Koa Santos

American soccer player

Koa Santos
Personal information
Full name	Laukoa Santos
Date of birth	(1999-09-21) 21 September 1999 (age 24)
Place of birth	Waikoloa, Hawaii, United States
Height	1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s)	Right-back
Team information
Current team	Colorado Springs Switchbacks
Number	2
Youth career
	Kona Crush
2013–2017	Kealakehe High School
College career
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2017–2021	San Diego State Aztecs	58	(2)
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2018	ASC San Diego	2	(0)
2021	Portland Timbers U23s	10	(2)
2022–2023	Charlotte FC	1	(0)
2022–2023	→ Charlotte Independence (loan)	19	(1)
2023	Loudoun United	25	(0)
2024–	Colorado Springs Swtichbacks	0	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of November 29, 2023

Laukoa Santos (born September 21, 1999) is an American soccer player who plays as a right-back for Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC in the USL Championship.

Career

Youth

Santos played academy soccer for his local soccer club Kona Crush Academy. Concurrently, Laukoa played high school soccer for Kealakehe High School^[1] in Kona, Hawaii. With Kealakehe, Laukoa served as the team's captain, being named Three-time Big Island Interscholastic Federation Player of the Year, Four-time Big Island Interscholastic,^[2] First-team all-state honoree (2016–17), and All-Hawaii team (2016–17). During his career with Kealakehe High School Santos recorded 87 goals and 48 assists during his prep career.^[3]

College

Ahead of the 2017 NCAA Division I men's soccer season, Laukoa signed a National Letter of Intent^[4] to play collegiately for San Diego State University.^[5]^[6] Laukoa is the first men's soccer player from state of Hawaii to play in the Pac-12.^[7] Laukoa would go on to red shirt his first season at San Diego and make his official debut during the 2018 season. On September 24, 2018, Laukoa scored his first collegiate goal against UNLV. Laukoa would finish his collegiate career with 58 appearances, scoring two goals and tallying three assists.. Santos was named to the Pac-12 Academic Honor Roll on three consecutive seasons from 2019 to 2021.^[3]

Amateur

While at college, Santos appeared in the National Premier Soccer League with ASC San Diego during their 2018 season, making two regular season appearances.^[8] In 2021, Santos played with USL League Two Portland Timbers U23s, scoring two goals in ten appearances.^[9]

Professional

On February 22, 2022, Santos signed with Major League Soccer club Charlotte FC ahead of their inaugural season.^[10]^[11] On April 17, 2022, Santos was loaned to USL League One club Charlotte Independence and started for the team the same day in a 2–1 win over Northern Colorado Hailstorm.^[12]

Santos joined Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC on November 29, 2023.^[13]

Honors

First men's soccer player from state of Hawaii to play in the Pac-12^[7]
Three-time Big Island Interscholastic Federation Player of the Year
Four-time Big Island Interscholastic Federation first-team selection^[2]
First-team all-state honoree (2016–17)
All-Hawaii team (2016–17)
Pac-12 All Academic (2017–21)
Led Portland Timbers U23 to a Western Conference Title (2021)

References

^ "BIIF Soccer: With Santos leading way, Kealakehe dominates Division I All-BIIF team". Hawaii Tribune-Herald. 2016-04-11. Retrieved 2022-03-13.
^ ^a ^b "Kealakehe, KS-Hawai'i Lead All-BIIF Boys Soccer Honors | Big Island Now". | Kealakehe, KS-Hawai’i Lead All-BIIF Boys Soccer Honors. Retrieved 2022-03-13.
^ ^a ^b "Laukoa Santos - Men's Soccer". SDSU Athletics.
^ "On scholarship: Santos signs with Aztecs, will play soccer in PAC-12 conference". West Hawaii Today. 2017-02-02. Retrieved 2022-03-13.
^ "Laukoa Santos - Men's Soccer". SDSU Athletics. Retrieved 2022-02-22.
^ "Pac-12". Pac-12. Retrieved 2022-03-13.
^ ^a ^b "Santos Signs with Charlotte FC | Pac-12". pac-12.com. Retrieved 2022-03-13.
^ "National Premier Soccer League". npsl.bonzidev.com.
^ "Portland Timbers U23 | uslleaguetwo.com". www.uslleaguetwo.com.
^ "Charlotte FC Signs Goalkeeper George Marks and Defender Koa Santos | Charlotte FC". Charlotte Football Club.
^ "MLS: Laukoa Santos catches on with Charlotte". Hawaii Tribune-Herald. February 24, 2022.
^ "Charlotte Independence Win 2-1 in Extra Time vs. Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC".
^ Purslow, Ashley. "Switchbacks FC Sign Defender Koa Santos for the 2024 Season". SwitchbacksFC.com. Colorado Springs Switchbacks. Retrieved 29 November 2023.