Gunnar Studenhofft

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Gunnar Studenhofft
Personal information
Date of birth (2002-04-05) 5 April 2002 (age 22)
Place of birth Cayman Islands
Height 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
 South Florida Bulls
Youth career
2014–2015 Elite
2015–2018 Academy
2018–2021 Florida Rush
2021 Orlando City SC
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2021–2022 EFSC Titans 5 (2)
2022–2023 Manhattan Jaspers 22 (7)
2024 South Florida Bulls 0 (0)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2022 Cedar Stars FC 10 (6)
2023 Manhattan SC 7 (4)
International career‡
2021– Cayman Islands 4 (2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 00:03, 11 April 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 14:13, 21 November 2023 (UTC)

Gunnar Studenhofft (born 5 April 2002) is a Caymanian footballer who currently plays for the South Florida Bulls and the Cayman Islands national team.

Youth career[edit]

Studenhofft began playing football at age 3.[1] For the 2014-15 season he was the top scorer for the islands' U13 Gold League with Elite SC.[2]

In 2016 Studenhofft was part of the Academy SC squad that competed in the Cayman Airways Invitational U14 tournament. Other notable teams competing in the tournament were the academies of Seattle Sounders FC from the USA, Gillingham FC and Tottenham Hotspur from the UK and Cavalier F.C. and Harbour View FC from Jamaica.[3] He went on to be the team's top scorer in the tournament with three goals, including his team's only tally in a 1–5 defeat to Harbour View FC.[4] Because of his performance in the tournament he was invited to spend time in England with the under-14 team of Manchester City of the English Premier League.[5]

The following year he helped Academy SC advance to the final of the under-17 FA Cup with two goals against Cayman Athletic SC in the semi-final.[6] Also in 2017 Studenhofft helped his school team, Grace Academy, win its division final and secure the championship. He was then named MVP of the division.[7] Shortly thereafter he was named Player of the Week for the CIFA Boys’ Under-15 League after scoring four goals in a match for Cayman Athletic SC.[8]

In 2018 he moved to central Florida to study and play football at Windermere Preparatory School. At that time he also played for the local Rush Soccer Academy.[1] For the 2019/2020 season, Studenhofft scored a hattrick against All Saints' Academy in the final of the Sunshine State Athletic Conference to help win the school's first-ever title.[9] That season he scored over thirty goals for the team.[10]

College career[edit]

For the 2021 season, Studenhofft began playing college soccer in the United States for the Titans of Eastern Florida State College. During his first season with the club he scored two goals in five matches.[11] Following the season he was named to the NJCAA Region 8 All-Region team.[12]

Club career[edit]

In 2021 Studenhofft joined the academy of Orlando City SC of Major League Soccer. He made two appearances for the club in MLS Next, scoring against Florida Rush SC.[13][14] For the 2022 season, Studenhofft joined newly-formed Cedar Stars FC of the United Premier Soccer League. With six goals, he was the club’s top scorer en route to qualifying for the playoff rounds.[15]

He joined Manhattan SC of the USL League Two for the 2023 season.[16] Following the season, Studenhofft was drafted 65th overall in the 2024 MLS SuperDraft by the Colorado Rapids. In the process, he became the first-ever Caymanian player selected in an MLS SuperDraft.[17]

International career[edit]

Studenhofft represented the Cayman Islands at the 2017 CONCACAF Boys' Under-15 Championship in Bradenton, Florida. The team won its first two matches, against Aruba and Bonaire.[18][19] In the first match, Studenhofft scored two of his team's three goals.[20] Following a 4–0 victory over Saint Martin, the Cayman Islands finished first in Group G and advanced to the knockout rounds. Studenhofft scored his team's fourth goal in the match.[21] The Cayman Islands ultimately finished the tournament undefeated, ending with a 2–0 victory over Antigua and Barbuda. Studenhofft assisted on his team's second goal of the match.[22]

