.gif)
Daniel Cruz (soccer)
Encyclopedia
Daniel Arthur Quimby "Danny" Cruz (born January 3, 1990 in Petersburg, Virginia
) is an American
soccer player who currently plays for Houston Dynamo
in Major League Soccer
.
, and then moved to Glendale, Arizona
, where he attended Ironwood High School
. He played two years of college soccer
at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas. He was the first UNLV player to earn MPSF Newcomer of the Year honors in his freshman year in 2007, and was named to the all-Mountain Pacific Sports Federation first team after scoring five goals in 2008.
During his college years he also played with Des Moines Menace
in the USL Premier Development League
.
by the Houston Dynamo
. He made his professional debut on 28 March 2009, coming on as a substitute in Houston's game against the San Jose Earthquakes
.
He scored his first goal for the Dynamo against DC United, he also had an assist in that game.
in South Korea and the Pan American Games
in Brazil in 2007, and appeared in seven international games for the United States U-20 national team in 2008.
's show Made
, helping Michael Schwenke turn from "theater geek" into a soccer player. The episode first aired on Monday, Feb. 7, 2011.
Petersburg, Virginia
Petersburg is an independent city in Virginia, United States located on the Appomattox River and south of the state capital city of Richmond. The city's population was 32,420 as of 2010, predominantly of African-American ethnicity...
) is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
soccer player who currently plays for Houston Dynamo
Houston Dynamo
The Houston Dynamo is an American professional soccer club, based in Houston, Texas, that plays in Major League Soccer, the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. Founded in 2005 as Houston 1836, the team name was renamed to Houston Dynamo following protests from Hispanic...
in Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
.
Youth and College
Cruz attended junior high in Rohnert Park, CaliforniaRohnert Park, California
Rohnert Park is a city in Sonoma County, California, United States, located approximately north of San Francisco. The population at the 2010 United States Census was 40,971. It is an early planned city, modeled directly after Levittown, New York and Levittown, Pennsylvania. Rohnert Park is the...
, and then moved to Glendale, Arizona
Glendale, Arizona
Glendale is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona, USA, located about nine miles northwest from Downtown Phoenix. According to 2010 Census Bureau, the population of the city is 226,721....
, where he attended Ironwood High School
Ironwood High School
Ironwood High School is a public secondary school located in Glendale, Arizona, United States. The high school is currently a part of the Peoria Unified School District. The school opened its doors in August 1986, since which it has maintained an Excelling academic status...
. He played two years of college soccer
College soccer
College soccer is a term used to describe association football played by teams who are operated by colleges and universities as opposed to a professional league operated for exclusively financial purposes...
at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas. He was the first UNLV player to earn MPSF Newcomer of the Year honors in his freshman year in 2007, and was named to the all-Mountain Pacific Sports Federation first team after scoring five goals in 2008.
During his college years he also played with Des Moines Menace
Des Moines Menace
Des Moines Menace is an American soccer team based in Des Moines, Iowa, United States. Founded in 1994, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Heartland Division of the Central Conference.The team plays its home games at Valley...
in the USL Premier Development League
USL Premier Development League
The USL Premier Development League is the amateur league of the United Soccer Leagues in the United States, Canada, and Bermuda, forming part of the American Soccer Pyramid...
.
Professional
Cruz was drafted in the third round (41st overall) of the 2009 MLS SuperDraft2009 MLS SuperDraft
The 2009 MLS SuperDraft took place on January 15, 2009 in St. Louis, Missouri. It was the tenth annual Major League Soccer SuperDraft. The first selection was owned by the expansion Seattle Sounders FC...
by the Houston Dynamo
Houston Dynamo
The Houston Dynamo is an American professional soccer club, based in Houston, Texas, that plays in Major League Soccer, the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. Founded in 2005 as Houston 1836, the team name was renamed to Houston Dynamo following protests from Hispanic...
. He made his professional debut on 28 March 2009, coming on as a substitute in Houston's game against the San Jose Earthquakes
San Jose Earthquakes
The San Jose Earthquakes professional soccer team is located in the San Jose, California, United States suburb of Santa Clara, and participates in Major League Soccer , the top level soccer league in the United States and Canada....
.
He scored his first goal for the Dynamo against DC United, he also had an assist in that game.
International
Cruz represented the United States at the FIFA U-17 World CupFIFA U-17 World Cup
The FIFA U-17 World Cup, founded as the FIFA U-16 World Championship, later changed to the FIFA U-17 World Championship and known by its current name since 2007, is the world championship of association football for male players under the age of 17 organized by Fédération Internationale de Football...
in South Korea and the Pan American Games
Pan American Games
The Pan-American or Pan American Games are a major event in the Americas featuring summer and formerly winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Pan American Games are the second largest multi-sport event after the Summer Olympics...
in Brazil in 2007, and appeared in seven international games for the United States U-20 national team in 2008.
Personal life
Cruz made an appearance on MTVMTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
's show Made
Made (TV series)
MTV's MADE is a self-improvement reality television series broadcast on MTV. The series follows teens who have a goal and want to be "made" into things like singers, athletes, dancers, skateboarders, etc. The teens are joined by a "Made Coach", an expert in their chosen field, who tries to help...
, helping Michael Schwenke turn from "theater geek" into a soccer player. The episode first aired on Monday, Feb. 7, 2011.