Chad Barson

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

2013 Season: Has made one appearance at leftback in 2013 ... made his MLS debut in an appearance at Toronto (May 18).

COLLEGE EXPERIENCE

Senior (2012): In his second season as team captain Barson earned NSCAA All-America First Team, Top Drawer Soccer's (TDS) Team of the Season Second Team, All-MAC First Team honors and was one of four Zips to be named to the CoSIDA Academic All-American team for the second straight season with a 3.99 GPA as a biology major Barson finished his career as a three-time Academic All-American, which matches teammate David Meves as the most honors in program history. The defender appeared and started in all but two matches of his college career (93 of 95 games). The veteran was a  leader on a unit that produced 16 shutouts, including eight straight from Sept. 14 to Oct. 16, the second-highest total in school history and tied for the 13th-highest total in NCAA history.

Junior (2011): The junior team captain earned CoSIDA Academic All-American status for the second consecutive season, All-MAC First Team, Academic All-MAC and All-Ohio team honors in 2011. Barson started all 23 games for the Zips at central defender, helping lead Akron to 11 shutouts on the year while limiting opponents to one or fewer goals in a game 19 times.

Sophomore (2010): As a sophmore, Barson earned Academic All-America Second Team, All-MAC First Team and Academic All-MAC honors, starting all 25 games for the Zips. Barson led Akron's NCAA Championship winning squad with 2,254 minutes in 2010. He recorded the game-winning team save in the final minutes of the NCAA championship game against Louisville; a match UA won 1-0 to clinch its first team national championship in any sport. Barson finished with two goals and an assist from his center back position in 2010. As a result, he was called up by the U.S. U-20 National Team at the end of March for a pair of competitions.

Freshman (2009): Barson started all 25 games as a freshman to earn Soccer America All-Freshman Second Team and College Soccer News All-Freshman Second Team status. He was a key contributer on a defense unit that set school records for goals-against-average (0.27) and shutouts (19).

INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE

Barson starred on multiple U.S. national teams, including the U-18s, U-17s and U-15s. The Lewis Center native spent two semesters in the U.S. U-17 Residency program in Bradenton, Fla.
YOUTH EXPERIENCE

 As a senior, Barson was names to the 2008 Parade All-American team. The defender was two-time NSCAA Youth All-American and 2008 all-state second team honoree for Div. I at Olentangy High School.

ACQUIRED

Homegrown signing on January 10, 2013

PERSONAL

The son of William and Darlene Barson, Chad has two older brothers, Brent and Ryan. He majored in biology while at Akron.