Kyle Morton

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Kyle Morton
Personal information
Full name Kyle Stuart Morton
Date of birth (1994-03-31) March 31, 1994 (age 30)
Place of birth West Chester, Pennsylvania, United States
Height 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Youth career
Philadelphia Union
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2012–2016 James Madison Dukes 69 (0)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015 Reading United 11 (0)
2016 Lehigh Valley United 10 (0)
2016 OKC Energy U23 2 (0)
2017 Rochester Rhinos 0 (0)
2018–2019 Pittsburgh Riverhounds 24 (0)
2020 Saint Louis FC 14 (0)
2021 Houston Dynamo 1 (0)
2021Memphis 901 (loan) 5 (0)
2022–2023 Louisville City 31 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of October 18, 2023

Kyle Stuart Morton (born March 31, 1994) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper.

Career

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College and amateur

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Morton attended Henderson High School, where he played on the school soccer team and served as the team captain as a senior.[1] He played club soccer for Penn Fusion and also spent time with the Philadelphia Union Academy.[1][2]

Morton played college soccer at James Madison University between 2012 and 2016, receiving a medical redshirt during 2013. He made third team All-CAA for his final three seasons.[1]

While in college, Morton also played with Premier Development League sides Reading United AC, Lehigh Valley United and OKC Energy U23.[3]

Professional

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Rochester Rhinos

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Morton signed his first professional deal with United Soccer League club Rochester Rhinos on March 7, 2017.[4] He made his Rhinos debut on May 18 in a 3–0 win over FC Motown in a U.S. Open Cup match.[5] That would be his only appearance for Rochester and following the 2017 season, the team decided to go on hiatus.[6]

Pittsburgh Riverhounds

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On January 26, 2018, Morton joined USL side Pittsburgh Riverhounds.[7] He made his Riverhounds debut on April 7, keeping a clean sheet in a 4–0 victory against Toronto FC II.[8] He ended his first season in Pittsburgh with 3 appearances and 3 clean sheets, missing most of the season due to a torn ACL.[8][9]

In 2018, Morton made 24 appearances in the regular season and kept 13 clean sheets, tied for 2nd most in the league, helping the Riverhounds finish first in the Eastern Conference.[10][11] He played in both of Pittsburgh's playoff games as the Riverhounds reached the Conference Semifinals, where they lost 2–1 to Louisville City in extra time.[12]

Saint Louis FC

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On January 3, 2020, Morton moved to USL Championship side Saint Louis FC.[13] He made his debut for Saint Louis on March 7, a 4–1 win over Miami FC. In a shortened season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Morton made 14 appearances and kept 2 clean sheets to help Saint Louis qualify for the playoffs.[14] He played in both of their playoff games as Saint Louis reached the Conference Semifinals, where they lost to Louisville City 2–0.[14] Saint Louis FC folded following the 2020 USL Championship season.[15]

Houston Dynamo

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Morton signed with Major League Soccer side Houston Dynamo on January 27, 2021.[16] On July 9, 2021, Morton was loaned to USL Championship side Memphis 901.[17] He made his debut for Memphis on July 10, making 8 saves and keeping a clean sheet in a 1–0 win over Birmingham Legion.[18] Morton was named USL Championship Player of the Week and made the Team of the Week following his performance against Birmingham.[19] He made 5 appearances while with Memphis, keeping 2 clean sheets.[18] Houston recalled him from his loan on August 18.[20] On November 3, in the final game of Houston's season, Morton made his Dynamo and MLS debut, making 4 saves in a 2–0 loss to CF Montréal.[18] Following the 2021 season, Morton's contract option was declined by Houston.[21]

Louisville City FC

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Morton signed with Louisville City FC on December 28, 2021.[22] He was released by Louisville following the 2023 season.[23]

Career statistics

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[24][10][25]

Club Season League Open Cup Playoffs Continental Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Reading United 2015 PDL 11 0 0 0 11 0
Lehigh Valley United 2016 PDL 10 0 0 0 10 0
OKC Energy U23 2016 PDL 2 0 0 0 2 0 4 0
Rochester Rhinos 2017 United Soccer League 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0
Pittsburgh Riverhounds 2018 United Soccer League 3 0 0 0 0 0 3 0
2019 USL Championship 24 0 2 0 2 0 28 0
Riverhounds Total 27 0 2 0 2 0 0 0 31 0
Saint Louis FC 2020 USL Championship 14 0 2 0 16 0
Houston Dynamo 2021 Major League Soccer 1 0 1 0
Memphis 901 (loan) 2021 USL Championship 5 0 0 0 5 0
Louisville City FC 2022 USL Championship 28 0 4 0 0 0 32 0
Career Total 98 0 7 0 6 0 0 0 111 0

