CARMEL NATIVE PIERCE GALLAWAY SIGNS WITH MONTEREY BAY, BECOMES FIRST PLAYER IN CLUB HISTORY TO MAKE JUMP FROM MBFC2
SEASIDE, California (Thursday, February 22, 2024) – Monterey Bay Football Club (Monterey Bay F.C.) announced today that the Club has signed 22-year-old midfielder Pierce Gallaway, a Carmel native, to a one-year contract with an option for 2025, pending league and federation approval. For Monterey Bay, Gallaway adds size and depth to the squad both in the midfield and on the back line as a central defender. His signing also signifies two landmark firsts in the Club’s record books; Gallaway is now officially the first-ever open tryout participant to be invited to camp and earn a professional contract, and the first player to make the jump to the first team from the Club’s lower-division side, Monterey Bay F.C. 2 (MBFC2).
“I am very honored to represent my community and play for my hometown team. Being from the area makes this achievement even more special, especially knowing that I will have friends and family at Cardinale Stadium every game,” Gallaway expressed. “Having come through the whole process here, it is truly a full circle moment for me. Since the club began the growth has been huge and has done amazing things for the local soccer community. This organization has given me a platform to reach my dreams of becoming a professional soccer player and I won’t be the last.”
He continued, “my experience with MBFC2 last summer was awesome. Being able to play for Ramiro [Corrales] and with many teammates I had known from my youth years made for a successful season. Playing in USL League Two is an important step for any aspiring pro, so playing for the second team really helped me prepare for the next level.”
Gallaway was an integral part of MBFC2’s inaugural season in USL League Two, helping lead the team to the NorCal Division title and a playoff spot in the team’s first season in existence. He was a major fixture on the back line for the Salinas-based, U-23 side last summer before playing a full season with Old Dominion University in NCAA Division I last fall. Gallaway then took part in Monterey Bay’s third annual open tryouts in January, where he was one of five players to receive an invite to participate in preseason with the first team. From there, Gallaway has used every training session, closed-door scrimmage, and preseason match over the past month to officially solidify himself into Head Coach Frank Yallop’s plans.
“We’re happy to add Pierce into the team,” said Yallop. “He is a local kid who started with MBFC2 last summer and now he’s the first to make the transition to the first team. When he joined our open tryouts in January, he really rekindled our thoughts on him. Pierce has trained really well in the last three weeks and deserves this contract. He’s young and versatile, a good all around player. He has great character and is going to fit in really well with us.”
Sam Adelman, Gallaway’s former collegiate head coach from his last two years at Willamette University echoed a similar sentiment in a university article last February. “Pierce is one of the best men’s soccer players to ever play at Willamette,” said Adelman. “Everything he’s garnered is well-deserved. He set the standard for what it means to be a part of this program – everyone will be chasing him for years to come.”
A graduate of Carmel High School, Gallaway was initially recruited by then-Head Coach Jared Rust in 2019 and went on to spend four seasons at Willamette University before graduating with an exercise science degree in 2022. In total, he started 63 of his 64 matches played for the Bearcats and recorded 20 goals and 10 assists, including 12 goals and six assists in his senior year alone.
“Pierce Gallaway is a special player,” said Rust. “His vision, understanding of the game and incessant drive to be great are only a few of his many wonderful qualities. I am so proud of him and happy that all of his hard work is paying off. Not only are Monterey Bay F.C. getting a quality player that is going to be able to unlock great spaces between the lines and produce consistent high level distribution, but they are gaining a local player from the area that will be an excellent representation of the club and the Monterey Bay community with unequivocal professionalism and character. I cannot wait to follow MBFC and see the journey continue for Pierce.”
Throughout his time at Willamette, Gallaway earned several honors including Northwest Conference All-Conference First Team (2022), Northwest Conference Offensive Player of the Year (2022), United Soccer Coaches All-America First Team (2022), College Sports Communicators Academic All-District (2022), and Willamette Bearcat Athlete of the Year (2023). In one season with Old Dominion University, Gallaway started all 17 of his appearances and added a goal.
“Everyone on the team has been extremely welcoming and I’ve enjoyed spending time on the pitch with the guys and socializing in the locker room,” Gallaway explained. “The staff is getting us ready for the season and I feel we are making progress everyday. I hope I can get on the field as much as possible and help the team win games. I know what this group is capable of, so I hope I can contribute to us reaching our potential.”
NAME: Pierce Gallaway
POSITION: Midfielder
AGE: 22
HEIGHT: 6’2
DATE OF BIRTH: April 25, 2001
HOMETOWN: Carmel, California
NATIONALITY: United States
PREVIOUS CLUB: MBFC2
TRANSACTION: Monterey Bay has signed Pierce Gallaway to a one-year contract on February 22, 2024.
The current roster heading into the 2024 season as of February 22 is listed alphabetically as follows:
Goalkeepers (2): Carlos Herrera, Antony Siaha
Defenders (7): Morey Doner, Max Glasser, Kai Greene, Carlos Guzmán, Alex Lara, Walmer Martínez, Grant Robinson
Midfielders (6): Rafa Baca, Simon Dawkins, Mobi Fehr, Pierce Gallaway, Xavi Gnaulati, Adrian Rebollar
Forwards (6): Luther Archimède, Chase Boone, Alex Dixon, Chuy Enríquez, Jesse Maldonado, Tristan Trager
