Patrick Nyarko

How he joined the club: Selected in the first round (No. 7 overall) of the 2008 MLS SuperDraft

2015: Nyarko had three goals and four assists in 19 regular season games, 14 of which were starts. He scored in his first MLS appearance of the year at HOU on 7/3 and had goals at PHI on 8/16 and at NYR on 8/26.  Nyarko also had an assist at PHI on 8/16 and provided a pair of helpers at TOR on 9/26. Nyrako ended the season on a high note with an assist in the club’s final match vs. NYR on 10/25. U.S. Open Cup: Nyarko provided an assist in his first action of the year, setting up teammate Mike Magee for the third goal in a 3-1 result against the Charlotte Independence on 6/30. Nyarko also scored in the Fire’s 3-1 quarterfinal win against ORL on 7/22.

2014: Started nine of the 17 matches in which he appeared. Assisted Quincy Amarikwa’s late, 82nd minute equalizer against D.C. United on March 29. Notched an assist and the game-winning goal in a 5-4 road victory over the New York Red Bulls on May 10, leading the Fire to the first win of the season. Suffered a knee contusion in the 59th minute against Sporting Kansas City on May 18 and returned from his injury on Sept. 13 when he entered the match in the 80th minute. Assisted Harry Shipp’s goal in the 67th minute against D.C. United on Oct. 18. Suffered a torn ACL in the 83rd minute of the match against D.C. United, underwent surgery on Nov. 6.

2013: Started 24 matches and appeared in a total of 30. Matched his previous career high of four goals. Added four assists. Scored the first Fire goal of the season against Chivas USA on 3/24. Also tallied goals on 7/3 against SJ, July 14 against VAN and 8/3 against PHI. U.S. OPEN CUP: Appeared in all four matches as the Fire reached the semifinal round. Scored the game-winner in the 77^th minute of a 2-1 victory over CLB on 6/13. Scored the second goal of a 5-1 victory over Orlando City 6/26.

2012: Was the only Fire player to appear in all 34 regular season matches…Made 31 starts, scoring four goals and tallying seven assists…Assisted on Dominic Oduro’s goal in the 25^th second and added one of his own in the 58^th minute in a 3-2 win at TOR 4/12…Assisted on Dominic Oduro’s 81^st minute game-winner in a 2-1 victory over SKC 5/12…Scored the opening goal in just the fourth minute and assisted on Chris Rolfe’s goal in the 81^st minute in a 3-1 win over NY 6/17…Assisted on Chris Rolfe’s 37^th minute goal in a 1-1 draw at SJ 7/28…Assisted on Chris Rolfe’s 56^th minute goal at PHI 8/12…Assisted on Sherjill MacDonald’s 25^th minute game-winner in a 2-1 victory over NE 8/18…Scored in just the 47^th second of the match in a 3-1 win over HOU 9/2…Assisted Chris Rolfe’s game-winner in the 26^th minute of a 2-1 win over CLB 9/22…Showed incredible skill with his goal in the 16^th minute of a 1-1 draw with DC 10/27…His blast against DC was nominated for MLS Goal of the Week…MLS CUP PLAYOFFS: Started and played the entire match of a 2-1 loss to HOU in the Eastern Conference Knockout Match…Assisted on Alex’s goal in the 83^rd minute…INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLIES: Entered the match in the 62^nd minute in the Fire’s 1-0 loss to Aston Villa FC 7/21.

2011: Matched his career high of 30 appearances in a season, starting 24 matches… For the second-consecutive season, led the team in assists with nine, adding one goal in 2266 minutes played…Four of his nine helpers came on goals from fellow Ghanaian Dominic Oduro: 1-1 draw 6/18 at NE,
1-1 draw 7/2 @ CHV, 2-2 draw 8/13 at NY and a 3-2 win 9/17 vs. CHV…Assisted on Diego Chaves’ eighth minute equalizer in 2-1 loss 4/9 at SEA …Assisted on Cristian Nazarit’s 62^nd minute equalizer in a 2-1 loss 7/9 at LA…Assisted on Orr Barouch’s 80^th minute goal in a 4-2 loss 8/7 at VAN…Scored what would stand as the game-winner in the 30^th minute of a 3-2 victory 9/25 vs. NE…Assisted on Marco Pappa’s ninth minute goal in a 3-0 win 9/28 at RSL…Assisted on Sebastian Grazzini’s 92^nd minute goal in a 2-1 victory 10/15 at DC…LAMAR HUNT U.S. OPEN CUP: Appeared in five matches, starting four and tallying one assist, Oduro’s 61^st minute winner in a 2-1 victory at RIC to send the Fire to the 2011 Open Cup final…INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLIES: Started both matches, logging 124 minutes combined in a 3-1 loss 7/23 to Manchester United and a 1-0 loss 9/14 to Chivas de Guadalajara.

