Bryan Dowd

Not to be confused with Brian Dowd.

Bryan Dowd

Personal information
Date of birth	(2002-03-08) March 8, 2002 (age 22)
Place of birth	Willow Springs, Illinois, United States
Height	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Position(s)	Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team	Huntsville City FC (on loan from Chicago Fire FC)
Number	39
Youth career
	Chicago Fire FC
	Chicago FC United
College career
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2020–2023	Notre Dame Fighting Irish	61	(0)
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2019–2022	Chicago FC United	11	(0)
2024–	Chicago Fire FC	0	(0)
2024	→ Chicago Fire FC II (loan)	0	(0)
2024–	→ Huntsville City FC (loan)	7	(0)
2024–	→ Nashville SC (loan)	0	(0)
International career^‡
2019	United States U17	1	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of September 23, 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of November 16, 2019

Bryan Dowd (born March 8, 2002) is an American soccer player who plays for MLS Next Pro club Huntsville City FC on loan from Major League Soccer club Chicago Fire FC.

Early life

Dowd joined the Chicago Fire FC Academy at age ten, later joining Chicago FC United when he was in high school.^[1][2] He attended Fenwick High School, where he played varsity football.^[3]

College career

In 2020, he began attending the University of Notre Dame, where he played for the men's soccer team.^[4] On March 16, 2021, he made his collegiate debut, recording a clean sheet, against the Calvin Knights.^[5] During the 2021 fall season, he faced four penalty kicks in the season, saving each one, including all three shots he faced in the shootout during the ACC quarter-finals.^[6] He was then named to the 2021 All-Tournament Team as Notre Dame won the ACC title.^[7] On September 19, 2023, he made a career high 12 saves in a 0–0 draw with the Akron Zips.^[8] He helped them win the ACC regular season title, but they were defeated in the Tournament Final, but still advanced to the national tournament.^[9] At the end of his senior season in 2023, he was named to the All-ACC First Team, the NCAA College Cup All-Tournament Team, the All-America First Team, the TopDrawerSoccer Best XI and was named the ACC Goalkeeper of the Year, TopDrawerSoccer National Player of the Year, and a Hermann Trophy semi-finalist.^[10][11][12]

In April 2022, he also joined the Notre Dame football team as the third-string punter, when the school was short of kickers during their spring preseason.^[13] However, he never took a snap in a match,^[14] due to NCAA rules on sports scholarship players.^[1] He had initially been offered a spot on the team as a freshman,^[1][15] but was told he would have to join the team as a full-time player, rather than to be a dual sport athlete.^[1] Upon coach Marcus Freeman taking over, he was invited to join the team as a reserve punter, while continuing on the soccer team, and was able to play in the school's Blue-Gold intrasquad spring games.^[1]

Club career

He played with Chicago FC United in USL League Two, beginning in 2019. In the summer of 2023, he was able to train with some Major League Soccer teams.^[16]

At the 2024 MLS SuperDraft, Dowd was selected in the first round (sixth overall) by Chicago Fire FC.^[17][18][19] In January 2024, he signed a professional contract with the club.^[20][21] In late June 2024, he was loaned to Huntsville City FC for the remainder of the season.^[22][23] As part of the loan agreement, Nashville SC, the Major League Soccer parent club of Huntsville, maintains the option to make the move permanent and acquire Dowd via trade at the end of the loan.^[24] He also made a few bench appearances for Nashville in 2024.^[25]

International career

Dowd played with the United States U17 and was named to the preliminary roster for the 2019 FIFA U-17 World Cup.^[26]

Career statistics

As of match played October 21, 2023^[27]

Club	Season	League			Playoffs		National Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Chicago FC United	2019[28]	USL League Two	2	0	0	0	—		—		2	0
	2021[29]		6	0	0	0	—		—		6	0
	2022[30]		3	0	1	0	0	0	—		4	0
	Total		11	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	12	0
Career total			11	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	12	0

