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T2 opened their season on Sunday with 3-1 victory over Real Monarchs and a late-game stunner against Sacramento Republic, to defeat the defending USL champions 2-1. With so many new faces, we will be profiling the 20 players signed or loaned to the USL side.
We continue with defender/midfielder Matt Rose.
Number: 38
Position: Defender
Height: 5-11
Weight: 165
Born: May 9, 1991
Hometown: High Point, N.C.
Last Club: Timbers U-23 (PDL)
College: Point Loma Nazarene University
Rose, 22, joins T2 after spending his senior season at Point Loma Nazarene in NCAA DII.
Making 22 appearances (17 starts) for the Sea Lions, Rose led his team with 5 goals and 3 assists in 2014, earning All-Pacific West Conference first team honors and was among the conference leaders in both shots (44) and shots on goal (20). Transferring from North Carolina, Rose red shirted in 2013, after not appearing in 2011, following a coaching change. In 2010, Rose made 19 appearances (17 starts) for UNC as a red shirt freshman, scoring 1 goal and 1 assist, as the Tar Heels reached the Atlantic Coast Conference final and the NCAA semifinal and finished the conference season undefeated (7-0-1).
In 2014, Rose made 11 appearances for the Timbers U23s, recording 3 assists during the PDL season with current T2 teammate Kharlton Belmar, and appeared in the MLS Homegrown Game, alongside Belmar and Andy Thoma and against Steven Evans.
Rose brings some versatility to T2, having appeared at both left back and in the midfield, while appearing as a forward during his senior year of college. While likely a utility sub for now, Rose appears to be the type of player coaches love to have in reserve: someone who is capable of playing at multiple positions, while making spot starts, as needed. Rose has appeared in both USL matches in midfield as a late-game substitute.