Darren Mattocks

PROFILE
A speedy goalscorer with game-changing qualities, striker Darren Mattocks joined Whitecaps FC after being the second overall pick in the 2012 Major League Soccer SuperDraft in Kansas City, Missouri. A two-year standout at the University of Akron, Mattocks helped the Zips to the 2010 NCAA College Cup title as a freshman. The native of Portmore, Jamaica, signed a Generation adidas contract with MLS on Dec. 20, 2011.

MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER

2013: In his sophomore season, Mattocks recorded three goals in 20 MLS appearances for Whitecaps FC. The Jamaican scored at Houston Dynamo on March 23, then followed up with a pair of timely insurance goals in two first-time victories for the ‘Caps, first in a 3-1 win over LA Galaxy on May 11, then in a 2-0 win over Seattle Sounders FC on July 6. Other highlights include being named to MLS’s ‘24 under 24’ list for the second consecutive season, ranking 12th on the list. Mattocks also appeared in all four Amway Canadian Championship matches, starting on three occasions. 2012: Mattocks was selected second overall in the MLS SuperDraft by Whitecaps FC on Jan. 12. He then topped MLSsoccer.com’s ‘24 Under 24’ list for the season on Sept. 21 before being named Whitecaps FC’s Most Promising Player in the club’s end-of-season awards. With nine goals in all competitions during his first season, Mattocks became the first rookie player to win the Domenic Mobilio Golden Boot as Whitecaps FC’s top goalscorer during the campaign. After a promising preseason, the striker made his MLS debut for Whitecaps FC as a late substitute during a 2-0 home win over Canadian arch-rivals and league expansion club Montreal Impact on Mar. 10. The Jamaican replaced fellow striker Eric Hassli in the dying stages of the season opener. Mattocks scored his first professional goal in the Amway Canadian Championship, as Whitecaps FC won 3-1 at home to North American Soccer League side FC Edmonton in the second leg of their semifinal on May 9. Vancouver won the semifinal series 5-1 on aggregate. Mattocks then made his first professional start during Whitecaps FC’s 2-2 home draw with Pacific Northwest rivals Seattle Sounders FC on May 19. Mattocks’ first MLS goal came on May 26, as he equalized during Whitecaps FC’s 1-1 draw at Pacific Northwest rivals Portland Timbers. Mattocks then became the first Whitecaps FC player to have a two-goal match in MLS that season when he scored twice in a 3-1 home win over Houston Dynamo on June 10. He then scored the match winner in a 1-0 victory at Colorado Rapids on July 4 before scoring both goals in a 3-2 defeat at Toronto FC on July 11. Mattocks scored Vancouver’s consolation goal during a 2-1 away defeat to Real Salt Lake on July 27 before assisting on Dane Richards’ winning goal during a 2-1 home win over Real Salt Lake on Aug. 11. He then started Whitecaps FC’s first-ever match and scored the club’s first-ever goal in the MLS Cup Playoffs on Nov. 1, as Vancouver fell 2-1 at defending champions LA Galaxy.

MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER RESERVE LEAGUE
2012: Less than 24 hours after scoring his first goal in Major League Soccer, Mattocks scored on his MLS Reserve League debut. The young Jamaican’s first Reserve League goal was the match winner, as Whitecaps FC reserves won 2-1 at Portland Timbers reserves on May 27.

COLLEGE
Mattocks enjoyed two outstanding seasons in NCAA Division I at the University of Akron after being scouted in Jamaica by Zips head coach Caleb Porter. 2011: As a sophomore, Mattocks finished second in scoring in NCAA Division I with 21 goals in 22 appearances with the Zips. His efforts made him a semifinalist for the Missouri Athletic Club Hermann Trophy as the top male player in NCAA Division I soccer that year. He was named Mid-American Conference (MAC) Player of the Year and to the All-MAC First Team for a second straight year. A five-time MAC Player of the Week, Mattocks found the back of the net more than twice in a single match on six occasions. He registered his second career hat-trick for Akron during a 3-0 victory at the University of Tulsa on Sept. 24 before striking his third career hat-trick during the Zips’ 5-2 win at the University of Buffalo on Oct. 21. In the NCAA Championship Tournament, Mattocks scored the third goal in Akron’s 3-1 home win over Northwestern University in the first round on Nov. 17. In the second round, the Caribbean forward scored twice - including the match winner - as the Zips defeated sixth-seeded Southern Methodist University 3-2 at home to reach the ‘Round of 16’. Akron’s quest to defend their NCAA College Cup title ended at the ‘Round of 16’ stage following a 1-0 away defeat to College Cup finalists in the University of North Carolina at Charlotte on Nov. 27. 2010: As a freshman, Mattocks led Akron to the NCAA College Cup title - the first Division I national championship to be won in any sport by a University of Akron varsity team. He was named MAC Newcomer of the Year after finishing third in NCAA Division I scoring (second among freshmen) with 18 goals in 25 appearances for the Zips. The striker’s efforts also earned him Freshman All-American honours with College Soccer News, Goal.com, Soccer America, and Top Drawer Soccer, as well as a spot on the All-MAC First Teem. The striker scored multiple goals in four matches that year, including a pair of goals during a 5-0 victory at Oakland University on Oct. 6. His first career hat-trick for the Zips came in a 4-0 home win over the University of Buffalo on Oct. 16. Mattocks also played a crucial role in Akron’s run to their fourth consecutive MAC Tournament championship title. He struck the match winner in a 3-1 semifinal win over the University of Buffalo on Nov. 12 before finding the back of the net twice in a 4-0 victory over Western Michigan University in the MAC Tournament championship final on Nov. 14. The Caribbean forward also played a role in Akron’s historical run to their first NCAA College Cup title. He scored twice in a 3-2 home win over West Virginia University in the second round of the NCAA Championship Tournament on Nov. 21 before striking the match winner in 2-1 home win over Indiana University in the ‘Round of 16’ on Nov. 28.

INTERNATIONAL
Senior: In December 2012, Mattocks made three appearances for Jamaica in the 2012 Carribean Cup, making two starts. Mattocks made his international debut for Jamaica, coming on in the 55th minute in a 2-0 win over El Salvador in an international friendly on August 15, 2012. In Dec. 2011, Mattocks earned a call-up to a four-day training camp with the full Jamaica squad by Reggae Boyz head coach Theodore Whitmore. U-23: Mattocks was a member of Jamaican U-23 Olympic team player pool, having trained with the squad in the summer of 2011.

HIGH SCHOOL/AMATEUR
A prolific striker as a youngster, Mattocks is the all-time leading scorer with 54 goals and 25 assists for Bridgeport High School in his hometown of Portmore, Jamaica. This included 18 match-winning goals for Bridgeport. He was also the leading goalscorer for the U-21 squad of Jamaican National Premier League outfit Waterhouse Football Club, who are based in the country’s capital of Kingston.

PERSONAL
Mattocks was born and raised in the Jamaican coastal city of Portmore, which is based in the parish of Saint Catherine. The striker’s parents are Lasmine Montegue and David Mattocks. As a student at the University of Akron, Mattocks was majoring in marketing management.