Easton Ongaro

Easton Ongaro (born June 5, 1998) is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays as a forward for Pacific FC in the Canadian Premier League.

Easton Ongaro
Personal information
Full name Easton Ongaro
Date of birth (1998-06-05) June 5, 1998
Place of birth Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Height 1.99 m (6 ft 6+1⁄2 in)
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
 Pacific FC
Number 9
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2017–2018 Alberta Golden Bears 26 (20)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2019–2021 FC Edmonton 55 (25)
2020 → Vendsyssel FF (loan) 7 (2)
2022 UTA Arad 6 (1)
2022 Whitecaps FC 2 7 (3)
2022 → Vancouver Whitecaps FC (loan) 1 (0)
2023– Pacific FC 26 (5)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of October 7, 2023

Club career

Early career

In 2016, Ongaro began playing at the senior amateur level in the Alberta Major Soccer League with the Edmonton Green & Gold, scoring two goals in eight appearances that season.[1] The following season he doubled his tally, scoring four goals in thirteen appearances.[1] In 2018, Ongaro led the league in scoring with thirteen goals in nine appearances.[1]

In October 2018, Ongaro was selected 15th overall in the 2018 CPL–U Sports Draft by Calgary-based club Cavalry FC.[2]

FC Edmonton

In May 2019, Ongaro signed with his hometown club, FC Edmonton, after he was released by Cavalry FC.[3][2] On 12 June 2019, Ongaro made his debut as a substitute against York9 FC in the Canadian Championship.[4] The following weekend he made his league debut as a substitute in the Al Classico against his draft club, Cavalry FC.[4] He scored his first goal for Edmonton on July 27 against Forge FC.[5] Ongaro finished the season with a team-high ten goals in 21 league appearances, finishing fourth among the league's top scorers.[4] On 12 November 2019, Ongaro re-signed with FC Edmonton on a multi-year contract.[6]

Edmonton had a disastrous shortened 2020 season, managing only a single point in seven games. Nevertheless, Ongaro again led the club in goals, scoring three while playing in every game.[7]

In 2021, he had a slow start to the season, but by August began to get into excellent form, developing a partnership with new signing Tobias Warschewski, who assisted many of his goals.[8] Ultimately, Ongaro again had an individually successful season, while his team's season was disappointing, as the Eddies finished in seventh place. However, Ongaro scored 12 goals in 27 appearances, good for second league-wide.[7] Upon completion of the season, Ongaro would express a desire to play in Europe,[9] and eventually signed in Romania. After three seasons with Edmonton he left as the Canadian Premier League's all-time top goalscorer, with 25 goals.[10]

Loan to Vendsyssel FF

On 4 October 2020, Ongaro was loaned to Danish 1st Division side Vendsyssel FF until the end of the calendar year.[11] The deal also included an option to buy at the end of the loan period.[12] He made his debut on 7 October in a Danish Cup tie against Aarhus Fremad.[13] On 31 December 2020, Vendsyssel declined the option to purchase Ongaro at the end of the loan, and he returned to Edmonton for the 2021 season.[14]

UTA Arad

On 12 January 2022, Ongaro signed with Romanian Liga I side UTA Arad.[15] He made his first appearance for the club on January 23 against Gaz Metan Mediaș. Ongaro scored his first goal for UTA Arad on February 18, netting a late equalizer in a 1–1 draw against Universitatea Craiova.[16][17] He departed the club in May 2022, after a spell that was marred by injury.[18] After departing Arad, he went to train with his former club FC Edmonton, with no plans to join the club on a permanent contract, only to train for fitness.[19]

Whitecaps FC 2

In July 2022, he signed with Whitecaps FC 2 in MLS Next Pro.[20][21] He made his debut on July 24, scoring two goals against Colorado Rapids 2.[22] In August, he signed a short-term loan with the first team for their match against the LA Galaxy on August 13.[23][24][25]

Pacific FC

In November 2022, Ongaro returned to the Canadian Premier League, signing with Pacific FC.[26]

International career

Ongaro was named to the Canadian U-23 provisional roster for the 2020 CONCACAF Men's Olympic Qualifying Championship on 26 February 2020.[27]

Personal life

He is the nephew of former Canadian professional soccer player Ross Ongaro.[28] He also holds an Italian passport.[15]

Career statistics
As of October 21, 2023[4][13]
Club statistics
Club Season League Playoffs National Cup[lower-alpha 1] Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
FC Edmonton 2019 Canadian Premier League 2110—102210
2020 73——73
2021 2712—102812
Total 552500205725
Vendsyssel FF (loan) 2020–21 Danish 1st Division 72—1082
UTA Arad 2021–22 Liga I 61—0061
Whitecaps FC 2 2022 MLS Next Pro 73——73
Pacific FC 2023 Canadian Premier League 2653031326
Career total 10136306111037
  1. Includes appearances in the Canadian Championship and Danish Cup.