2010: Led the team in matches played with 27 and finished second on the team in minutes with 2,068, behind only C.J. Brown…Recorded 1 goal and 10 assists – tying him for fifth overall league-wide...Two of his 10 assists were game-winners: 4/17 at DC and 10/8 vs. CLB…Rode a four-match assists streak, tallying one in matches on 4/10 vs. SJ, 4/17 at DC, 4/24 vs. HOU and 5/1 vs. CHV…Scored his first and only goal of the season in a 3-0 win at SJ on 9/29…LAMAR HUNT U.S. OPEN CUP: Came on at halftime, playing 75 minutes in the scoreless shootout loss to Charleston Battery on 6/29…INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLIES: Appeared in 2 of 3 international friendlies, going 90 minutes in a 1-0 loss to Paris Saint-Germain on May 19 and again in a 1-0 loss to A.C. Milan on May 30.

2009: Played all 30 games this year for the Fire starting in 22 for 1983 minutes… scored 4 goals, 2 of which were game winners 7/18 vs. SJ and 8/1 vs. RSL. ... LAMAR HUNT U.S. OPEN CUP: played 45 minutes in the Fire’s loss in the 3^rd round…SUPERLIGA: Played 5 games, starting two of them for 227 minutes and scoring one goal.

2008: Played 8 games, started in 2 for 151 minutes… made MLS debut for 19 min. off the bench at DAL in 1-0 loss on 6/15…netted his first goal in his first MLS start on 8/02 game vs. CHV…suffered a mild concussion in 45th min. on 8/2 …suffered a right knee strain in Sept…MLS Cup Playoffs: came off the bench in the Eastern Conference Final @ CLB for 20 min. of play…Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup: Made first team debut in 91+ min. vs. CLB in USOC play-in 3-2 win…came off bench for 45 min. vs. Cleveland City Stars in 4-1 3rd round USOC win on 6/2...International Exhibitions: Started and played 45 min. in 2-0 win vs. Everton on 7/30…MLS Reserve Division – Scored 2 goals and 4 assists through 7 games played, 6 started…recorded 535 min.

College: In only 57 matches, ranks third all-time in goals (31) and assists (24) and fourth in points (86) at Virginia Tech … 2007: MAC Hermann Trophy Runner-up … Led Hokies to first-ever College Cup appearance … NSCAA All-American First Team … First-Team All-ACC … College Soccer News First-Team All-American 2006: Led ACC with a school-record 16 goals … Set a school record with 40 points … First-Team All-ACC … ACC All-Tournament team … NSCAA All-South Atlantic Second Team … 2005: Named ACC Freshman of the Year … First-Team All-ACC … Soccer America and College Soccer News All-Freshman first team … Named to Soccer America Team of the Week, Soccer America Player of the Week, College Soccer News National Team of the Week, ACC Player of the Week, and Virginia Tech Athlete of the Week

Club/Prep: Played for club team Kaaseman FC … Attended Opoku Ware High School in Kumasi, Ghana.

Personal: Son of Dominic Osei Nyarko and Rosemary Asiamah … Majored in Psychology at Virginia Tech…Enjoys watching basketball…Favorite thing to eat is peanut butter soup… Some of his favorite activities include relaxing at home, watching television, and catching up with family and friends… Listens to R&B and hip hop music… Feels rewarded to be playing professional soccer and to share a locker room with many influential players… Looks up to many of his coaches that have helped him believe in himself…