Nathan Sturgis

Acquired: Colorado Rapids acquire midfielder Nathan Sturgis and allocation money in trade with Houston Dynamo, in exchange for forward Omar Cummings.

MLS Experience

2012:

• Made Dynamo debut as substitute in 1-0 win at San Jose on 3/17
• CCL: Started 3-1 win at FAS on 8/22 and assisted on team's third goal from a corner kick during. started and played 61 minutes in 1-1 at Olimpia; assisted on team's lone goal and was ejected after picking up red card. Started and played 90 minutes in 1-1 draw vs. Olimpia that saw Dynamo through to CCL QFs; assisted on Andre Hainault's second-half goal
• Open Cup: Started and played 90 minutes at center back in 1-0 loss at San Antonio on 5/29
• Reserves: Started and played seven Reserve League matches, captaining the squad to the Central/Mountain Division title.

2011:

• Began season as starter with Toronto FC before sliding on depth chart by season’s end
• Appeared in 14 games, starting 11
• Led club with 31 corner kicks

2010:

• Appeared in 20 games for Seattle, starting 16
• Key contributor to Open Cup title run
• Scored first career goal on a penalty kick in 4-0 win at CLB on 9/18…Recorded first career assist in 2-1 win vs. CHI on 8/28…Tallied second career assist in 3-2 win vs. TOR on 10/2
• Made first appearance of the season as a reserve at RSL (4/10) and started in second appearance at TOR (4/25)
• Playoffs: Started and played 81 minutes in 1-0 loss vs. LA on 10/31… Started and played 64 minutes in 2-1 loss at LA on 11/7
• Open Cup: Started and converted penalty kick in 4-3 PK win over POR on 6/30
• Started and played 90 minutes in 2-0 win vs. LA on 7/7…Started and played 66 minutes in 3-1 win over Chivas on 9/1
• Started and played 90 minutes in 2-1 win vs. CLB in Open Cup final, as Seattle became first MLS team to repeat as champions
• 10-11 Champions League:  Started and played 90 minutes in 1-1 draw at AD Isidro Metapan (El Salvador) on 8/3/10. Started and played 90 minutes in 2-1 loss at CD Marathon (Honduras) on 8/19/10. Started and played 67 minutes in 2-0 loss vs. CF Monterrey (Mexico) on 8/25/10. Started and played 64 minutes in 2-0 loss at Saprissa (Costa Rica) on 9/14/10. Appeared as a substitute in 3-2 loss at CF Monterrey on 9/22/10.

2009: Appeared in nine games, starting five and played the full 90 minutes in two matches. First choice at left back for three consecutive games from 4/18 to 5/2. Started all three appearances in U.S. Open Cup play, playing the full 90 minutes in 1-0 win vs. COL (5/26), 2-1 win at POR (7/1) and 1-0 win vs. KC (7/7).

2008: Played in three games, starting two, for Real Salt Lake. Helped U.S. Men’s Olympic Team qualify for the Summer Games in March. A left hamstring strain first cut short his starting XI tenure with Real Salt Lake after just a game-and-a-half in April, then took away his chance to represent the U.S. at the Beijing Games in August. Despite the setbacks, emerged in the final weeks of the season, and played four reserve division matches, starting three and logging 260 minutes.

2007: Played nine games, starting eight with Los Angeles Galaxy before being traded to Real Salt Lake on June 21, where he started five of six played. Was acquired via trade by RSL with Robbie Findley from Los Angeles in exchange for Chris Klein. Missed four Real Salt Lake matches while joining teammates Chris Seitz and Freddy Adu on the U.S. U-20 MNT team that made the quarterfinals of the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Canada in June/July. Made Real Salt Lake debut in the starting lineup on July 21 vs. Everton FC in an international friendly at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Played the first half vs. Boca Juniors (7/24) in the 1-1 friendly draw. Started and played 70 minutes in his MLS debut with RSL vs. New England (7/28). Missed nine league matches with a calf strain, returning to the line-up with a start vs. Houston (10/15).

2006: Selected 12th overall in the 2006 MLS SuperDraft by Los Angeles Galaxy. Started 15 matches in MLS rookie season. Made his MLS debut for Los Angeles vs. New England (4/1), starting and playing 71 minutes in the season-opening rematch of the previous year's MLS Cup combatants.

International Experience
Has been a regular for the United States Youth National Team program since 2003 at the U-17 and U-20 levels. U.S. U-23: Participated in Olympic team camp in December 2007, but a calf injury forced him to miss the team's two-game tour of China. Returned from the injury to take part in the U-23's last two training camps prior to the team's appearance in the CONCACAF Region Olympic Qualifying Tournament in March. U.S. U-20: Made 40 overall appearances for the U.S. Under-20 National Team since 2004, including 27 caps against international competition and appearances in two FIFA U-20 World Cup tournaments. Played all 510 minutes for the U.S. U-20's at the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Canada in July, helping the American squad to a 3-1-1 record and the team's fourth quarterfinal appearance in the competition. Participated in the 2005 U-20 World Cup in the Netherlands, playing in all three group play contests with two starts and helping the USA reach the tournament's Round of 16.

College
Started 40 of 41 matches for Clemson during two seasons with the Tigers. 2005: Was named the ACC Defensive Player of the Year in addition to earning spots on the All-ACC First Team and NSCAA All-American Third Team. Started all 23 games in his second and final season for Clemson while helping the Tigers reach the NCAA Men's College Cup semifinals. Finished the season with two goals and seven assists. 2004: Made 18 appearances and 17 starts as a freshman for the Tigers. Earned All-ACC Freshman Team honors. Finished the season with three goals, including two game-winners.

High School/Club
Was a standout prep player in Florida for both Nease H.S. in Jacksonville and Edison Academic Center in Bradenton, which he attended while in the U.S. U-17 Residency Program. Was a member of the 2003 NSCAA All-American and Parade Magazine All-American Teams. Helped Nease to the Florida State Finals.

Personal
Son of Smiley. Has three brothers and two sisters; Lydia, Mary, Luke, Caleb and Mark.  Sister Lydia played soccer at William & Mary. Brother Luke played soccer at Flagler. Brother Caleb played football at Florida. Dad played college tennis at Flagler.