References

1. Sampson, Pete (December 8, 2023). "Why Notre Dame's star goalkeeper is also the third-string kicker for Irish football". The Athletic.
2. Hodgson, Rudy (December 21, 2023). "Homecoming: Meet Chicago Fire FC SuperDraft First Round Pick Bryan Dowd". Chicago Fire FC.
3. McCollum, Christian (December 16, 2019). "Notre Dame Taking Look At Irish Soccer Signee". Irish Sports Daily.
4. "Bryan Dowd Notre Dame profile". Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
5. "McFadden's Goal Carries Irish Past Calvin". Notre Dame Fighting Irish. March 16, 2021.
6. "Dowd's Shootout Performance Pushes Irish To ACC Semis". Notre Dame Fighting Irish. November 17, 2021.
7. "Irish Clinch ACC Championship with 2–0 Win Over Duke". Notre Dame Fighting Irish. November 14, 2021.
8. "Dowd's Masterclass Highlights 0–0 Draw At #4 Akron". Notre Dame Fighting Irish. September 19, 2023.
9. Hough, Austin (November 30, 2023). "'Hungry as ever.' Goalie Bryan Dowd anchors Notre Dame men's soccer NCAA Tournament run". South Bend Tribune.
10. "Dowd And Riley Headline All-ACC Honors". Notre Dame Fighting Irish. November 8, 2023.
11. "Dowd And Boneau Selected In 2024 MLS Draft". Notre Dame Fighting Irish. December 19, 2023.
12. Singer, Mike (December 19, 2023). "Newsstand: Notre Dame goalie Bryan Dowd National Player of the Year". On3 Recruits.
13. Frommer, Justin (August 24, 2022). "Notre Dame's Bryan Dowd gearing up for Irish soccer, football seasons". South Bend Tribune.
14. Sánchez Córdova, José (November 17, 2023). "'I just had to do it': Notre Dame soccer star Bryan Dowd takes opportunity to play football". The Observer.
15. "Offer Report: 2020 P Bryan Dowd". ND Insider. December 8, 2018.
16. Brice, John (October 29, 2023). "Dowd, Irish Carry Fiery Resolve Into Postseason". Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
17. Hough, Austin (December 19, 2023). "It's a homecoming for Bryan Dowd as Chicago Fire FC selects Notre Dame goalkeeper in MLS SuperDraft". South Bend Tribune.
18. Chatz, Joe (December 19, 2023). "Bryan Dowd 'Ready to Give Everything' to Chicago Fire". On Tap Sports Net.
19. Henry Jr, Larry (December 19, 2023). "Frederick, Spicer, Dowd headline top selections of 2024 MLS Draft". SBI Soccer.
20. "Chicago Fire FC sign MLS SuperDraft pick Bryan Dowd". Major League Soccer. January 15, 2024.
21. "Chicago Fire FC Signs MLS SuperDraft Pick Bryan Dowd to First Team Contract". Chicago Fire FC. January 15, 2024.
22. "Huntsville City FC Acquires Goalkeeper Bryan Dowd on Loan from Chicago Fire FC". Huntsville City FC. June 27, 2024.
23. Calabrese, Alex (June 27, 2024). "Bryan Dowd loaned to Huntsville City". Men in Red 97.
24. "Chicago Fire FC Loans Goalkeeper Bryan Dowd to Huntsville City FC". Chicago Fire FC. June 27, 2024.
25. Briscoe, Ronan (October 25, 2024). "Bryan Dowd: 2024 report card". Broadway Sports Media.
26. "Notre Dame Men's Soccer: Meet the Class of 2024". Notre Dame Fighting Irish. April 7, 2020.
27. Bryan Dowd at Soccerway
28. "Bryan Dowd 2019 USL2 Stats". USL League Two.
29. "Bryan Dowd 2021 USL2 Stats". USL League Two.
30. "Bryan Dowd 2022 USL2 Stats". USL League Two.

External links

• Bryan Dowd at Soccerway