Darwin Espinal

Darwin Espinal

Personal information
Date of birth	16 January 1995
Place of birth	Tegucigalpa, Honduras
Height	1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Playing position	Forward
Club information
Current team	Tampa Bay Rowdies
Number	20
Youth career
–	Plantation FC
College career
Years	Team	Apps^†	(Gls)^†
2013–2014	Darton State College	35	(52)
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps^†	(Gls)^†
2015–	Tampa Bay Rowdies	23	(4)
National team^‡
2015–	Honduras U23	5	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 4 April 2016. † Appearances (goals) ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 16 December 2015

Darwin Espinal (born 16 January 1995) is a Honduran professional footballer who plays as a forward for the Tampa Bay Rowdies in the North American Soccer League.

Career

College and Youth

Espinal was born in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, though his family moved to Broward County, Florida where he played high school soccer for J. P. Taravella High School. While at Taravella, Espinal was named the 2012–2013 Florida Class 5A-4A Player of the Year. Espinal also enjoyed success at the club level in Broward, playing for Plantation FC. Espinal led Plantation to the Florida State Cup Championship and a spot in the Region III Championship, where he was named tournament MVP.

Coming out of high school, Espinal had an offer to join the Chicago Fire SC Academy, but he opted to go to college at Albany, Georgia's Darton State College. In his freshman season as a Darton Cavalier, Espinal scored 23 goals and notched 10 assists in just 16 games. During his 2014 sophomore season, Espinal continued his impressive form, scoring 29 goals with 19 assists in 19 games. He was a 1st Team NJCAA All-American both years and helped the Cavaliers win the Region 17 Championship in 2014. His 52 goals and 81 points were both good for school records.

Tampa Bay Rowdies

On 23 December 2014 it was announced that Espinal had signed his first professional contract with the Tampa Bay Rowdies of the North American Soccer League.^[1] During the Rowdies preseason tour of Portugal ahead of their 2015 campaign, Espinal scored goals against the 'B' teams of S.L. Benfica^[2] and Sporting CP.^[3]

Espinal's strong preseason performance earned him a spot in Coach Thomas Rongen's starting eleven for the Rowdies first match of the 2015 season against the San Antonio Scorpions. Espinal cashed in on the opportunity, scoring a goal in first half stoppage time off an assist by Darnell King.^[4]

International career

Espinal was called up to represent Honduras for the 2015 CONCACAF Men's Olympic Qualifying Championship in the United States.

References

1. "Attacking Prospect Darwin Espinal Signs with Rowdies". Tampa Bay Rowdies. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
2. "Rowdies Beat Benfica U-20 3-1 in Second Match of Portugal Tour". Tampa Bay Rowdies. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
3. "Espinal and Boggs Score in 3-2 Loss to Sporting Lisbon B". Tampa Bay Rowdies. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
4. "Rowdies Open Season With 3-1 Win Over Defending Champions San Antonio Scorpions". Tampa Bay Rowdies. Retrieved 6 April 2015.

External links

• Tampa Bay Rowdies Profile.