In 2019 Studenhofft was named to the Cayman squad that competed in 2019 CONCACAF U-17 Championship qualifying. The team opened its campaign with a 2–0 victory over Grenada and a 3–0 victory over the United States Virgin Islands but were eliminated in the final match of the Group Stage by eventual group winners Nicaragua.[1] The following year he was part of the under-20 squad that competed in 2020 CONCACAF U-20 Championship qualifying.[23]

Studenhofft made his senior international debut on 24 March 2021 in a 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification match against Suriname.[24] In March 2024, he was part of the squad that participated in a training camp in Turkey which included friendlies against FC Turan, a professional club from Kazakhstan, and Moldova. The forward scored in the opening 1–5 defeat to FC Turan, the Cayman Islands’ only goal over the two matches.[25]

International career statistics[edit]

As of match played 26 March 2024.[24]
National team Year Apps Goals
Cayman Islands 2021 1 0
2022 0 0
2023 2 2
2024 1 0
Total 4 2

International goals[edit]

Scores and results list the Cayman Islands's goal tally first.[24]
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 26 March 2023 Juan Ramón Loubriel Stadium, Bayamón, Puerto Rico  Puerto Rico 1–3 1–5 2022–23 CONCACAF Nations League C
2. 20 November 2023 Trinidad Stadium, Oranjestad, Aruba  Aruba 1–2 1–5 2023–24 CONCACAF Nations League C

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c Herring, Troy. "Windermere Prep's Gunnar Studenhofft represents Cayman Islands on national soccer team". Windmere Preparatory School. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  2. ^ "Cayman Islands Football Association celebrates the 2014-15 season". tower.com.ky. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  3. ^ "Academy Sports Club ready for competition at Cayman Airways U14 Invitational". Cayman Youth Cup. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  4. ^ "Solid defender and laser-focused striker share honours". Cayman Sports Buzz. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  5. ^ "Local duo to train with Manchester City". Cayman Sports Buzz. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  6. ^ "Sunset to face 345 FC in Boys Under 11 FA Cup final". Caymanian Times. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  7. ^ "Private schools battle for football glory". Cayman Sports Buzz. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  8. ^ "Double-brace seals award for Studenhofft". Cayman Sports Buzz. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  9. ^ Herring, Troy. "Thanks to a hat trick from Gunnar Studenhofft, Windermere Prep continued their undefeated season with the program's first SSAC title". Sunshine State Athletic Conference. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  10. ^ Van De Griek, Ross. "Tampa Bay High School Boys Soccer Regional Final Previews". hsssportsfl2. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  11. ^ "EFSC Athletics profile". EFSC Athletics. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  12. ^ "Four EFSC men's soccer players named to All-Region team". EFSC Athletics. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  13. ^ "Soccerway profile". Soccerway. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  14. ^ "We couldn't be more proud of our seniors". Orlando City SC. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  15. ^ Battista, Matt. "Lower League Round-Up: July 13, 2022". Once a Metro. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  16. ^ "50 players selected in 2023 MLS SuperDraft". United Soccer League. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  17. ^ Russell, Jr., Seaford. "MLS team signs Gunnar Studenhofft in historic draft". The Cayman Compass. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  18. ^ "Cayman U-15s open international tourney with win". CNS Local Life. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  19. ^ "Cayman Islands' Under-15 boys secure second victory". Cayman Compass. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  20. ^ "CONCACAF U-15 boys: Cayman Islands opens tournament with a win". Cayman Compass. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  21. ^ "Cayman Islands Under 15s win CONCACAF Under 15 Boys Championships group with third victory". ieyenews.com. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  22. ^ "Cayman U-15 boys finish CONCACAF tournament undefeated". Cayman Compass. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  23. ^ "Studenhofft Selected to Cayman Islands U20 National Team". Windermere Preparatory School. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  24. ^ a b c "NFT profile". National Football Teams. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  25. ^ Russell, Jr., Seaford. "Cayman drops two games in international tour". The Cayman Compass. Retrieved 10 April 2024.

External links[edit]

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