A. J. Cochran

Alec John "A. J." Cochran (born February 9, 1993) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a defender for Charleston Battery.

A. J. Cochran
Cochran in 2014
Personal information
Full name Alec John Cochran
Date of birth (1993-02-09) February 9, 1993
Place of birth St. Louis, Missouri, United States
Height 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
 Charleston Battery
Number 3
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2011–2013 Wisconsin Badgers 58 (5)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2013 Michigan Bucks 5 (0)
2013 K-W United 3 (0)
2014–2015 Houston Dynamo 26 (0)
2015 → Charleston Battery (loan) 2 (0)
2016–2017 Saint Louis FC 49 (1)
2018 Atlanta United 2 30 (0)
2019–2020 Phoenix Rising 37 (2)
2021–2022 Indy Eleven 47 (1)
2023– Charleston Battery 19 (0)
International career‡
2014 United States U23 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of October 17, 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of August 16, 2014

Career

Early career

Cochran attended CBC High School in St. Louis, Missouri, where he played on the school soccer team. Cochran helped lead the school to a state championship his junior year and was an NSCAA All-American his senior year.[1] Cochran was also Gatorade player of the year for Missouri his senior year.[1][2] Cochran also played for club side St. Louis Scott Gallagher as a kid.[1][3]

Cochran played three years of college soccer at the University of Wisconsin between 2011 and 2013. Cochran helped take the Badgers to the NCAA tournament his junior year. Accolades he received while at Wisconsin include 2011 Big Ten All-Freshman team, 2012 and 2013 first team All-Big Ten, and 2013 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year. Cochran was also a 2013 first team NSCAA All-American, the first Badger to be a first team all American since 1995.[1][4]

While at college, Cochran appeared for PDL clubs Michigan Bucks and K-W United FC during their 2013 seasons.[5][6]

Cochran left Wisconsin after his junior season, signing a Generation Adidas deal with Major League Soccer.[7]

Houston Dynamo

On January 16, 2014, Cochran was drafted by Houston Dynamo in the first-round (16th overall) of the 2014 MLS SuperDraft.[8] He made his professional debut on April 5, coming off the bench in a 4–1 loss to FC Dallas.[9] During his first pro season, Cochran made 19 MLS appearances as the Dynamo finished 8th in the Eastern Conference, missing out on the playoffs.[9][10] He also made 2 appearances in the U.S. Open Cup.[11]

During the 2015 season, Cochran made 7 MLS appearances as the Dynamo finished 8th in the Western Conference and failed to qualify for the playoffs again.[12][13] In Open Cup play, Cochran played in all 3 of Houston's games as they reached the quarterfinals, where they lost to Sporting Kansas City 3–1.[11] He also spent part of the season on loan with USL club Charleston Battery, where he made 2 appearances.[14][15]

On November 30, 2015, Cochran's contract option was declined by the Dynamo.[16]

Saint Louis FC

Despite going on trial with the Colorado Rapids in the 2016 MLS pre-season, where he scored a match winning goal in a friendly against Sacramento Republic,[17] Cochran was not offered a contract and signed with USL club Saint Louis FC on March 6, 2016.[18] He made his debut for Saint Louis on March 26 in a 1–0 loss to Real Monarchs.[11] He had 2 assists from 27 appearances during the regular season as Saint Louis finished 14th in the Western Conference, failing to qualify for the playoffs.[15][19]

Cochran and Saint Louis opened the 2017 season on March 25 with a 0–0 draw against Louisville City.[20] On May 17 he scored his first goal for Saint Louis in a 4–3 victory against FC Wichita in the U.S. Open Cup. He scored his first league goal for Saint Louis on June 2 in a 2–0 win over Toronto FC II. Cochran ended the season with 18 USL appearances and 1 goal as Saint Louis missed the playoffs again, finishing 12th in the Eastern Conference.[20][21]

Atlanta United 2

On January 24, 2018, Cochran signed with Atlanta United 2 of the United Soccer League.[22] He made his debut for Atlanta United 2 on March 24, getting the start in a 3–1 win against New York Red Bulls II. He ended the season with 2 assists from 30 appearances as Atlanta United 2 missed the playoffs after finishing 14th in the Eastern Conference.[23][24]

Phoenix Rising FC

Cochran signed with Phoenix Rising FC on December 25, 2018.[25] He made his debut for Phoenix on March 16 in a 3–3 draw with New Mexico United.[26] Cochran ended the regular season with 24 appearances and 4 assists, helping Phoenix finish top of the Western Conference.[26][27] He played in both of Phoenix's playoff games as they lost to Real Monarchs in the quarterfinals.[26] Cochran was named to the 2019 USL Championship All-League Second Team.[28]

On August 8, 2020, Cochran scored his first goal for Phoenix in a 5–2 win over New Mexico. He scored again on October 3 in a 4–1 victory against LA Galaxy II. In a shortened regular season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Cochran had 2 goals from 13 appearances.[29] He started both of Phoenix's playoff games as they reached the final, however the championship game was cancelled after multiple positive Tampa Bay Rowdies players and staff tested positive for COVID-19.[29][30]

Indy Eleven

Cochran made the move to USL Championship side Indy Eleven on February 17, 2021.[31] He earned a place in the USL Team of the Week for Week 31 of the 2022 season after scoring a goal and a solid defensive performance in a 4–1 win over the Charleston Battery.

