Ahead of FC Cincinnati’s first season in MLS, we’ve created a roster breakdown for each position group.
Here’s a preview of The Orange and Blue’s defenders:
Kendall Waston
Age: 31
Previous club: Vancouver Whitecaps FC (MLS)
Waston arrives at FC Cincinnati after five years and more than 10,000 minutes logged in Vancouver, where he captained Whitecaps FC. In those five seasons, he made 115 regular-season appearances and scored 14 goals.
On the international stage, Waston has 29 caps with Costa Rica, which includes a goal against Switzerland at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. He also scored a late goal against Honduras in Concacaf Hexagonal qualifying that sent “Los Ticos” to the World Cup.
He played three times in Cincinnati’s preseason and wore the captain’s armband in all three contests.
Forrest Lasso
Age: 25
Previous club: FC Cincinnati (USL)
Lasso is the lone returning center back from FC Cincinnati’s stint in USL. Signed last season, the 25-year-old was one of FCC’s key players and earned the 2018 USL Defender of the Year award. He led the league in clearances (223) and the team in aerial duels won (172). He made 29 regular-season appearances.
During preseason, Lasso played in six of the seven friendlies and scored in the club’s 1-0 win against the Colorado Rapids. He also assisted Darren Mattocks in the preseason-opening draw with the Montreal Impact.
Greg Garza
Age: 27
Previous club: Atlanta United FC (MLS)
Garza arrived in Cincinnati as an MLS champion. In 2018, he made 11 appearances for Atlanta, which won MLS Cup in its second season.
FCC are Garza’s third expansion club. The other two won the league title in the second campaign.
Garza is an attacking left back who can get forward and created attacking opportunities. In 2017, he was an MLS All-Star.
He’s also the first signing in club history who had experience playing for the U.S. Men’s National Team. He has 10 caps and trained with the National Team in January before leaving camp with a low-grade quadricep strain. He didn’t feature for the Orange and Blue in the 2019 preseason while rehabilitating the injury.
Nick Hagglund
Age: 26
Previous club: Toronto FC (MLS)
Hagglund is the first Cincinnati-native on FC Cincinnati’s inaugural MLS roster. He attended Lakota West High School before playing college soccer at Xavier.
As for professional experience, Hagglund played five seasons with Toronto and won an MLS Cup in 2017. The center back has 88 MLS regular-season appearances and played in all seven FCC preseason games. He also have five career goals.
Mathieu Deplagne
Age: 27
Previous club: Troyed SC (Ligue 2)
Deplagne joined FC Cincinnati in the offseason after playing in his native France. He started his career at Montpellier and won the 2011-12 Ligue 1 title. Later, he moved to Troyes in Ligue 2, where he made 30 appearances.
He offers flexibility as a defender and can play as a right back or center back. He spent time in both positions during FC Cincinnati’s preseasons and played in all seven games.
Blake Smith
Age: 28
Previous club: FC Cincinnati (USL)
Smith was the club’s first-choice left back in 2018 and made 30 USL appearances for the Orange and Blue. He’s an aggressive fullback who often joins the team in the final third. Last year, he scored once and had four assists, which led all defenders.
Smith also has previous MLS experience. He made 19 appearances for the Montreal Impact in 2013 and 2014 after they drafted him eighth overall in the 2013 MLS SuperDraft. He played in the seven preseason games this year.
Justin Hoyte
Age: 34
Previous club: FC Cincinnati (USL)
Hoyte made 47 appearances with FC Cincinnati across two seasons. He’s currently the club’s third-longest serving player behind midfielders Corben Bone and Jimmy McLaughlin.
While he’s primarily played right back with FCC, the Englishman can also feature as a center back or on the left side. He played across the backline during the 2019 preseason.
Hoyte started his professional career with Arsenal in the English Premier League. He also has 18 appearances with the Trinidad and Tobago National Team.
Hassan Ndam
Age: 20
Previous club: New York Red Bulls (MLS)
Ndam should be familiar to FC Cincinnati fans. Other than playing for the club during the preseason, the center back was a commanding force in the New York Red Bulls II backline that kept FCC scoreless in the 2018 postseason.
Cincinnati selected Ndam with the fifth pick in the 2019 MLS Expansion Draft. At 20 years old, the Cameroonian is one of the club’s youngest players, but has significant professional experience. He made 55 appearances with Red Bulls II and has played for Cameroon youth national teams.
Alvas Powell
Age: 24
Previous club: Portland Timbers (MLS)
Acquired from Portland in the offseason, Powell is a pacey right back with an impressive MLS resume.
In the last six seasons, he’s made 121 MLS regular-season appearances. When the Timbers won the MLS Cup in 2015, he made 31 starts. He also appeared in MLS Cup 2018.
Powell has 16 caps with the Jamaica National Team, but he’s considered a domestic player as a U.S. Permanent Resident. He played in every 2019 preseason game.
