Henry Kessler

Updated January 13, 2021

HENRY KESSLER AT A GLANCE:

• Selected by New England with the sixth-overall pick in the 2020 MLS SuperDraft.
• Second-year center back made 22 appearances and 19 starts, with four additional starts in the playoffs, in first professional campaign.
• As a rookie, helped set a Revolution club record for fewest goals allowed per game (1.09 avg.) while leading the side in interceptions, tackles won, possession won, and clearances.
• University of Virginia product played 52 games with the Cavaliers from 2017-19, earning All-ACC honors twice, 2019 ACC Tournament MVP recognition, and a spot on the 2019 NCAA College Cup All-Tournament Team.
• Named a MAC Hermann Trophy Semifinalist in 2019 after anchoring a back line that allowed 0.53 goals per game, second-lowest in the country, and produced NCAA bests with 15 shutouts and 21 wins.
• Received first international call-up to U.S. Under-23 Men's National Team's 2021 January Camp.

MLS CAREER: Selected by New England with the sixth-overall pick in the first round of the 2020 MLS SuperDraft…One of five players to sign a Generation adidas contract with MLS prior to the SuperDraft…Made 22 MLS appearances, 19 of them starts, as a rookie and helped set a club-record for fewest goals allowed per game (1.09 avg.)…Scored one goal...Made an additional four starts in the MLS Cup Playoffs, helping the team advance to the Eastern Conference Final.

2020: Finished rookie MLS campaign with 22 appearances, 19 starts, and one goal across 1,823 minutes played...Led all 2020 MLS SuperDraft selections in games played, games started, and minutes played…Ranked second among all rookies in games played and minutes…Helped the Revolution set a club record for best goals-against average (1.09)…Led the team in clearances (83), interceptions (34), tackles won (21) and possessions won (123)…Appeared in all six of the team’s clean sheets, starting five…(2/29) vs. MTL: Made professional debut in season opener at Montreal…(7/9) at MTL: Played 23 minutes as a substitute and helped preserve the 1-0 win…(7/21) at TOR: Made third career start and played 90 minutes in the 0-0 draw…(8/20) vs. PHI: Played 90 minutes in shutout performance…Named to MLSsoccer.com Team of the Week…(9/19) vs. NYC: Started and earned another clean sheet in scoreless draw…(9/23) vs. MTL: Opened MLS account with a 45^th-minute goal in 3-1 win…Named to MLSsoccer.com Team of the Week for the second time…(9/27) at DC: Started and played 90 minutes in 2-0 shutout win…(10/3) vs. NSH: Earned another clean sheet and recorded two shots…Earned third Team of the Week nod…Postseason: (11/20) vs. MTL: Made his playoff start with 90-minute outing in Play-In Round…(11/24) at PHI: Played 90 minutes in clean-sheet performance, 2-0, in Round One…Logged team highs in interceptions (4) and blocks (3)…(11/29) at ORL: Started in the 3-1 Conference Semifinal win…(12/6) at CLB: Made fourth consecutive playoff start in the Eastern Conference Final, a 1-0 defeat.

COLLEGE (VIRGINIA): Central defender played 52 games with 41 starts for the University of Virginia from 2017-19…Totaled 4,073 minutes played and scored one goal…Named a MAC Hermann Trophy semifinalist in 2019 as one of the nation’s top collegiate soccer players…Conference honors include All-ACC First Team selection in 2019 and third-team recognition in 2018…Also named to USC All-South Region First Team as a junior, and the second team as a sophomore…In final season at UVA in 2019, played 90 minutes in all 24 matches during a campaign that saw the Cavaliers reach the national championship game and go 21-2-1 with 12 shutout wins…The team’s 21 wins led the nation, and the 0.53 goals against average was second-lowest in the country…Helped claim UVA’s 11^th ACC Tournament Championship and led team to 13^th College Cup appearance…Named the ACC Tournament MVP…Also earned Best XI recognition from TopDrawerSoccer.com and In 2018, started all 16 games in which he appeared…Played center back on a defense that ranked 17^th in the nation in shutouts (17) and 13^th in goals against average (0.675)…Named to USC All-South Region Second Team and All-ACC Third Team…In freshman season, saw action in 12 games, with one start coming against Syracuse on Sept. 8, 2017…Appeared in all four ACC Tournament games, including 28 minutes in the quarterfinal against Boston College.

NATIONAL TEAM (UNITED STATES): Received first international call-up to U.S. Under-23 Men's National Team's 2021 January Camp in Bradenton, Fla. after a breakout debut season in MLS.

PERSONAL: Raised in New York City…Developed at Beachside SC in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy and also spent time with the New York Red Bulls Academy...Traveled more than two hours each way to Beachside SC training in Connecticut…Completed high school in two years at Bard High School Early College in Manhattan…Father was a two-sport athlete at Harvard, playing lacrosse and football…Mother played lacrosse at Villanova…Has three siblings, one brother and two sisters…Brother, Reed, also played for UVA’s men’s soccer team…Sister, Zoë, was on Harvard’s sailing team from 2015-17.