CHAD POARCH: Million Dollar Kick Start

It's incredible how just one tackle and resulting goal can change a player’s career.

Case in point:

Chad Poarch.

A year ago, not many likely people knew of the Middletown, Delaware native.

Poarch’s profile got a huge boost during the $1 million winner-take-all The Soccer Tournament last year.

In the championship game in Cary, N.C. on June 10, Poarch made not one but two plays of a lifetime. He tackled the ball away from former Portuguese international Nani and moments later scored game-winning goal, clinching the championship for La Bombonera.

His performance led to an opportunity to play with the Baltimore Blast. The 27-year-old Poarch has hardly played like a rookie, connecting for an impressive team-high 14 goals (and seven assists) in as many matches this Major Arena Soccer League season.

 "It's been a blessing and a humbling experience," he said of the last nine months.

That's because Poarch understands how fragile that can be because he has been through a rollercoaster ride on his path trying to play professional soccer. 

"I've been through some stuff," he said.

Poarch attended High Point University and then the University of Delaware before he decided to pursue a pro career.

"I felt like I played well, but it's tough, because if you don't go to a top end school, if you don't get seen by the right guys, you don't get the opportunity that you feel you may deserve," he said.

Then came a series of tryouts and near misses.

He was on trial with S.C.U Torreense, a Second Division club in Portugal, but was hospitalized for a week due to a sinus infection that went to his brain. Poarch was thinking of hanging his cleats up then but decided to keep plugging away.

After stints with West Chester United (then National Premier Soccer League) and Reading United (USL League Two), Poarch had a successful trial with Atlanta United (Major League Soccer) and a chance to play with his cousin, George Campbell (who is now at CF Montreal).

"The coach wanted me back for [2019] preseason, and talking to my agent, it was best for us to just go to a different trial," Poarch said. "The next week, I went to the Charlotte Independence, and then they signed me within two days."

The USL Championship team was Poarch's lone professional experience up until then.

A little later, his agent lined up a tryout with the New York Red Bulls (MLS), but Poarch could not attend because he endured very severe back pain.

Then the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020, throwing the sports world upside. At the age of 22, Poarch decided to enter the coaching ranks while still participating in tournaments.

"That's how I was able to stay fit all this time," he said.

 During that juncture the 5-11 defender coached the son of one of the owners of the soccer club worked for, Sporting Athletic Club in Delaware, opening a door.

"One of my good friends played with the owner of La Bombonera area in a Spanish league tournament, and he invited me out to a tournament," he said. "I did well. That kind of sparked their interest."

 La Bombonera, which plays at a facility in New Castle, Delaware, decided to compete in TST. Poarch was the lone player on the squad without extensive professional experience.

But then again, just playing in the TST was an experience in itself.

"It was a professionally run tournament," Poarch said. "You've got celebrities that come out, like J.J. Watt and Chad Ochocinco [Johnson, both former NFL stars]; people that don't even play soccer come out advertise a tournament to the public, which allows them to get all the media attention that they get. On top of that, you have celebrities and ex-professionals, like Nani. You have players from different playing experiences that come to the tournament, which makes it so unique."

Nani made 124 international appearances for Portugal.

Bombonera and Nani FC reached the final. The rules of TST are different. In the championship game, it was determined that the first team that reached four goals would win. With the Delaware side enjoying a 3-0 advantage, Poarch put a crunching tackle on Nani on a 50-50 ball in his team’s defensive zone. He took possession and began a 2-on-1 break. Bolting into the penalty area, Poarch unleashed a right-footed shot from the top of the box that nestled into the lower left corner to lift his team to the title.

"The tournament was like a movie," he said. "I thought we deserved to win. To put the ball in the net was such a relief for the guys on the team. When the ball went in, it was pure joy, pure excitement."

La Bombonera players and staff split the winnings. It was not revealed how much each received. 

"Everyone played their part," Poarch said. "The trainers played their part, the coaching staff played their part, the managerial side, they played their part. The players played their part. That is why we had the chemistry and why we won the tournament. So, I'm sure everyone was pleased with their fair share."

Just as important, the tournament opened another door for Poarch, who scored five goals.

Prior to the competition, future Blast teammate Oumar Sylla pitched Poarch's name to Baltimore head coach David Bascome, who was impressed. 

"I guess he liked what he saw, and he offered me a contract," he said. "Luckily for me, I didn't have to go on a trial. I've been on plenty of trials before."

Poarch grabbed the opportunity by the horns, quickly becoming a regular. He scored in his MASL debut and has found the net in 10 of his 12 appearances.

Not bad, not bad at all for a defender.

Since he once played as a striker, Poarch has used his attacking instincts to pick his time to move forward.

"Playing right back on defense, when I get forward and get these moments, I know how to take the opportunities, because I've been in those positions before," he said.

His transition from outdoors to indoors has been rapid. It can take up to three years for some players to become accustomed to the pace and style.

"It's using the walls to your advantage," he said. "There's no offsides, so the game is played a little differently. At the end of the day, for me, it's still soccer. I've been playing soccer all my life. You get in these moments where you're going 1 v 1, it's still the same kind of concept as outside."

In his third MASL contest, Poarch struck for a hat-trick and earned first star of the match honors in a 9-8 overtime victory over the Harrisburg Heat on Dec. 27, but the defender said that wasn't his most memorable match. That occurred in a 5-4 win at Utica City FC on Jan. 12, when he finished with a goal and three assists.

"I actually like assisting more than I do scoring," he said. "It feels better."

 After dropping a pair of games at the Tacoma Stars this past weekend, the Blast (10-4-1, 30 points) remained in fourth place.

"We're a young team. When we played Empire, they played a different structure game than everyone else in the league," Poarch said. "That was a difficult task for us, but we dealt with it well in the second half. We were just unfortunate to come away with the result.

"But I think we're in a good spot. The team morale is still there. The chemistry team is still there. Hopefully, we can get a couple wins here in Tacoma and go back home for a long home-game stretch. Hopefully, we can continue this successful season in the playoffs. Hopefully, we can bring back a championship. That's what we're playing for.

"I'm hungry. I do like winning. There is no better feeling than winning a championship. So back-to-back TST and MASL championships would be phenomenal."

Which certainly would top off an amazing year. 

And perhaps more. Poarch said that he planned on participating in the TST again in June.

"It's a well-run tournament," he said. "A great chance to network and meet new people with a chance to win a million dollars. So, I look forward to playing in it again."

Given what he has gone through, Poarch has appreciated what he has accomplished in the past nine months.

"It's been a blessing, man, not taking it for granted at all," he said. "I also know that it can be stripped away in a moment. I feel like I belong here. I've also been through a lot, soccer-wise. My career has been full of ups and downs, so I don't take moments for granted at all. I'm taking full advantage of the opportunity. I'm going full throttle and trying to play to the best in my ability. It's a humbling experience. I hope it continues to grow and develop in a way where I'm also becoming a better soccer player. Hopefully, the ball keeps rolling and good days keep coming my way."

Michael Lewis can be followed at @Soccerwriter on BlueSky and Twitter.