Ricardo Perez

Hometown: Fort Collins, Colorado
College: Creighton University
Citizenship: USA/Mexico
Birth date: May 30, 1995
Acquired: Signed to a Homegrown contract on January 6, 2017

MLS CAREER

2018

• Was sent on loan to the Charlotte Independence of the USL. Perez appeared in 14 USL games, one from the start.
• Missed the final two games of the MLS season due to a meniscus injury.

2017

• Rookie season, having signed a professional contract as a Homegrown player.
• Named in the 18 for the first time in his MLS career for the 1-0 loss at New York Red Bulls (3/11). Did not play.
• Sent on loan to Colorado Springs Switchbacks on 4/29. That same day he scored for the Switchbacks in their 3-2 home loss to Seattle Sounders FC 2.
• Made his Rapids debut in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup clash with Oklahoma City Energy FC (6/13). He also went the full 90 minutes of the Round of 16 loss at FC Dallas (6/27).
• In the 18 for the 3-1 home win over Houston Dynamo (7/1), but an unused substitute.
• Did not register any MLS minutes in his rookie season, but he made the 18 in five games, the last of which was the 1-1 home tie with FC Dallas (10/7).

COLLEGE

• In his final season at Creighton, Perez earned 2016 BIG EAST Midfielder of the Year honors after helping the Bluejays to a 13-7-3 overall record.
• Registering four goals and five assists in all 23 contests, Perez was also selected to the All-BIG EAST First Team and the Top Drawer Soccer Postseason Top 100.
• As a junior, Perez received 2015 BIG EAST All-Tournament Team and NSCAA All-Great Lakes Region Second Team honors after finishing third on the team in goals (6), including a tally in the Bluejays’ NCAA Tournament Quarterfinal match at Akron.
• Perez finished his collegiate career with 15 goals and nine assists in 88 games - the third-most matches played in program history.

YOUTH

• The midfielder joined the Rapids Academy in 2008 at the U-14 level and played with the Rapids U-16 team in each of his first four seasons.
• Perez then moved up to play with the U-18 squad in his final two seasons.
• He was a part of the Rapids U-18’s which finished in sixth place at the 2012 US Soccer Development Academy Finals. That season he scored 10 goals.
• Played on a US Club Soccer National Finalist squad in 2009 after winning a Regional Championship along the way.
• Earlier in his career he participated in a pair of US U-14 team camps and played on a Colorado State Cup State Championship team.

PERSONAL

• Son of Roberto Perez and Veronica Carrillo, he has one brother, Roberto.
• Brother played professional soccer in Tamaulipas, Mexico, as a goalkeeper for Altamira FC.
• Graduated in December, 2016 with a degree in business intelligence and analytics.