Honors

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Individual

Personal life

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Morton attended Henderson High School, where he played on the school soccer team as well as on the school football team as kicker.[1] He attended James Madison University, where he majored in kinesiology.[1]

His brother is fellow professional soccer goalkeeper, Todd Morton, who currently plays for Philadelphia Union II.[28]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "Kyle Morton - Men's Soccer". James Madison University Athletics. Retrieved 2021-01-28.
  2. ^ Ralph, Matthew (2017-03-08). "West Chester native Kyle Morton signs with Rochester Rhinos". Brotherly Game. Retrieved 2021-01-28.
  3. ^ "Stats". USL PDL.
  4. ^ Rochester Rhinos (7 March 2017). "Rhinos Sign GK Kyle Morton".
  5. ^ "USA - K. Morton - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway". us.soccerway.com. Retrieved 2021-01-28.
  6. ^ Tsujimoto, Ben (30 November 2017). "Rochester Rhinos to take hiatus from United Soccer League". The Buffalo News. Retrieved 2021-01-28.
  7. ^ "Former Duke Kyle Morton Signs With Riverhounds". James Madison University. 26 January 2018.
  8. ^ a b "Kyle Morton 2018 Match Logs (Goalkeeping)". FBref.com. Retrieved 2021-01-28.
  9. ^ "Kyle Morton talks recovery from injury, second season with Riverhounds". Pittsburgh Sports Castle. 2018-12-08. Retrieved 2021-01-28.
  10. ^ a b "Kyle Morton Stats". FBref.com. Retrieved 2021-01-28.
  11. ^ "2019 USL Championship Stats". FBref.com. Retrieved 2021-01-28.
  12. ^ "Kyle Morton 2019 Match Logs (Goalkeeping)". FBref.com. Retrieved 2021-01-28.
  13. ^ "STLFC Signs Goalkeeper Kyle Morton for 2020 Season". saintlouisfc.com. Saint Louis FC. December 22, 2019. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
  14. ^ a b "Kyle Morton 2020 Match Logs (Goalkeeping)". FBref.com. Retrieved 2021-01-28.
  15. ^ Straus, Brian (25 August 2020). "USL's Saint Louis FC to Fold to Make Room for MLS Expansion Team". Sports Illustrated.
  16. ^ Bogert, Tom (January 27, 2021). "Houston Dynamo sign goalkeeper Kyle Morton". Major League Soccer. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  17. ^ "Houston Dynamo loan GK Kyle Morton to Memphis 901 FC". Houston Dynamo FC. July 9, 2021. Retrieved November 10, 2021.
  18. ^ a b c "Kyle Morton 2021 Match Logs (Goalkeeping)". FBref.com. Retrieved 2021-11-10.
  19. ^ "USL Championship Team of the Week – Week 12". USL Championship. July 13, 2021. Retrieved November 10, 2021.
  20. ^ "Goalkeeper Kyle Morton Recalled by Houston Dynamo FC". Memphis 901 FC. August 18, 2021. Retrieved November 10, 2021.
  21. ^ "Houston Dynamo FC exercise 2022 contract options on seven players | Houston Dynamo". houstondynamofc.
  22. ^ "LOUCITY LANDS 'QUALITY GOALKEEPER' MORTON ON USL CHAMPIONSHIP RETURN". LouCity.com. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
  23. ^ "LouCity bids farewell to five players following 2023 season".
  24. ^ "USA - K. Morton - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway". us.soccerway.com. Retrieved 2021-01-28.
  25. ^ "OKC Energy U23 - 2016 Regular Season - Roster - # - KYLE MORTON -". www.uslleaguetwo.com. Retrieved 2021-01-28.
  26. ^ "Orange County SC's Milan Iloski wins 2022 USL Championship Golden Boot". www.uslchampionship.com. Tampa, FL: USL Championship. October 16, 2022. Archived from the original on October 17, 2022. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
  27. ^ "USL Championship Announces 2022 All-League Teams". www.uslchampionship.com. Tampa, FL: USL. November 1, 2022. Archived from the original on November 1, 2022. Retrieved November 1, 2022.
  28. ^ Ralph, Matthew (March 7, 2019). "Goalkeeping brothers from West Chester a rarity in pro soccer". Brotherly Game.