{{Short description|American soccer player (born 1997)}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Kyle Zajec | image = KZajec.JPG | image_size = 220px | caption = | fullname = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1997|3|28}} | birth_place = Westport, Connecticut, United States | height = 6 ft 0 in | position = Midfielder | currentclub = | clubnumber = | youthyears1 = 2002–2011 | youthclubs1 = Beachside SC | youthyears2 = 2011–2015 | youthclubs2 = New York Red Bulls | collegeyears1 = 2015–2018 | college1 = Georgetown Hoyas | collegecaps1 = 62 | collegegoals1 = 5 | years1 = 2015 | clubs1 = New York Red Bulls II | caps1 = 3 | goals1 = 0 | years2 = 2016–2018 | clubs2 = New York Red Bulls U-23 | caps2 = 34 | goals2 = 2 | years3 = 2019–2021 | clubs3 = New York Red Bulls II | caps3 = 43 | goals3 = 5 | club-update = November 4, 2021 }}
'''Kyle Zajec''' (born March 28, 1997) is an American soccer player who most recently played as a midfielder.
==Career== ===Early career=== Zajec started his career with the New York Red Bulls academy when he was 13.<ref name=TheHour>{{cite news|last1=Burge|first1=Bob|title=Boys soccer: Westport's Zajec signs an amateur agreement with New York Red Bulls|url=http://www.thehour.com/sports/boys-soccer-westport-s-zajec-signs-an-amateur-agreement-with/article_e29ce994-d4c9-11e4-adfd-a7856b6b9395.html|accessdate=May 24, 2015|work=The Hour|date=March 27, 2015}}</ref> After an impressive academy career, Zajec verbally committed to join the Georgetown University Hoyas in 2015.<ref name=TheHour/> In his four season with the Hoyas, Zajec appeared in 62 matches and scored five goals. During his college years, Zajec also played for New York Red Bulls U-23.<ref name=2018stats>{{cite web|title=Kyle Zajec #8·M|url=https://www.uslleaguetwo.com/roster_players/24540456?subseason=482928|website=uslleaguetwo.com}}</ref>
===Professional=== On March 27, 2015, it was announced that Zajec had signed an amateur agreement to play for the New York Red Bulls II of the United Soccer League. The deal would allow him to play competitive soccer in a professional league without losing his college eligibility.<ref name=TheHour/> On March 28, 2015, Zajec made his debut for Red Bulls II against Rochester Rhinos. He started and played the whole match as the Red Bulls II drew 0–0.<ref>{{cite web|title=New York Red Bulls II 0-0 Rochester Rhinos|url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2015/03/28/united-states/mls-reserve-league/new-york-rb-ii/rochester-raging-rhinos/2001154/|website=Soccerway}}</ref>
On March 8, 2019, Zajec signed his first professional contract with New York Red Bulls II.<ref>{{cite web|title=NYRB II Strengthen Roster Ahead of Season Opener|url=https://www.newyorkredbulls.com/post/2019/03/08/nyrb-ii-strengthen-roster-ahead-season-opener|website=newyorkredbulls.com}}</ref> On May 31, 2019, Zajec scored his first two goals as a professional in a 4–0 victory over Bethlehem Steel FC.<ref>{{cite web|title=Match Recap: NYRB II Dominate Bethlehem Steel FC at MSU Soccer Park Opener|url=https://www.newyorkredbulls.com/post/2019/05/31/match-recap-nyrb-ii-dominate-bethlehem-steel-fc-msu-soccer-park|website=newyorkredbulls.com}}</ref>
Following the 2021 season, Zajec's contract option was declined by New York.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newyorkredbulls.com/news/new-york-red-bulls-ii-announce-end-of-year-roster-decisions|title=New York Red Bulls II Announce End of Year Roster Decisions | New York Red Bulls|website=nysoccer}}</ref>
==Career statistics== {{updated|May 24, 2015|<ref>{{soccerway|kyle-zajec/360799}}</ref>}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" |- !rowspan="2"|Club !rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|League Cup !colspan="2"|Domestic Cup !colspan="2"|International !colspan="2"|Total |- !Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- |rowspan="1"|New York Red Bulls II |2015 |USL||3||0||0||0||0||0||—||—||3||0 |- |rowspan="3"|New York Red Bulls U-23 |2016 |USL2||12||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||12||0 |- |2017 |USL2||9||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||9||0 |- |2018<ref name=2018stats/> |USL2||13||2||2||1||0||0||0||0||15||3 |- |rowspan="3"|New York Red Bulls II |2019 |USL||20||4||0||0||0||0||—||—||20||4 |- |2020 |USL||4||0||0||0||0||0||—||—||4||0 |- |2021 |USL||0||0||0||0||0||0||—||—||0||0 |- !colspan="3"|Career total !61!!6!!2!!1!!0!!0!!0!!0!!63!!7 |}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{Portal|Association football|Biography|Connecticut|Sports}} * [https://guhoyas.com/sports/mens-soccer/roster/kyle-zajec/8692 Georgetown profile] * [https://www.newyorkredbulls.com/players/kyle-zajec New York Red Bulls II profile] * {{USL Championship player|kyle-zajec}} * {{FBref|65ae6805/Kyle-Zajec}} * {{WorldFootball.net|kyle-zajec}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Zajec, Kyle}} Category:1997 births Category:Living people Category:American men's soccer players Category:Soccer players from Fairfield County, Connecticut Category:People from Westport, Connecticut Category:Men's association football midfielders Category:New York Red Bulls players Category:Georgetown Hoyas men's soccer players Category:New York Red Bulls II players Category:New York Red Bulls U-23 players Category:USL Championship players Category:USL League Two players Category:21st-century American sportsmen