Michael Boxall

PROFILE
A centre back that has represented his native New Zealand at both youth and senior international level, Michael Boxall joined Whitecaps FC after being taken as the first overall pick in the 2011 MLS Supplemental Draft on Jan. 18, 2011. The native of Auckland, New Zealand, enjoyed a stellar NCAA Division I career at University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB).

MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER
2011: Boxall started all but one of his 19 appearances during his rookie season for Whitecaps FC, with his MLS debut coming in the club’s inaugural MLS match on Mar. 19, as Vancouver defeated Canadian rivals Toronto FC 4-2 at Empire Field. His appearances included both league contests versus D.C. United, FC Dallas, Sporting Kansas City, and Toronto FC that season. The centre back also started in two Nutrilite Canadian Championship (NCC) matches for the ‘Caps that year. This included the 1-0 semifinal, first leg, win at North American Soccer League side Montreal Impact on Apr. 27, as well as the 2-1 defeat at MLS rivals Toronto FC in the second leg of the NCC final on July 2.

MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER RESERVE LEAGUE
2011: The centre back made two appearances for Whitecaps FC reserves, with his MLS Reserve League debut coming as a start in a 1-0 home win over San Jose Earthquakes reserves on Sept. 6. He then made a substitute appearance in a 1-0 home defeat to Portland Timbers reserves on Oct. 3.

UNITED SOCCER LEAGUES PREMIER DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE
2012: Boxall scored the match winner in Whitecaps FC U-23’s PDL season opener, as they won 3-0 at home to defending PDL champions Kitsap Pumas on May 4. 2011: The centre back made one lone appearance for Whitecaps FC Residency that season, making his PDL debut on May 21, as the Residency team drew 2-2 at British Columbia rivals Victoria Highlanders FC.

NEW ZEALAND
As a teenager, Boxall played for several clubs in his hometown of Auckland, New Zealand. They included Ellerslie AFC and Three Kings United FC, who play in the Northern Region Football League (NRFL). As a member of Central United FC, the defender was named the club's Young Player of the Year in 2006 before leading the Auckland-based club to the NRFL Premier League title in 2007. It was also in the 2006-07 season that Boxall helped Auckland City FC to the New Zealand Football Championship title, with the centre back being named the club's Young Player of the Year at season's end.

COLLEGE
2010: As a senior, Boxall started all 21 of his appearances that season. He earned National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) and College Soccer News Third Team All-American honours, and was named Big West Conference Defender of the Year. He also made the All-Big West Conference First Team for a second time and the All-Far West Region First Team after helping UCSB post 10 shutouts and a goals-against average of 0.77. He assisted on David Opoku's goal in a 2-0 home win over University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) on Sept. 24. 2009: As a junior, the centre back was named to the All-Big West Conference First Team after being one of only four players to start all 24 matches for the Gauchos, with Boxall setting a UCSB record for minutes played in a season at 2,185. He also helped the team set UCSB records for consecutive shutouts (six) and single season shutouts (16). He was also named to both the TopDrawerSoccer.com Team of the Week and College Soccer News National Team of the Week after leading UCSB to a pair of clean sheets versus Big West Conference rivals California State University, Northridge on Oct. 28 and University of California, Irvine on Oct. 31. Boxall's lone UCSB goal was a match-winning header in a 1-0 victory over California State University, Northridge in the Big West Conference Championship semifinals on Nov. 11. He also recorded two assists that season, including David Walker's match winner in a 1-0 victory over Wofford College during the first round of the NCAA Championship on Nov. 19. 2008: Boxall appeared in all but one of his 21 appearances for UCSB, with the defender recording two assists in the process. His first assist set up Chris Pontius' equalizer in a 4-2 home win over University of Evansville on Sept. 18. He also recorded an assist on Nick Perera's equalizing goal during a 2-1 victory at University of California, Irvine on Oct. 4. His efforts that season earned him an All-Big West Conference Honourable Mention. 2007: Following in the tradition of previous New Zealanders to have played NCAA Division I men's soccer at UCSB, Boxall saw his freshman year cut short by a knee injury after the centre back started all but two of his 12 appearances for the Gauchos. During those 12 appearances, the defender helped UCSB concede only eight goals and register a 0.80 goals-against average.

INTERNATIONAL
Boxall has represented his native New Zealand at both the youth and senior international level. Senior: The defender made two appearances for New Zealand 'A' at the 2006 Agribank Cup tournament in Hanoi, Vietnam. Boxall appeared as a substitute in the 1-0 defeat to Thailand on Oct. 27, 2006, and the 1-0 victory over Bahrain's U-23 Olympic squad on Oct. 29, 2006. New Zealand 'A' finished third in the tournament. The centre back then earned his first full senior cap for New Zealand when he appeared as a second-half substitute in a 1-1 friendly draw away to China on Mar. 25, 2011. Boxall then started New Zealand's 3-0 friendly defeat to Mexico in Denver, Colorado, on June 1, 2011, and the All Whites' 3-0 away defeat to arch-rivals Australia on June 5, 2011. The centre back started New Zealand’s 2-2 friendly draw with El Salvador in Houston, Texas, on May 23, 2012, before appearing as a substitute in a 1-0 friendly win over Honduras in Dallas, Texas, on May 26, 2012. He then appeared in two matches against host country Solomon Islands at the 2012 Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) Nations Cup. Though they finished third at the tournament, New Zealand reached for the next stage of FIFA World Cup qualifying in the Oceania region. U-23: In 2008, the defender helped the Oly-Whites qualify for their first-ever Men's Olympic Football Tournament in Beijing, China. His 12 appearances for New Zealand's U-23 Olympic squad included all three of his country's matches in Group C at the Beijing Olympics. After appearing as a substitute in the 1-1 draw with hosts China on Aug. 7, 2008, Boxall started New Zealand's 5-0 defeat to Brazil on Aug. 10, 2008, and 1-0 defeat to Belgium on Aug. 13, 2008. U-20: As a member of the Junior All-Whites, the centre back made 14 appearances for New Zealand's U-20 squad, including starts in all three of his country's Group C matches at the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Canada. They included defeats to Portugal (July 2, 2007) and Gambia (July 5, 2007) at BMO Field in Toronto, Ontario, and to Mexico (July 8, 2007) at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton, Alberta.

HIGH SCHOOL/AMATEUR
Boxall played centre back and right fullback at Mount Albert Grammar School (MAGS) in his hometown of Auckland, New Zealand. As Lions team captain during his senior year in 2006, the defender led MAGS to a second Knockout Cup title in three years, the Auckland Secondary School Soccer Association Championship title, and a second-place finish at the New Zealand Secondary School Soccer Championship. During his time at MAGS, Boxall helped the Lions to league titles in 2004 and 2005, as well as a national championship title in 2005.

PERSONAL
Boxall was born and raised in Auckland, New Zealand. As a senior at Mount Albert Grammar School, Boxall won the Head Perfect Award for academics. As a student at University of California, Santa Barbara, the defender has been majoring in Business Economics. His parents are Aggie and Murray Boxall. He has an older sister named Casey and a younger brother named Nikko.

INTERESTING FACTS
Boxall's brother, Nikko, will be playing for Northwestern University in NCAA Division I, starting in the autumn of 2011. When not concentrating on his soccer career, the centre back is usually eating, sleeping, listening to music, or hanging out with friends. He is a fan of English Premier League giants Arsenal FC and NBA basketball's Phoenix Suns. Boxall is an admirer of boxing legend Muhammad Ali, as well as former Arsenal and England centre back Tony Adams. His favourite movie is 'Any Given Sunday', while he enjoys the written works of American author Dan Brown.