CINCINNATI — Former Appalachian State University men's soccer all-Southern Conference first team defender Harrison Delbridge has been nominated for the inaugural Cincinnati Soccer Talk FC Cincinnati Player of the Year Award, CincinnatiSoccerTalk.com announced last week.
Delbridge joins nominees Corben Bone, Omar Cummings, Mitch Hildebrandt, Jimmy McLaughlin, Sean "Ugo" Okoli and Andrew Wiedeman from FC Cincinnati.
In 28 matches and 2,337 minute played so far this season, Delbridge has put away one goal on 18 shots (six shots on goal) to help lead a stingy FCC defense to nine shutouts and a third place ranking (15-6-8) in the USL Eastern Conference behind New York Red Bulls II and Louisville City FC. Most recently, the defender was honored on the USL Team of the Week for the third time this season after leading FC Cincinnati to two shutouts in the previous week.
Anchoring the backline, Delbridge played a full 90 minutes against both Pittsburgh Riverhounds and Orlando City B where they drew 0-0 with Pittsburgh and won 1-0 over Orlando City. The clean sheets push the club's shutout streak to three games.
Prior to FC Cincinnati, Delbridge started with the Sacramento Republic of the USL, signing in March 2014. There, he made 22 appearances (19 starts) and helped the club to a 2014 USL championship. During the year he netted one goal and logged 1,742 minutes.
From Sacramento, the defender signed with the USL's Portland Timbers T2 club for the 2015 season, appearing in 18 matches and scoring one goal before signing with FC Cincinnati in January 2016.
Voting for the inaugural award is open until Sunday, Sept. 25. The winner will be announced after the regular season to go along with other awards given by the Cincinnati Soccer Talk staff.
A four-year student-athlete for the Mountaineers, Delbridge scored eight career goals (two game-winning) from the back line to go along with stellar, lockdown defense for App State. The Sydney, Australia and Raleigh, N.C. native was named to first team all-SoCon in 2013 after being tabbed a preseason selection. Delbridge was also an NSCAA Scholar All-American and SoCon All-Tournament selection in 2011.
