Kyle Morton

Kyle Stuart Morton (born March 31, 1994) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for Louisville City FC in the USL Championship.

Kyle Morton
Personal information
Full name Kyle Stuart Morton
Date of birth (1994-03-31) March 31, 1994
Place of birth West Chester, Pennsylvania, United States
Height 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team
 Louisville City
Number 1
Youth career
Philadelphia Union
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2012–2016 James Madison Dukes 69 (0)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015 Reading United 11 (0)
2016 Lehigh Valley United 10 (0)
2016 OKC Energy U23 2 (0)
2017 Rochester Rhinos 0 (0)
2018–2019 Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC 24 (0)
2020 Saint Louis FC 14 (0)
2021 Houston Dynamo 1 (0)
2021 → Memphis 901 (loan) 5 (0)
2022– Louisville City 31 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of October 18, 2023

Career

College and amateur

Morton attended Henderson High School, where he played on the school soccer team and served as the team captain as a senior.[1] He played club soccer for Penn Fusion and also spent time with the Philadelphia Union Academy.[1][2]

Morton played college soccer at James Madison University between 2012 and 2016, receiving a medical redshirt during 2013. He made third team All-CAA for his final three seasons.[1]

While in college, Morton also played with Premier Development League sides Reading United AC, Lehigh Valley United and OKC Energy U23.[3]

Rochester Rhinos

Morton signed his first professional deal with United Soccer League club Rochester Rhinos on March 7, 2017.[4] He made his Rhinos debut on May 18 in a 3–0 win over FC Motown in a U.S. Open Cup match.[5] That would be his only appearance for Rochester and following the 2017 season, the team decided to go on hiatus.[6]

Pittsburgh Riverhounds

On January 26, 2018, Morton joined USL side Pittsburgh Riverhounds.[7] He made his Riverhounds debut on April 7, keeping a clean sheet in a 4–0 victory against Toronto FC II.[8] He ended his first season in Pittsburgh with 3 appearances and 3 clean sheets, missing most of the season due to a torn ACL.[8][9]

In 2018, Morton made 24 appearances in the regular season and kept 13 clean sheets, tied for 2nd most in the league, helping the Riverhounds finish first in the Eastern Conference.[10][11] He played in both of Pittsburgh's playoff games as the Riverhounds reached the Conference Semifinals, where they lost 2–1 to Louisville City in extra time.[12]

Saint Louis FC

On January 3, 2020, Morton moved to USL Championship side Saint Louis FC.[13] He made his debut for Saint Louis on March 7, a 4–1 win over Miami FC. In a shortened season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Morton made 14 appearances and kept 2 clean sheets to help Saint Louis qualify for the playoffs.[14] He played in both of their playoff games as Saint Louis reached the Conference Semifinals, where they lost to Louisville City 2–0.[14] Saint Louis FC folded following the 2020 USL Championship season.[15]

Houston Dynamo

Morton signed with Major League Soccer side Houston Dynamo on January 27, 2021.[16] On July 9, 2021, Morton was loaned to USL Championship side Memphis 901.[17] He made his debut for Memphis on July 10, making 8 saves and keeping a clean sheet in a 1–0 win over Birmingham Legion.[18] Morton was named USL Championship Player of the Week and made the Team of the Week following his performance against Birmingham.[19] He made 5 appearances while with Memphis, keeping 2 clean sheets.[18] Houston recalled him from his loan on August 18.[20] On November 3, in the final game of Houston's season, Morton made his Dynamo and MLS debut, making 4 saves in a 2–0 loss to CF Montréal.[18] Following the 2021 season, Morton's contract option was declined by Houston.[21]

Louisville City FC

Morton signed with Louisville City FC on December 28, 2021.[22]

Career statistics
As of November 10, 2021[23][10][24]
Club Season League Open Cup Playoffs Continental Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Reading United2015PDL 11000——110
Lehigh Valley United2016PDL 10000——100
OKC Energy U232016PDL 200020—40
Rochester Rhinos2017United Soccer League 001000—10
Pittsburgh Riverhounds2018United Soccer League 300000—30
2019USL Championship 2402020—280
Riverhounds Total270202000310
Saint Louis FC2020USL Championship 140—20—160
Houston Dynamo2021Major League Soccer 10———10
Memphis 901 (loan)2021USL Championship 50—00—50
Louisville City FC 2022 USL Championship 2804000—320
Career Total9807060001110

