Brian Ownby


Brian Tyler Ownby is an American soccer player who currently plays for Louisville City in the USL Championship.

Early life

Personal

Ownby was born in Glen Allen, Virginia to parents Steve and Andrea Ownby and has a younger brother named Eric. He would first play competitive soccer with the Academy and Travel teams of the Richmond Strikers. He attended Deep Run High School where he would play soccer and become the school's all-time leading goal scorer. As a Senior in 2008 Ownby would lead Deep Run to a 22-2-1 record and the Virginia Group AAA state championship. In the Championship match he would earn an assist on the lone goal of the match as Deep Run defeated Robinson Secondary School 1-0. After the season he would be named Virginia's Soccer Player of the Year as well as being named to the All-State First Team.

College and Youth

Ownby played four years of college soccer at the University of Virginia between 2008 and 2011. During his Freshman year he scored five goals and added four assists over 19 matches and was named to the ACC All-Freshman and All-Tournament teams. He was also named to the Soccer America All-Freshman and to the NSCAA All-South Atlantic Region second teams. He was limited by injury
during his Sophomore year and would play in fifteen matches scoring three goals and one assist. Ownby and Virginia would go to win the 2009 NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship with Ownby being named to the all tournament team. He would score the golden goal against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons in the NCAA semifinal. As a Junior he would appear in 20 matches scoring seven goals with three assists earning first team All-ACC honors. As a Senior he would appear in 18 matches scoring six goals with two assists earning second team All-ACC honors.
After college, Ownby would play one season with Reading United AC of the Premier Development League. He would score four goals in four matches with Reading.

Club career

Houston Dynamo

2012 Season

Ownby was selected by the Houston Dynamo with the 7th pick in the first round of the 2012 MLS Supplemental Draft and would sign his first professional contract after a month long trial. He'd make his professional debut on May 29 in the US Open Cup against San Antonio. He would make seven league appearances for Houston as well as one appearance in the US Open Cup. Houston would go on to win the Western Conference playoffs although Ownby would not participate in any of their MLS Cup matches.

2013 Season

Loan to Richmond Kickers
On March 22, 2013, Ownby was sent to the USL Pro side Richmond Kickers on loan from the Dynamo until September 2013. He would appear in nineteen of Richmond's league matches scoring seven goals with six assists as well as both of their USL Cup matches. Richmond and Ownby would finish the USL Pro regular season with the best overall record; winning the Commissioner's Cup.
Return to Houston
After his loan to Richmond Ownby would appear in three league matches for Houston. He also made his first appearance in a continental club competition when he was used as a substitute in the CONCACAF Champions League against W Connection F.C. on August 20.

2014 Season

Due to injuries to other players Ownby would begin the 2014 season as part of Houston's senior roster and would make his season debut March 15 against Montreal. He would go on to appear in 21 league matches for Houston as well as two appearances in the US Open cup.
Loan to Pittsburgh Riverhounds
Ownby would go on several loan periods with Houston's USL affiliate; Pittsburgh. With Pittsburgh Ownby would make five appearances scoring one goal. He was released by Houston in November 2014.

Richmond Kickers

2015 Season

Ownby signed with the Richmond Kickers of the United Soccer League on February 9, 2015 and he would make his season debut on April 10 against Wilmington; a match where he would score a goal. He would appear in twelve of Richmond's 28 league matches with four goals and one assist as well as playing and scoring one goal in one of Richmond's US Open Cup matches. Ownby's season would be cut short when he sustained a serious injury to his right shoulder in June 14 match against Montreal. He would have season ending surgery eleven days later.

2016 Season

After an unsuccessful trial with the Colorado Rapids of MLS Ownby would resign with Richmond for the 2016 Season. He would make his season debut March 25 in a 3–1 victory against Harrisburg and would go on to appear in 26 of Richmond's 30 league matches scoring three goals. Of the four league matches in which he did not participate two were due to a concussion that he sustained on August 21 against Orlando City B. He also played one match each for Richmond in the US Open Cup and the USL Cup Playoffs without scoring a goal.

Louisville City

2017 Season

Ownby signed with USL side Louisville City FC on January 18, 2017 and would make his season debut March 25 against Saint Louis. He would go on to appear in 23 of Louisville's 32 league matches scoring four goals with four assists and also appeared in one of Louisville's two US Open Cup matches going goalless. In the USL Cup Playoffs he would appear in all four of Louisville's matches. Ownby along with Stefano Bonomo of New York Red Bulls II would be the top goal scorer of the playoffs with three goals each; which also lead the team. Ownby and Louisville would go on to win the USL Cup Final against Swope Park.

2018 Season

Ownby remained with Louisville City FC for the 2018 season. He missed the first three matches of the season due to illness and made his season debut on April 14 against Richmond. He went on to appear in 22 of Louisville's 34 league matches, missing several more matches due to a concussion, and failed to score a goal during league play. He also appeared in all five of Louisville's U.S. Open Cup matches as Louisville reached the quarter finals of the competition for the first time in its history. This included a 3–2 victory over the New England Revolution of MLS; Louisville's first victory over an MLS side. He along with Cameron Lancaster lead the team with two goals scored in the competition including the decisive goal against New England. Ownby also appeared in all four of Louisville's USL Cup playoff matches as he and Louisville went on to win the USL Cup Final against Phoenix. For the second consecutive season he was the top goal scorer of the playoffs along with Didier Drogba and Michael Seaton with three goals each; which also lead the team.

International

Ownby served as alternate for United States U-17 national team thirty-man roster for 2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup. He was a member of the U-18 national team that competed in Lisbon, and the U-20 national team at FIFA U-20 World Cup and scored a goal in a group stage match against Cameroon.

Honors

Club

Houston Dynamo
Richmond Kickers
Louisville City FC