Fernando Garcia made the ESPN Sports Center Top 10 with his flying ‘golazo’ in May. And now the 23-year-old Charlotte, North Carolina, is bringing his striking prowess to the desert.
FC Tucson announced Tuesday the signing of forward from USL League Two side Des Moines Menace.
“We’re incredibly excited about this signing,” said FC Tucson Head Coach Jon Pearlman. “He’s a young player with a great physical presence and athleticism. He’s a proven goalscorer at the USL League Two level, and I think he’s ready to take the next step.”
Garcia featured in four games this season for Des Moines, the defending USL League Two champions, and piled up three goals and two assists to garner the attention of quite a few USL League One and Championship clubs.
“I’m excited to join the club and start my professional career with an amazing organization like Tucson,” Garcia said. “I’m looking forward to showcasing what I can bring to the table as a player, and helping the team in any way that I can, whether it be scoring goals or creating chances for my teammates.”
He created the most attention with his wondergoal in May in the team’s season opener when he lept in the air to connect on a volley off a cleared corner kick. The goal was the No. 3 highlight on the ESPN SportsCenter’s Top 10 that evening.
Hey, @SportsCenter… Check this out!
— Des Moines Menace ⭐️⭐️ (@MenaceSoccer94) May 15, 2022
A #SCTop10 worthy goal from Fernando Garcia to tie the game in this @USLLeagueTwo matchup!#UpTheMenace | #Path2Pro pic.twitter.com/hFvvKyiUez
Des Moines Menace won all four games with Garcia in the lineup, extending its 13-match unbeaten run dating back to last season.
Garcia played collegiate soccer at University of North Carolina Charlotte during his freshman year before transferring to Eastern Florida State University and North East Texas Community College for his sophomore year. He returned to North Carolina for his junior and senior years to play with University of North Carolina Greensboro.
During his time at UNCG, he was named to the First Team All-SoCon team, led the SoCon in points per game and helped the team win the Southern Conference tournament championship and reach the NCAA Tournament for the first time in over a decade. He also helped the team win the Southern Conference regular season championship in the fall of 2021.
He also featured with USL League Two’s Flint City Bucks in 2021 before making the move to Des Moines Menace.
The signing is pending league and federation approval.
