Zachary Joe Wells (born February 26, 1981, in Costa Mesa, California) is an American former professional soccer player who played as a goalkeeper.

College

Wells played college soccer at UCLA from 1999 to 2003, where he helped the school to the NCAA Championship as a junior, and was named first-team All-Pac-10 as a senior.

Zach Wells

MLS

Upon graduating, Wells was selected 21st overall in the 2004 MLS SuperDraft by the MetroStars. He spent much of the season backing up national teamer Jonny Walker, but played two games in mid-season. In 2005, with Walker recovering from surgery, Wells took over the starting role, and played well, leading to Walker's trade to Columbus. But the return of Tony Meola to the club left Wells being a backup again. He was traded to Houston for a 4th round pick in the 2006 MLS SuperDraft. He was acquired along with a conditional draft pick by D.C. United for Bobby Boswell on December 12, 2007.

Zach Wells

Wells announced his retirement from professional soccer on February 17, 2009, just a month before the start of the 2009 MLS season.

Zach Wells

National team

Wells earned his only cap for the U.S. national team on February 19, 2006, in a 4–0 victory over Guatemala at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, Texas.

Honors

Houston Dynamo

Major League Soccer MLS Cup (2): 2006, 2007

References

1981 births

Living people

American men's soccer players

Men's association football goalkeepers

D.C. United players

Houston Dynamo FC players

Major League Soccer players

New York Red Bulls draft picks

New York Red Bulls players

Sportspeople from Costa Mesa, California

UCLA Bruins men's soccer players

United States men's international soccer players

Newport Harbor High School alumni

Soccer players from Orange County, California