Connor Maloney

Connor Austin Maloney (born May 18, 1995) is an American former soccer player who played as a full-back.

His senior career includes stints with four different American clubs and experience in Major League Soccer.

While in high school, he spent two summers with the Philadelphia Union Academy, winning the Generation Adidas Cup in 2012.

He was ranked as the no. 21 recruit in the country, and the third-best player in Pennsylvania, by TopDrawerSoccer.com and committed to play collegiately for the Penn State Nittany Lions and coach Bob Warming.

Maloney was officially announced as a member of the Nittany Lions on April 5, 2013, one of ten recruits that Penn State brought in ahead of the season.

He went on to start every game he played across his four years in University Park.

Maloney scored his first collegiate goal in a 2–1 loss to Akron on November 6 and scored his first postseason goal in a 1–0 victory over UC Santa Barbara in the 2013 NCAA Tournament.

He finished the season with two goals and a team-high seven assists from 21 appearances, good enough to earn a spot on the All-Big Ten Freshman team as a unanimous selection.

Maloney put up his best statistical season as a sophomore: a career-high ten goals, as well as three assists, from 20 appearances.

Five of his goals were match-winners, including in each of the first two games on the year.

Playing collegiately at Penn State, Maloney was the 2014 Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year.

A native of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Maloney graduated from Bishop McDevitt High School, where he was a two-sport athlete and set multiple school and state records.

He played collegiately at Pennsylvania State University, where he was a two-time captain for the Nittany Lions and a three-time All-Big Ten First Team honoree.

He was named as the 2014 Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year and was a unanimous selection to the All-Big Ten First Team.

Prior to his junior season, Maloney was called up to the United States U23 national team, taking part in a college identification training camp ahead of the 2015 CONCACAF Men's Olympic Qualifying Championship.

After returning to Penn State, he was named as a team captain for the Nittany Lions; Maloney responded by leading the team in shots, shots on goal, and goals.

He tallied seven goals and two assists on the year, including a pair of two-goal performances in midseason.

Although Penn State failed to qualify for the NCAA Tournament for the first time in three years, Maloney was named to the All-Big Ten First Team for the second consecutive season.

As a senior, he was again named as a captain and led the team with eight goals, five assists, and 25 shots on goal.

Maloney capped the season by being named to the All-Big Ten First Team, the third consecutive year he was honored as such, and was named to the All-Great Lakes Region Second Team by the NSCAA.

He finished his Penn State career with 27 goals from 75 appearances.

Following his freshman season with the Nittany Lions, Maloney spent time with Reading United of the Premier Development League.

He made just one appearance, playing for six minutes, during his brief stint with the club.

Maloney was drafted in the 2017 MLS SuperDraft by Columbus Crew.

He played his first three professional seasons as a backup in Columbus, spending time on loan during two of those years with Pittsburgh Riverhounds.

Maloney was selected 49th overall in the 2017 MLS SuperDraft by Columbus Crew.

Although he played as a forward in college, he changed positions as a professional to become a defender, capable of playing at either outside back position.

After taking part in preseason camp, Maloney officially signed with the club on February 20.

He made his professional debut less than a month later, in a match against Houston Dynamo on March 11.

With Columbus trailing at halftime, he entered in place of Harrison Afful and played the final 45 minutes of a 3–1 defeat for the Crew.

On May 19, Maloney was sent on loan to Pittsburgh Riverhounds, the Crew's United Soccer League affiliate.

The loan was on a match-by-match basis, with Maloney able to be recalled by Columbus at any time.

He made his debut for the Hounds the next day, starting and playing 61 minutes in a 1–0 defeat to Louisville City.

Maloney signed for USL Championship club San Antonio FC in 2020.

Born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Maloney attended Bishop McDevitt High School, where he played soccer and American football.

He was a three-year captain of the varsity soccer team, twice earning all-PIAA honors.

As a senior, Maloney was named as an NSCAA High School All-American after scoring 45 goals, including nine hat tricks.

He scored 110 goals with the Crusaders, a school and conference record, and set a school record with 68 assists.

He was also the Bishop McDevitt placekicker for four years, debatably setting a state record by scoring 328 points.

At club level, Maloney played for Pennsylvania Classics in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy.