Henry Kessler

Updated September 16, 2020

AT A GLANCE:

• Central defender has appeared in each of first 11 games since being selected by New England with the sixth-overall pick in the 2020 MLS SuperDraft.
• University of Virginia product was one of five players to sign Generation adidas contract with MLS ahead of the 2020 SuperDraft.
• 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 backline that allowed 0.53 goals per game, second-lowest in the country, and produced NCAA bests with 15 shutouts and 21 wins.
• Graduated high school in two years from Bard High School Early College in New York, N.Y.

MLS CAREER (2020): 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…Has appeared in all 11 league games to start his rookie campaign, with eight starts…Through first 10 games, led the team in interceptions (16) and clearances (43)… (2/29) vs. MTL: Made professional debut in season opener at Montreal, starting and playing 90 minutes…(3/7) vs. CHI: Recorded a second consecutive start in central defense in the 1-1 draw…(7/9) at MTL: Played 23 minutes as a substitute, helping preserve the 1-0 win…(7/17) at DC: Registered 45 minutes played as a halftime substitute…(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 the clean sheet draw…Named to MLSsoccer.com Team of the Week…(9/2) vs. NYC: Logged fifth straight 90-minute performance.

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.

PERSONAL: Raised in New York City…Developed at Beachside SC in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy and 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