Andrew Gifford Tarbell Bio
Andrew Gifford Tarbell, born on October 7, 1993, is an American professional soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper. Born and raised in Mandeville, Louisiana, he developed his game in local youth setups before progressing through the college ranks at Clemson University. After being selected in the 2016 MLS SuperDraft, Tarbell went on to feature for several Major League Soccer clubs and earned recognition for his shot-stopping, command of the penalty area, and leadership between the posts.
Across his professional journey, Tarbell has represented the San Jose Earthquakes, Columbus Crew, Austin FC, and Houston Dynamo, while also gaining experience with affiliate sides Reno 1868 and Houston Dynamo 2 on loan. He has collected major silverware in MLS and the U.S. Open Cup, and his performances have established him as a reliable presence in the goalkeeper position at the domestic top flight.
Early Life and Background
Andrew Gifford Tarbell was born on October 7, 1993, in Mandeville, Louisiana, in the United States. Growing up in this community along the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain, he was introduced to soccer at an early age and developed his skills with the Mandeville Soccer Club Lakers, where he spent his formative youth years from 2004 to 2012.
Tarbell attended Fontainebleau High School, where he broadened his athletic background by playing soccer, baseball, and competing in the javelin throw. During his junior and senior years of high school, he also featured for the New Orleans Jesters in the USL PDL, gaining competitive experience outside of school soccer. These experiences helped shape his profile as a multi-sport athlete with a clear goalkeeping identity.
The combination of club soccer with the Mandeville Lakers, high school competition, and meaningful minutes with the New Orleans Jesters provided Tarbell with a strong foundation. This groundwork allowed him to attract attention from college programs and set the stage for his transition into the NCAA ranks.
Path to Soccer
Tarbell committed to Clemson University, where he spent his entire college career representing the Clemson Tigers from 2012 through 2015. Across his four seasons, he started 55 games for the program, establishing himself as one of the top goalkeepers in the Atlantic Coast Conference and anchoring a competitive Tigers side.
During his time at Clemson, Tarbell helped lead the Tigers to an ACC Tournament title in 2014 and earned All-ACC First Team honors that same year. The following season, he guided Clemson to the NCAA National Championship game in 2015, where the Tigers fell to Stanford. Tarbell was named to the College Cup All-Tournament Team and collected All-ACC First Team recognition for a second consecutive year.
Following the conclusion of his junior season, Tarbell elected to leave Clemson early and signed a Generation Adidas contract with Major League Soccer. This decision made him eligible for the MLS SuperDraft and marked his official transition from the college game to the professional ranks.
Andrew Gifford Tarbell Career
Early Career (2010–2011)
Tarbell began his senior career with the New Orleans Jesters, competing in the USL PDL between 2010 and 2011. His appearances with the Jesters overlapped with his final high school years, offering him a valuable bridge between youth soccer and the college level. The experience helped him refine his game against older, more physical opponents.
This early professional exposure in Louisiana gave Tarbell a preview of the demands of regular senior competition. It also set the stage for his recruitment to Clemson, where his profile as a promising goalkeeper continued to rise over the following four seasons.
San Jose Earthquakes Era (2016–2020)
Tarbell was selected 8th overall in the 2016 MLS SuperDraft by the San Jose Earthquakes. He made his professional debut on August 27, 2016, coming on late in the first half against the Columbus Crew after starter David Bingham suffered a back injury, though the match ended in a 2–0 defeat. In his first full campaign the following year, Tarbell was loaned to USL Championship affiliate Reno 1868, where he made five appearances and opened the season as the starter.
Back with San Jose, Tarbell made his starting debut for the club in a U.S. Open Cup match on June 16, 2017, against the San Francisco Deltas, keeping a clean sheet in a 2–0 victory. He went on to deliver a career-high eleven saves in a U.S. Open Cup semifinal loss to Sporting Kansas City, including stopping Benny Feilhaber’s penalty during sudden death. Those performances earned him his first MLS start on August 12, 2017, against the Houston Dynamo, where he saved a penalty from Cubo Torres and won MLS Save of the Week.
Tarbell continued to feature for the Earthquakes over the following seasons, eventually wearing the captain’s armband for the first time on July 28, 2018, in a performance praised by the club as one of its best of the season. His final appearance for San Jose came on June 20, 2019, a 3–1 U.S. Open Cup loss at Los Angeles FC. Shortly after, he underwent surgery to repair a sports hernia, closing out his time in California.
Columbus Crew Era (2020)
In February 2020, Tarbell was traded to the Columbus Crew in exchange for $75,000 in allocation money. He debuted for the club during the 2020 MLS is Back Tournament and quickly found himself in a more prominent role during the playoffs when starter Eloy Room was unavailable due to COVID-19 protocols.
