TULSA, Okla. – Tulsa Athletic announced the addition of Joe Garcia for his fourth season with the club as he became the fifth announced signing for the 2021 season.
For Garcia’s career with Tulsa Athletic, he has 36 starts in the midfield with 18 goals in three seasons.
“I’m excited to be returning this summer,” Garcia said. “We had a great run back in 2019, and I hope to build off it for this upcoming season.
In the 2019 season, Garcia played every minute of the season, starting all 14 contests and playing all 90 minutes in each match. He scored a team-high eight goals during the season, including four goals in the postseason. The midfielder finished with a brace in a 6-2 win in the Heartland Conference Semifinals against Ozark FC. He added another brace in a 3-0 win over Ozark FC during the regular season. Garcia added playoff goals in wins over Demize NPSL to win the Heartland Conference championship, and over Fort Worth to advance to the South Region Finals.
For Tulsa Athletic in 2018, Garcia started in 10 matches and scored four goals as a midfielder. He played 737 minutes during the 2018 season. In his first season for Tulsa Athletic in 2017, Garcia tallied six goals, including one of the best goals in club history in a win over Ozark FC, in 12 contests and played 997 minutes. Garcia was named to the 2017 NPSL South Region Best XI Team.
Garcia played four seasons at Northeastern State where he was named All-American two straight seasons to end his career. The 5-4 midfielder netted a goal in the first 11 contests of his senior season before an injury ended his collegiate career in the 12th game. His streak of 11 straight games with a goal tied for fourth all-time nationally and was the longest streak in men’s soccer since the 2012 season. Despite missing the final seven matches of the season, Garcia posted 13 goals, tying for 26th in the nation in NCAA Division II. He finished his collegiate career with 97 points, 34 goals and 29 assists.
In his four-year collegiate career, Garcia was a two-time All-American, four-time all-region selection and four-time all-conference pick at NSU. He was named the MIAA Player of the Week six times during his collegiate campaign as a RiverHawk.
Tulsa Athletic begins the 2021 season on May 1 at Arkansas Wolves in Little Rock, Arkansas at 6 p.m. The 2021 home opener is May 16 at 2 p.m. at Veterans Park against Oklahoma City.
