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Evan Davila was Cal’s leading scorer in his final season in Berkeley.
Former California men’s soccer player Evan Davila signed with Louisville City FC, the USL Championship club announced Monday, bringing the number of Golden Bear alumni playing professionally to 18. Cal’s leading scorer in his final collegiate season last fall, Davila joins brother and fellow Cal alumnus Taylor Davila on the Louisville roster.
Evan Davila finished his tenure as a Bear recording team highs in goals (5), assists (5), points (15) and game-winning goals (3) in 2023. Arguably the best goal of his season came in a 1-1 draw at No. 19 Stanford on Oct. 29, when Davila dribbled almost half the field before juking a defender and scoring from inside the top of the box. After a stellar year, the midfielder was named to the United Soccer Coaches All-Far West Region First Team and to the All-Pac-12 First Team.
“I’m super proud of Evan,” Cal head coach Leonard Griffin said. “I just talked to him the other day. He went on numerous trials, and having been in his shoes myself, I know that in having to go and prove yourself over and over again, it’s easy to get discouraged. I’m proud of him and his perseverance to pursue his goal of pro soccer. That it came to fruition is a testament to his character and his drive to succeed.”
Davila becomes the latest Cal alum to join the American pro soccer ranks – seven play in MLS, five play in the various levels of the USL and two play in the NISA – with four erstwhile Bears also playing abroad. Among Cal’s MLS players are two-time MLS Cup champion goalkeeper Stefan Frei of the Seattle Sounders; Inter Miami goalkeeper and 2023 Leagues Cup champion Drake Callender; and longtime D.C. United defender Steven Birnbaum, Cal’s highest MLS draftee at No. 2 in 2014. Frei and Callender are two of the four Cal alums in the pros, including David Bingham (Charlotte FC, MLS) and Jonathan Klinsmann (Cesena FC, Italy Serie C).
“It’s awesome,” Griffin said of the 18 Bears in the pros. “It’s what we want. All of the current players have the goal and ambition to play at that level. For the guys to see our alums go on and play at the pro level, it helps them to be inspired to do it as well, and it’s helpful to show the recruits…
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