Tarbell stepped into the starting role and delivered consecutive clean sheets in a 2–0 win over Nashville SC in the Eastern Conference semifinals and a 1–0 win against the New England Revolution in the Eastern Conference finals. Although he was on the bench for the MLS Cup final, he was part of the squad that defeated Seattle 3–0, earning his first major professional trophy.
Austin FC Era (2021–2022)
On December 23, 2020, Tarbell signed with expansion side Austin FC ahead of their inaugural 2021 season. He made his debut for the club on September 29, 2021, in a 3–0 loss away to the Colorado Rapids, gradually working his way into the goalkeeper rotation. The following season, on April 30, 2022, he replaced an injured Brad Stuver in the 8th minute and helped Austin secure a 2–1 victory over the Houston Dynamo.
Despite these contributions, Tarbell was released by Austin FC at the conclusion of the 2022 season, opening the door for his next chapter in Texas.
Houston Dynamo Era (2023–2025)
On November 23, 2022, Tarbell signed a two-year deal with the Houston Dynamo ahead of the 2023 campaign. He quickly became the starting goalkeeper and played a central role as the club lifted the 2023 U.S. Open Cup. Tarbell captained the side during a memorable 1–0 fourth-round victory over Sporting Kansas City while playing a man down, highlighting his leadership and composure under pressure.
Tarbell continued as the starting goalkeeper into the 2025 season, but a knee injury sustained after the first four matches required season-ending surgery. Following the conclusion of the 2025 campaign, Houston declined his contract option, closing this chapter of his career.
Driving Style and Strengths
In an interview with MLSsoccer.com, Tarbell described himself as a goalkeeper who carries a strong presence, covers a large area, and commands his penalty area aggressively. He emphasized his willingness to come off his line to deal with crosses and through balls behind the back line, while also acknowledging the need to polish his kicking technique and build greater match-to-match consistency.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the defining moments of Tarbell’s career are his eleven-save performance in the 2017 U.S. Open Cup semifinal against Sporting Kansas City, his role in the Columbus Crew’s 2020 MLS Cup triumph, and captaining Houston Dynamo to the 2023 U.S. Open Cup title. Each milestone showcased his shot-stopping quality, mental toughness, and growing leadership within the goalkeeping position.
Andrew Gifford Tarbell Career Wins
Andrew Gifford Tarbell has built a reputation as a dependable shot-stopper whose contributions have translated into team success at multiple stops. While his individual win totals vary across competitions, his career is highlighted by significant collective achievements, including an MLS Cup winners’ medal with Columbus Crew in 2020 and a U.S. Open Cup title with Houston Dynamo in 2023.
MLS and U.S. Open Cup Highlights
With the San Jose Earthquakes, Tarbell earned a U.S. Open Cup starting debut clean sheet against the San Francisco Deltas in 2017 and produced one of the competition’s standout individual performances against Sporting Kansas City later that summer. With the Columbus Crew, he contributed clean sheets in both the 2020 Eastern Conference semifinal and final, then celebrated an MLS Cup championship as part of the matchday squad.
At Houston Dynamo, Tarbell captained the team to the 2023 U.S. Open Cup, leading a memorable shorthanded win over Sporting Kansas City en route to the trophy. These results stand as the verified collective highlights of his career to date.
Other Wins and Performances
Earlier in his career, Tarbell won an ACC Tournament title with Clemson in 2014 and reached the NCAA Championship game in 2015, where he was named to the College Cup All-Tournament Team. He also collected multiple MLS Save of the Week honors during his time with San Jose, recognizing his standout individual stops in league play.
Andrew Gifford Tarbell Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Detailed information about Andrew Gifford Tarbell’s parents and immediate family background is not publicly available in verified sources. What is clear is that he grew up in Mandeville, Louisiana, and developed his early soccer identity with the Mandeville Soccer Club Lakers and at Fontainebleau High School, where he also competed in baseball and the javelin throw.
Personal Life
Andrew Gifford Tarbell has kept much of his personal life private, and verified public details about a spouse, partner, or children are not available. He is known to stand 6 ft 3 in tall, a frame that suits his role as a commanding presence in goal, and he has spent much of his professional career based in cities across the southern and western United States.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season for Andrew Gifford Tarbell began with him installed as the starting goalkeeper for Houston Dynamo. He featured in the first four matches of the campaign, providing the team with stability and experience in goal as they navigated the early MLS schedule.
However, Tarbell’s season was cut short after he sustained a knee injury that required season-ending surgery. The Dynamo moved forward with their remaining goalkeeping options for the rest of the year, and following the conclusion of the 2025 season, the club declined his contract option.
Looking ahead, Tarbell’s focus will be on his rehabilitation and recovery, with the aim of returning to full fitness. His prior track record of bouncing back from a sports hernia earlier in his career suggests that he will work toward reclaiming a starting role once he is healthy enough to compete again at the Major League Soccer level.