Morgan Langley ’11 Signs With Philadelphia Union

September 16, 2011

Editor’s note: This article was initially published in The Daily Gazette, Swarthmore’s online, daily newspaper founded in Fall 1996. As of Fall 2018, the DG has merged with The Phoenix. See the about page to read more about the DG.

Swarthmore alum Morgan Langley ’11 has signed a contract with the MLS’ Philadelphia Union, the team announced on Thursday afternoon.

Langley’s signing comes after a successful season at the Union’s USL-Pro affiliate Harrisburg City Islanders. The former Swarthmore star helped lead the City Islanders to the USL PRO Championship Match, where they lost to host Orlando City 3-2 after two rounds of penalty kicks. Langley helped spark Harrisburg’s playoff run by scoring the playoff-clinching goal against Dayton in stoppage time on July 27th. For the season, Langley scored two goals and earned 10 starts for the City Islanders.

Sample advertisement

A 2011 graduate of Swarthmore, Langley reached several milestones during his Garnet career, finishing as program’s all-time leader in career points (95) and assists (27). Langley wrapped up his Garnet career with one of the best offensive seasons in program history, leading the team with 14 goals, 14 assists and a program single-season record 42 points while finishing in the top 10 nationally in assists, assists per game and points per game. For his efforts during the 2010 season, he was named the 2010 Centennial Conference Player of the Year, received two All-American honors (NSCAA Third Team/D3Soccer.com First Team), and was named to the NSCAA All-Region First Team and ECAC Division III South Region First Team.

With the help of Langley, the Garnet captured the 2010 Centennial Conference Championship, reached the second round of the NCAA Championships and achieved the first No. 1 national ranking in program history.

By signing with the Union, Langley becomes the first Swarthmore alum to play in the American top-level professional baseball (MLB), football (NFL), basketball (NBA) or soccer (MLS) league since Dick Hall ’53 wrapped up his 19-year major league baseball career with the Baltimore Orioles in 1971. In fact, Langley is the first ever Centennial Conference alum to reach the MLS, NFL, NBA or Major League Baseball.

Langley will try to help the Union with its late-season push for a playoff spot. Philadelphia (8-7-12) is currently tied for third-place in the MLS’ Eastern Conference.

The Union’s next match is scheduled for this Saturday at 7:30  against first-place Columbus.

Reprinted from September 15th with permission from the Swarthmore Athletics website, here.

Read a past Gazette interview with Langley here.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

Previous Story

In Each Category, National SAT Scores Fall

Next Story

Missed Connections: Spotted…

Latest from Sports

Swinging Through the Glass Ceiling 

The Swarthmore men’s golf team has welcomed numerous women as walk-on players over the years. Currently there are two female players competing on the men’s team: Ava Chon ’26 and Bori Chung ’28. Chon is a senior from Princeton, NJ, who went

Athlete of the Week: Melissa Eyer ’28

Melissa Eyer '28 runs the volleyball court with her elite ball control and defensive capabilities. Read on to hear more about her fourth Centennial Athlete of the Week selection!

Garnet Soccer Takes on Johns Hopkins in Baltimore

On Sept. 20, Swarthmore men’s and women’s soccer packed their bags and boarded buses for Baltimore to play their long-time conference rival Johns Hopkins University. The day began Centennial Conference play for both Garnet teams. The men came into their game carrying

The Best Quotes of Jalen Hurts

We live in a current age of heat checks, lyric drops, motivational apps and posters, and speeches about “locking in” or “walking through fire.” And then there is Jalen Hurts — the starting quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles, an outright contemporary Nietzsche,
Previous Story

In Each Category, National SAT Scores Fall

Next Story

Missed Connections: Spotted…

The Phoenix

Don't Miss