    Honors

    Individual

    • USL Championship All League Second Team : 2022[26]

    Personal life

    Morton attended Henderson High School, where he played on the school soccer team as well as on the school football team as kicker.[1] He attended James Madison University, where he majored in kinesiology.[1]

    His brother is fellow professional soccer goalkeeper, Todd Morton, who currently plays for Philadelphia Union II.[27]

    References
    1. "Kyle Morton - Men's Soccer". James Madison University Athletics. Retrieved 2021-01-28.
    2. Ralph, Matthew (2017-03-08). "West Chester native Kyle Morton signs with Rochester Rhinos". Brotherly Game. Retrieved 2021-01-28.
    3. "Stats". USL PDL.
    4. Rochester Rhinos (7 March 2017). "Rhinos Sign GK Kyle Morton".
    5. "USA - K. Morton - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway". us.soccerway.com. Retrieved 2021-01-28.
    6. Tsujimoto, Ben. "Rochester Rhinos to take hiatus from United Soccer League". The Buffalo News. Retrieved 2021-01-28.
    7. "Former Duke Kyle Morton Signs With Riverhounds". James Madison University.
    8. "Kyle Morton 2018 Match Logs (Goalkeeping)". FBref.com. Retrieved 2021-01-28.
    9. "Kyle Morton talks recovery from injury, second season with Riverhounds". Pittsburgh Sports Castle. 2018-12-08. Retrieved 2021-01-28.
    10. "Kyle Morton Stats". FBref.com. Retrieved 2021-01-28.
    11. "2019 USL Championship Stats". FBref.com. Retrieved 2021-01-28.
    12. "Kyle Morton 2019 Match Logs (Goalkeeping)". FBref.com. Retrieved 2021-01-28.
    13. "STLFC Signs Goalkeeper Kyle Morton for 2020 Season". saintlouisfc.com. Saint Louis FC. December 22, 2019. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
    14. "Kyle Morton 2020 Match Logs (Goalkeeping)". FBref.com. Retrieved 2021-01-28.
    15. Straus, Brian. "USL's Saint Louis FC to Fold to Make Room for MLS Expansion Team". Sports Illustrated.
    16. Bogert, Tom (January 27, 2021). "Houston Dynamo sign goalkeeper Kyle Morton". Major League Soccer. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
    17. "Houston Dynamo loan GK Kyle Morton to Memphis 901 FC". Houston Dynamo FC. July 9, 2021. Retrieved November 10, 2021.
    18. "Kyle Morton 2021 Match Logs (Goalkeeping)". FBref.com. Retrieved 2021-11-10.
    19. "USL Championship Team of the Week – Week 12". USL Championship. July 13, 2021. Retrieved November 10, 2021.
    20. "Goalkeeper Kyle Morton Recalled by Houston Dynamo FC". Memphis 901 FC. August 18, 2021. Retrieved November 10, 2021.
    21. "Houston Dynamo FC exercise 2022 contract options on seven players | Houston Dynamo". houstondynamofc.
    22. "LOUCITY LANDS 'QUALITY GOALKEEPER' MORTON ON USL CHAMPIONSHIP RETURN". LouCity.com. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
    23. "USA - K. Morton - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway". us.soccerway.com. Retrieved 2021-01-28.
    24. "OKC Energy U23 - 2016 Regular Season - Roster - # - KYLE MORTON -". www.uslleaguetwo.com. Retrieved 2021-01-28.
    25. "Orange County SC's Milan Iloski wins 2022 USL Championship Golden Boot". www.uslchampionship.com. Tampa, FL: USL Championship. October 16, 2022. Archived from the original on October 17, 2022. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
    26. "USL Championship Announces 2022 All-League Teams". www.uslchampionship.com. Tampa, FL: USL. November 1, 2022. Archived from the original on November 1, 2022. Retrieved November 1, 2022.
    27. Ralph, Matthew (March 7, 2019). "Goalkeeping brothers from West Chester a rarity in pro soccer". Brotherly Game.
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