UNCW Soccer standout Sean Melvin signs MLS contract

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Canada (UNCWSport.com – Former UNCW men’s soccer standout Sean Melvin has been signed to a Major League Soccer Homegrown contract by Vancouver Whitecaps FC for the 2018 season.

Vancouver Whitecaps FC Release | Melvin Bio

The contract also features options for the 2019, 2020 and 2021 seasons for Melvin, who will join the club’s MLS roster upon receipt of his International Transfer Certificate.

According to Vancouver Coach Carl Robinson, “Sean is another product of what we’re trying to build with our development system here in the club. He approaches his craft with the right mentality and work ethic and it has shown in his improvement over the years. He will complement our goalkeeper union as he continues to learn.”

In the last two seasons, the 6-foot-4, 180-pound netminder made 21 starts for Whitecaps FC 2 of the United Soccer League, recording 80 saves with four shutouts and a 1.76 goals against average. He was also called up to the first team for the 2017 Canadian Championship, serving as the back-up goalkeeper for both legs of the semifinal series against Montreal.

The 23-year-old Melvin was most recently with Whitecaps FC USL affiliate Fresno FC as the Foxes begin their inaugural season.

A three-year letter winner for the Seahawks, Melvin started 43-of-45 games and posted a 1.25 goals against average and a .685 save percentage in his career. He started all 19 games as a junior and stopped 70.7 percent of the shots he faced.

In helping the Seahawks reach the NCAA Tournament as a sophomore, the Victoria, British Columbia, product started 14 games and ranked second in the Colonial Athletic Association with a 0.95 goals against average. He also tallied five shutouts, which ranked fifth in the CAA.

“I am delighted for Sean that he is progressing in his career with the Whitecaps,” UNCW Coach Aidan Heaney said. “I enjoyed working with him at UNCW for three years and I am happy to see his decision to leave UNCW a year early is paying dividends for him. He has the tools to be an MLS goalkeeper and he has continued to develop in the pro ranks.”

Melvin finished his UNCW career tied for fifth on the Seahawks’ all-time list with 11 career shutouts.