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Zardes Scores 2 Goals; CSUB Defeats Seattle 4-3

Men's Soccer

TBT: Soccer Standout Zardes' Decorated Career

Hawthorne, Calif., Native Enjoying Successful Professional Career & Regular Role with USMNT

Bakersfield, Calif. – Before he was a stand-out forward in Major League Soccer and a regular in US Men's National Team line-ups, Gyasi Zardes put together one of the most decorated careers in CSU Bakersfield athletic history.  Zardes still holds Roadrunner records for goals (18) and points (39) scored in a single Division I season and led CSUB to three division titles and a record of 32-15-13 during his three-year career in Bakersfield.
 
Zardes burst on to the scene as a red-shirt freshman in 2010, when he scored five goals and added a pair of assists and earned Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Newcomer of the Year and NCAA Freshman All-American honors.

In 2011, he led the `Runners to their first appearance in the NCAA Tournament when he totaled 18 goals and 38 points. Bakersfield dropped the 2011 MPSF Championship in penalty kicks, but advanced to the National Tournament as an at large with a record of 12-4-5. Zardes earned 3rd-Team All-American nods from College Soccer News and the National Soccer Coaches Athletic Association that season, was a 2nd-Team All-American selection of Soccer America and was also a semi-finalist for the Herman Trophy, awarded annually to the top collegiate soccer player in the country.

Zardes capped his career in 2012, when he scored a personal best 39 points on 15 goals and nine assists and was once again a 2nd-Team Soccer America All-American honoree. He was an NSCAA All-West Region choice for the second-straight season as the `Runners won nine games on the year.

The Hawthorne, Calif., native won MPSF Player of the Year Awards in each of the 2011 and 2012 seasons.

Zardes is entering his third season with the Columbus Crew in 2020, for whom he has scored 33 goals over his first two seasons with the team. He opened his MLS career with three seasons in Los Angeles with Galaxy and has 67 career goals in 194 league appearances.

Zardes has also earned 56 caps with the USMNT, scoring 12 goals on the international stage.

Next week's Throw-Back Thursday features Beach Volleyball and career wins leader Sydney Haynes.
 
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