FC Cincinnati academy player notches historic 'first' in program history

Jared Cardenas achieved a historic "first" for the FC Cincinnati academy when he was named MLS Next Player of the Month for September.

Cardenas, an Under-16 player in the FC Cincinnati academy, saw the Player of the Month honor confirmed publicly by league officials on Thursday. The award followed goals in all six of FC Cincinnati's U16 matches, and an 11-goal haul in total.

MLS officials wrote of Cardenas: " After starring at the 2024 MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs in June, where he took home the top scorer honors in the U15 age group, Cardenas has carried his hot form into the 2024-25 season. During the month of September, Cardenas scored in all six of FC Cincinnati’s U16 matches, totaling 11 goals, which was the second-most in the age group over the span.

" One of the best young attackers in MLS NEXT, the forward helped Cincinnati go 5-1-0 in the age group, including scoring a pair of goals in a 5-2 win over Houston Dynamo FC. Cardenas is now the first player to be named MLS NEXT Player of the Month in program history. "

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Cardenas' award is just the latest headline-grabbing development to come from FC Cincinnati's academy, which is growing into full maturity and in 2024 has seen many other "firsts."

The goalkeeping side of the academy alone has produced three international call-ups in recent weeks.

Goalkeeper David Paz, another U16 player, was called up to a Honduras Under-17 national team camp in mid-September and David Rodriguez, an FCC U18 goalkeeper, participated in a Colombia Youth National Team ID Center this month.

Goalkeeper Zachary Rider, a U15 goalkeeper for FCC, is set to a U.S. Youth National Team Camp in Fayetteville, Georgia starting Sunday and running through Oct. 19.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: FC Cincinnati academy player notches historic 'first' in program history