2016 (Seattle): In his most fruitful professional season to date, the third-year pro set career-highs with 16 appearances, 10 starts and 21 shot attempts. He scored his first career MLS goal at New England (May 28). After sustaining a clavicle injury in a Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup contest in July, Kovar returned to action in a reserve role at FC Dallas (October 16).
2015 (Seattle): The local Homegrown Player appeared in six league matches for Sounders FC in 2015, including two starts. Kovar made his first career start in a 1-0 loss to the Philadelphia Union on June 24. A gifted and stealthy crosser, Kovar saw most of his action at outside midfield. He scored his first professional goal for Sounders FC 2 in a 1-0 win over LA Galaxy II (June 12). Against Club Tijuana in an international friendly, he tallied two assists (March 24).
2014 (Seattle): Kovar appeared in three games as a substitute, including his MLS debut at D.C. United (June 28). In his professional debut, Kovar drew a penalty kick and recorded an assist in 5-0 U.S. Open Cup victory over PSA Elite. From June 10-June 14, Kovar was loaned to Orange County Blues.
Kovar was called into the U.S. U-18 National Team training camp in 2011, which was held from February 12-20 in Arizona.
Kovar started all 15 matches as a sophomore at Stanford, ranking second on the team with six assists and added two goals. He was an Honorable Mention All-Pac-12 selection. He recorded an assist and scored the game-winning goal in a 2-1 win against Cal (November 13), helping Stanford advance to the NCAA Tournament. He also recorded the game-winning assist against Cal State Northridge in the second round of NCAA Tournament. In 2012, he was named the Pac-12 Freshman of the Year. He started 12 of his 15 appearances, scoring three goals with two assists.
Kovar played for Sounders FC Academy from 2010-12, and played for Sounders FC U-23s in 2013. He appeared in five MLS Reserve League matches for Sounders FC. He was named the 2011 Gatorade Washington State Player of the Year after helping Garfield to the 2010 league title, and was named league and team MVP in 2011 and was a two-time All-KingCo Conference selection.
The son of a doctor, Rich, and nurse, Bernadette, Kovar has a younger sister, Heather. He played tennis in high school as a freshman and sophomore. His favorite soccer moment was scoring the game-winner against Cal to help Stanford reach the NCAA Tournament.
Signed as Homegrown Player on January 8, 2014.
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