Will Sands

Updated October 31, 2024

WILL SANDS AT A GLANCE:

• Owns 30 appearances, including 21 starts, with five assists over 1,813 minutes played over three MLS seasons.
• Signed as a Homegrown player by the Columbus Crew on Jan. 21, 2022, after developing in the New York City FC Academy.
• Won MLS Cup Championship with Columbus Crew in 2023.
• Tallied three goals across seven appearances for the U-17s United States National team in 2016. In 2015, he made one appearance for the U-15s team on Aug. 19, 2015.
• Played in 56 games over three seasons at Georgetown University, contributing to the Hoyas’ NCAA College Cup victory in 2019.
• Made seven appearances in his 2023 MLS campaign, all starts, before suffering a knee injury on April 22, 2023.

MLS CAREER: Across three MLS seasons, owns five assists over 30 appearances, including 21 starts…Acquired by New England via trade on July 31, 2024…In 2024, suited up for 11 appearances, including nine starts, between Columbus and New England…Started all five of his gamed played for the Revolution in 2024…Made Revolution debut in Leagues Cup action on Aug. 6 vs. Nashville SC…In 2023, won MLS Cup with Columbus Crew…Made seven appearances in 2023, all starts, before suffering a season-ending ACL injury against Charlotte FC on April 22…Made 12 appearances in 2022, five of them starts.

2024 (with Columbus & New England): Made 11 regular season appearances, including nine starts, with two assists…Made additional appearances in Leagues Cup, Concacaf Champions Cup, and MLS NEXT Pro competitions…(3/16) vs. RBNY: Returned to the pitch for the first time since ACL tear…(3/17) vs. RBNYII: Started for Columbus Crew 2 and logged 84 minutes in singular 2024 appearance with the second team…(4/6) vs. D.C.: Earned first start of the season…(4/9) at UANL: Logged 30 minutes in Concacaf Champions Cup Quarterfinals second-leg match…(5/18) at CHI: Registered 73 minutes in 25^th MLS appearance…(7/20) at ATL: Made matchday roster for the final time with Columbus Crew…(8/6) vs. NSH: Made New England and Leagues Cup debut with substitute appearance in group stage finale…(8/24) at MTL: Made first MLS appearance for New England with a full 90-minute start…(8/31) at RSL: Featured in the starting lineup for the second consecutive game…(9/7) vs. STL: Suited up for home debut with New England and collected third straight start…Played all 90 minutes…Registered first career multi-assist performance…Featured on MLS Team of the Matchday…Missed the following six matches due to a foot injury…(10/12) at CLB: Returned to action against his former team and played 74 minutes in his 20^th career MLS start…(10/19) at MIA: Closed 2024 season with a full 90-minute performance on the road in Miami.

2023 (with Columbus Crew): Made seven appearances in league play, all starts, tallying one assist on the season…(2/25) at PHI: Earned a start for the first time in 2023…Missed the following two games in March due to a back injury…(3/25) vs. ATL: Recorded second career assist and posted a full 90-minute performance…(4/8) at D.C.: Logged the full 90 minutes for the second time that year…(4/22) at CLT: Was placed on season-ending injury list after suffering a torn ACL…Postseason: Won MLS Cup with the Crew.

2022 (with Columbus Crew): Made 12 appearances with Columbus’ senior team, five starts, recording one assist…Tallied two assists in five appearances, all starts, with Columbus Crew 2…(5/21) vs. LAFC: Made MLS debut as a late substitute…(8/21) vs. ATL: Marked first career assist…(8/27) at CIN: Earned first MLS start, logging 87 minutes…(8/31) vs. MIA: Posted first full 90-minute performance with Columbus’ senior team.

NATIONAL TEAM (United States): Has represented the United States on the international stage at the U-17 and U-15 levels…In 2016, tallied three goals across seven appearances for the U-17s…Made an additional appearance in 2015 with the U-15s.

COLLEGE (GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY): Played three seasons of college soccer for Georgetown University, making 56 appearances and tallying four goals and five assists…Won three straight BIG EAST Conference Regular Season titles in 2019-2021…Won the BIG EAST Conference tournament in 2019 and 2021…Contributed to the NCAA College Cup victory with the Hoyas in 2019… In 2021, made 22 appearances, including 21 starts, with three goals and three assists…Named a First Team All-BIG EAST selection and United Soccer Coaches First Team All-East Region honoree…Also honored by United Soccer Coaches as a First Team Scholar All-American…Named BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week on Oct. 11, 2021 and Oct. 25, 2021…As a sophomore in 2020, earned Third Team All-BIG EAST selection and BIG EAST All-Academic honors…Made 13 appearances, including 12 starts…Tallied one assist in season opener at Villanova…In 2019, recorded one goal and one assist across 21 appearances.

PERSONAL: Full name is William Franklin Sands…Has a twin brother, James, who plays for New York City FC and the U.S. National Team…Has a sister Katherine, who played soccer at Williams College and a sister Elizabeth, who played soccer at Bowdoin College…In 2021, made 10 appearances and tallied four goals for Manhattan SC in USL League Two…In high school, attended IMG Academy as a freshman and sophomore, scoring 10 goals in 16 games in his first year…In 2018, won the Development Academy National Championship…In 2017, one of 28 players selected for U.S. Residency Program at IMG Academy, preparing for U-17 World Cup in India…Prior to IMG, developed in New York City FC’s Academy program.