References
  1. "Easton Ongaro". Alberta Major Soccer League. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
  2. "FC Edmonton Announces Signing of Easton Ongaro". FC Edmonton. 1 May 2019. Archived from the original on 1 May 2019. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
  3. "Paulus looking for CPL leaders FC Edmonton to continue to "outwork teams" as they get set for latest Al Classico battle". aftn.ca. AFTN. 14 August 2019. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  4. "E. Ongaro". Soccerway. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
  5. "RECAP: FCE, Forge split points in cagey Clarke clash". July 27, 2019.
  6. John Molinaro (12 November 2019). "FCE's Ongaro signs multi-year deal after breakout season". Canadian Premier League. Retrieved 14 November 2019.
  7. "Canadian Premier League". Canadian Premier League. Retrieved 2021-11-14.
  8. "Gatorade Team of the Week (CPL Week 7)". Canadian Premier League. 2021-08-09. Retrieved 2021-11-14.
  9. John Jacques (December 12, 2021). "Ongaro Sets Sight On Europe: 'I Want To Experience Something New'". Northern Tribune.
  10. "CPL Top Goalscorer Easton Ongaro Lands In Romania". Northern Tribune. 2022-01-12. Retrieved 2022-01-13.
  11. "Vendsyssel FF lejer canadisk angriber" (in Danish). Vendsyssel FF. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
  12. John Molinaro (4 October 2020). "FC Edmonton's Easton Ongaro sent on loan to Danish club Vendsyssel FF". Canadian Premier League. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
  13. @VendsysselFF (7 October 2020). "DAGENS STARTOPSTILLING ER KLAR! Nu varer det ikke længe, før vi tager hul på kampen i 2. runde af Sydbank Pokalen, hvor Aarhus Fremad fra 2. division er modstanderen på Riisvangen Stadion i Aarhus. Go' kamp!" (Tweet) (in Danish). Retrieved 31 October 2020 – via Twitter.
  14. "Ongaro returns to FC Edmonton from loan stint in Denmark". FC Edmonton. December 31, 2020.
  15. "BUN VENIT, EASTON ONGARO!" (in Romanian). Uta Arad FC. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  16. "U Craiova 1948 - UTA Arad - 18 feb 2022, 17:30 - Liga I". February 18, 2022.
  17. Alexandre Gangué-Ruzic [@AlexGangueRuzic] (February 18, 2022). "Easton Ongaro is off the mark in 🇷🇴 The 23 y/o FW scored his 1st goal for UTA Arad today, and it was a big one, helping them rescue a point off the bench in a 1-1 draw Here it is. Lovely left footed finish to bury home" (Tweet). Retrieved February 19, 2022 – via Twitter.
  18. Jacques, John (May 20, 2022). "Easton Ongaro 'Looking Forward To Next Challenge' After Leaving UTA Arad". Northern Tribune.
  19. Jacques, John (June 5, 2022). "Ongaro Training With FC Edmonton, But Won't Be Signing". Northern Tribune.
  20. "Whitecaps FC 2 sign Canadian striker Easton Ongaro". Vancouver Whitecaps FC. July 7, 2022.
  21. Jacques, John (July 7, 2022). "Whitecaps FC 2 Sign Easton Ongaro". Northern Tribune.
  22. Fossey, Maxim (July 24, 2022). "WFC2 draw 2-2 in regulation against Colorado Rapids 2, suffer narrow shootout defeat". Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
  23. Jacques, John (August 12, 2022). "Ongaro Gets Nod With Whitecaps First Team". Northern Tribune.
  24. "Whitecaps FC sign striker Easton Ongaro to MLS short-term agreement". Vancouver Whitecaps FC. August 12, 2022.
  25. Gangué-Ruzic, Alexandre (August 12, 2022). "After European rollercoaster, Easton Ongaro lands latest chance at Vancouver Whitecaps". OneSoccer.
  26. "Pacific FC sign former FC Edmonton striker Easton Ongaro". Canadian Premier League. November 15, 2022.
  27. "Canada Soccer announces Provisional List for Concacaf Men's Olympic Qualifying". Canada Soccer. 26 February 2020. Archived from the original on 9 March 2020. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
  28. Sandor, Steven (August 9, 2019). "Easton Ongaro living up to family legacy at FC Edmonton". Canadian Premier League.
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