Easton Ongaro (born 5 June 1998) is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays as a forward for Whitecaps FC 2 in MLS Next Pro.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Easton Ongaro | ||
| Date of birth | (1998-06-05) 5 June 1998 (age 24) | ||
| Place of birth | Edmonton, Alberta, Canada | ||
| Height | 1.99 m (6 ft 6 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Forward | ||
| Club information | |||
Current team | Whitecaps FC 2 | ||
| Number | 43 | ||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2017–2018 | Alberta Golden Bears | 26 | (20) |
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2016–2018 | Edmonton Green & Gold | 30 | (19) |
| 2019–2021 | FC Edmonton | 55 | (25) |
| 2020 | → Vendsyssel FF (loan) | 7 | (2) |
| 2022 | UTA Arad | 6 | (1) |
| 2022– | Whitecaps FC 2 | 7 | (3) |
| 2022 | → Vancouver Whitecaps FC (loan) | 1 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of September 25, 2022 | |||
In 2016, Ongaro began playing in the Alberta Major Soccer League with the Edmonton Green & Gold, scoring two goals in eight appearances that season.[1] The following season he doubled his tally, scoring four goals in thirteen appearances.[1] In 2018, Ongaro led the league in scoring with thirteen goals in nine appearances.[1]
In October 2018, Ongaro was selected 15th overall in the 2018 CPL–U Sports Draft by Calgary-based club Cavalry FC.[2]
On 1 May 2019, Ongaro signed with his hometown club, FC Edmonton, after he was released by Cavalry FC.[3][2] On 12 June 2019, Ongaro made his debut as a substitute against York9 FC in the Canadian Championship.[4] The following weekend he made his league debut as a substitute in the Al Classico against his draft club, Cavalry FC.[4] He scored his first goal for Edmonton on July 27 against Forge FC.[5] Ongaro finished the season with a team-high ten goals in 21 league appearances, finishing fourth among the league's top scorers.[4] On 12 November 2019, Ongaro re-signed with FC Edmonton on a multi-year contract.[6]
Edmonton had a disastrous shortened 2020 season, managing only a single point in seven games. Nevertheless, Ongaro again led the club in goals, scoring three while playing in every game.[7]
In 2021, he had a slow start to the season, but by August began to get into excellent form, developing a partnership with new signing Tobias Warschewski, who assisted many of his goals.[8] Ultimately, Ongaro again had an individually successful season, while his team's season was disappointing, as the Eddies finished in seventh place. However, Ongaro scored 12 goals in 27 appearances, good for second league-wide.[9] Upon completion of the season, Ongaro would express a desire to play in Europe,[10] and eventually signed in Romania. After three seasons with Edmonton he left as the Canadian Premier League's all time top goalscorer, with 25 goals.[11]
On 4 October 2020, Ongaro was loaned to Danish 1st Division side Vendsyssel FF until the end of the calendar year.[12] The deal also included an option to buy at the end of the loan period.[13] He made his debut on 7 October in a Danish Cup tie against Aarhus Fremad.[14] On 31 December 2020, Vendsyssel declined the option to purchase Ongaro at the end of the loan, and he returned to Edmonton for the 2021 season.[15]
On 12 January 2022, Ongaro signed with Romanian Liga I side UTA Arad.[16] He made his first appearance for the club on January 23 against Gaz Metan Mediaș. Ongaro scored his first goal for UTA Arad on February 18, netting a late equalizer in a 1-1 draw against Universitatea Craiova.[17][18] He departed the club in May 2022, after a spell that was marred by injury.[19] After departing Arad, he went to train with his former club FC Edmonton, with no plans to join the club on a permanent contract, only to train for fitness.[20]
In July 2022, he signed with Whitecaps FC 2 in MLS Next Pro.[21][22] He made his debut on July 24, scoring two goals against Colorado Rapids II.[23] In August, he signed a short-term loan with the first team for their match against the LA Galaxy on August 13.[24][25][26]
Ongaro was named to the Canadian U-23 provisional roster for the 2020 CONCACAF Men's Olympic Qualifying Championship on 26 February 2020.[27]
He is the nephew of former Canadian professional soccer player Ross Ongaro.[28] He also holds an Italian passport.[16]
| Club | Season | League | National Cup[lower-alpha 1] | Other | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Edmonton Green & Gold | 2016 | AMSL | 8 | 2 | — | 0 | 0 | 8 | 2 | |
| 2017 | AMSL | 13 | 4 | — | 0 | 0 | 13 | 4 | ||
| 2018 | AMSL | 9 | 13 | — | 0 | 0 | 9 | 13 | ||
| Total | 30 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 19 | ||
| FC Edmonton | 2019 | Canadian Premier League | 21 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 10 |
| 2020 | Canadian Premier League | 7 | 3 | — | 0 | 0 | 7 | 3 | ||
| 2021 | Canadian Premier League | 27 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 12 | |
| Total | 55 | 25 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 57 | 25 | ||
| Vendsyssel FF (loan) | 2020–21 | Danish 1st Division | 7 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 2 |
| UTA Arad | 2021–22 | Liga I | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 |
| Whitecaps FC 2 | 2022 | MLS Next Pro | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 3 |
| Career total | 105 | 50 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 108 | 50 | ||
2018 CPL–U Sports Draft selections | |
|---|---|
| First round | |
| Second round | |
| Third round |
|
Whitecaps FC 2 – current squad | |
|---|---|