He was released from his contract by mutual agreement on January 31, 2023. During his two years with the club, he accumulated 47 regular season appearances (39 starts) and scored one goal.

Charleston Battery

On February 2, 2023, Cochran joined USL Championship side Charleston Battery for their 2023 season.[32]

Personal life

Cochran was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri. His parents are Anne and John Cochran and he has one sister. He attended CBC High School.[1] Cochran also played baseball, basketball, and football as a kid, but his dad encouraged him to focus on soccer.[33] He attended the University of Wisconsin.[1]

Career statistics
As of January 29, 2021[34][35][36]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Open Cup Playoffs Continental Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Houston Dynamo 2014 MLS 19020——210
2015 7030——100
Total 260500000310
Charleston Battery (loan) 2015 USL 200000—20
Saint Louis FC 2016 USL 27010——280
2017 18131——212
Total 451410000492
Atlanta United 2 2018 USL 300———300
Phoenix Rising 2019 USLC 2401020—270
2020 1320020—152
Total 372104000422
Career total140310140001544

Honors

Phoenix Rising

Individual

  • USL Championship All-League Second Team: 2019[28]

References
  1. "AJ Cochran | Men's Soccer". Wisconsin Badgers. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  2. "AJ Cochran, CBC Cadets, Named Missouri Gatorade POY". SGF Soccer. May 16, 2011. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  3. "Three SLSG Alumni Picked in MLS SuperDraft | St. Louis Scott Gallagher Soccer Club". www.slsgsoccer.com. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  4. "2018 Men's Soccer Record Book (PDF)" (PDF). Wisconsin Badgers. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  5. "United Soccer Leagues (USL)". Uslpdl.com. Archived from the original on December 10, 2013. Retrieved April 6, 2014.
  6. "United Soccer Leagues (USL)". Pdl.uslsoccer.com. Archived from the original on December 20, 2016. Retrieved April 6, 2014.
  7. ANDERSON, ERIC (January 14, 2014). "Center back Cochran off to MLS, UW's first Generation adidas player". Wisconsin Soccer Central. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  8. Ortiz, Jose de Jesus (January 16, 2014). "Dynamo select AJ Cochran in first round of MLS SuperDraft – Houston Chronicle". Chron.com. Archived from the original on January 17, 2014. Retrieved April 6, 2014.
  9. "A. J. Cochran 2014 Match Logs". FBref.com. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  10. "2014 Major League Soccer Stats". FBref.com. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  11. "USA - A. Cochran - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway". us.soccerway.com. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  12. "A. J. Cochran 2015 Match Logs". FBref.com. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  13. "2015 Major League Soccer Stats". FBref.com. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  14. Pedersen, Matt (May 19, 2015). "Loan update: Cochran, Rodriguez & Lisch feature for Charleston in two-game weekend". Houston Dynamo. Archived from the original on April 30, 2021. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  15. "A. J. Cochran Stats". FBref.com. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  16. "Houston Dynamo announce roster moves". Houston Dynamo. November 30, 2015. Archived from the original on May 9, 2021. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  17. "Match Report: Sacramento Republic FC 0-1 Colorado Rapids". February 13, 2016.
  18. "Saint Louis FC Roster Continues to Grow - Saint Louis Football Club". Archived from the original on March 13, 2016. Retrieved March 7, 2016.
  19. "2016 USL Stats". FBref.com. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  20. "A. J. Cochran 2017 Match Logs". FBref.com. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  21. "2017 USL Stats". FBref.com. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  22. "Atlanta United 2 signs four players to inaugural roster". Atlanta United. January 24, 2018. Retrieved January 24, 2018.
  23. "A. J. Cochran 2018 Match Logs". FBref.com. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  24. "2018 USL Stats". FBref.com. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  25. "Defender A.J. Cochran Joins Rising FC For 2019". Phoenix Rising Football Club. December 25, 2018. Retrieved December 25, 2018.
  26. "A. J. Cochran 2019 Match Logs". FBref.com. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  27. "2019 USL Championship Stats". FBref.com. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  28. "USL Championship Announces 2019 All-League Teams". www.uslchampionship.com. November 12, 2019. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  29. "A. J. Cochran 2020 Match Logs". FBref.com. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  30. "USL Championship Final Cancelled, Season Concludes with Tampa Bay, Phoenix as Conference Title-Winners". www.uslchampionship.com. October 31, 2020. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  31. "Indy Eleven Bolsters Defensive Corps with Cochran". February 17, 2021.
  32. "Battery sign veteran defender AJ Cochran".
  33. Statz, Lydia. "Team Player: A. J. Cochran". OnWisconsin. Archived from the original on October 16, 2015. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  34. "AJ Cochran". Major League Soccer. Archived from the original on January 16, 2014. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
  35. "A. J. Cochran Stats". FBref.com. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
  36. "USA - A. Cochran - Profile with news, career statistics and history". Soccerway. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
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