto FC II[]

He was selected 19th overall by Toronto FC in the 2020 MLS SuperDraft.[7] He attended pre-season with the club, but ultimately did not make the final roster for 2020.[8] In July, he signed a USL contract with the second-team Toronto FC II.[9] He was soon after sent on loan to Nyköpings BIS in the Swedish third tier, following TFC II's withdrawal from the 2020 USL League One season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[10] He scored his first goal on November 21, in a 7-1 defeat to IF Brommapojkarna.[11]

He made his debut for Toronto FC II on May 22, 2021 against North Texas SC.[12]

Atlético Ottawa (loan)[]

On August 7, 2021, Higgins joined Canadian Premier League side Atlético Ottawa on loan.[13][14] He made his debut in a substitute appearance, on August 25, against Forge FC.[15]

International career[]

He was a member of the U18 and U20 Canadian national team talent pools.[16]

Career statistics[]

As of match played on October 21, 2021[17]
Club Season League Playoffs Domestic Cup League Cup Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Vaughan Azzurri[18] 2016 League1 Ontario 5 0 0 0 — ? 0 5 0
Michigan Bucks[19] 2017 PDL 8 0 1 0 0 0 — 9 0
Vaughan Azzurri[20] 2018 League1 Ontario 3 0 0 0 — 0 0 3 0
Toronto FC II 2021 USL League One 9 0 — — — 9 0
Nyköpings BIS (loan) 2020 Ettan Norra 17 1 — 2 0 — 19 1
Atlético Ottawa (loan) 2021 Canadian Premier League 8 0 — 0 0 — 8 0
Career total 50 1 1 0 2 0 0 0 53 1

References[]

  1. ^ "Nyal Higgins". Oakland Golden Grizzlies.
  2. ^ Haller, Steve (January 27, 2019). "Syracuse men's soccer welcomes three new additions for the spring semester". SBNation.
  3. ^ Shealer, Sheldon (January 9, 2020). "Vaughan SC revels in Super day". Top Drawer Soccer.
  4. ^ Ford, Harold C. (February 26, 2020). "Bucks' success continues into off season". East Village Magazine.
  5. ^ Grasl, Zac (August 1, 2018). "In the spotlight- Nyal Higgins". The Oakland Post.
  6. ^ Rea, Cormac (January 9, 2020). "Vaughan SC Makes History As Four League1 Players Selected In 2020 MLS SuperDraft". League1 Ontario.
  7. ^ Singh, Michael (January 9, 2020). "Toronto FC selects Ajax-native Higgins, Achara in first round of 2020 MLS Draft". Waking the Red.
  8. ^ "Toronto FC announces roster for first preseason camp". Toronto FC. January 24, 2020.
  9. ^ "Toronto FC II Sign Nyal Higgins". Toronto FC. July 2, 2020.
  10. ^ "Toronto FC II Loan Nyal Higgins to Nyköpings BIS". Toronto FC. August 10, 2020.
  11. ^ "Tung förlust när Nyköping krossades av Brommapojkarna" [Heavy loss when Nyköping was crushed by Brommapojkarna]. Sport Bladet. November 21, 2020.
  12. ^ "North Texas SC Falls 2-1 Away to Toronto FC II". FC Dallas. May 22, 2021.
  13. ^ "Atlético Ottawa Sign Nyal Higgins, on loan". Atlético Ottawa. August 7, 2021. Retrieved August 7, 2021.
  14. ^ "Toronto FC II loan Nyal Higgins to Atlético Ottawa". Toronto FC. August 7, 2021.
  15. ^ O'Connor-Clarke, Charlie (August 25, 2021). "Pacius scores two as Forge sails past Atlético Ottawa 4-0". Canadian Premier League.
  16. ^ "Nyal Higgins". Syracuse Orange.
  17. ^ Nyal Higgins at Soccerway
  18. ^ "Vaughan Azzurri 2016 - Nyal Higgins". League1 Ontario.
  19. ^ "Michigan Bucks - Nyal Higgins". USL League Two.
  20. ^ "Vaughan Azzurri 2018 - Nyal Higgins". League1 Ontario.

External links[]

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