Nicholas Scardina Bio
Nicholas Scardina (born June 22, 2001) is an American professional soccer player recognized for his versatility in attack. He has played as a full-back, an attacking midfielder, and a forward across youth, collegiate, and professional levels. Standing at 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m), Scardina developed in the Pacific Northwest before reaching Major League Soccer through the 2023 MLS SuperDraft.
Born and raised in Portland, Oregon, Scardina rose through the Portland Timbers academy and went on to play college soccer for the Washington Huskies. He has competed for Portland Timbers 2, PDX FC, Crossfire Premier, Charlotte FC, and Crown Legacy FC, building a career that has spanned multiple U.S. domestic competitions.
Early Life and Background
Nicholas Scardina was born on June 22, 2001, in Portland, Oregon, United States. Growing up in a city with a deep soccer culture gave him early and consistent access to competitive youth environments, including the Portland Timbers academy system. Portland’s strong supporter culture and professional club infrastructure helped shape his early approach to the game.
He attended Central Catholic High School in Portland, where he balanced academics with the demands of academy training. Scardina spent his formative development years with the Portland Timbers youth setup from 2017 to 2019, refining the technical and tactical skills that would later define his professional profile. That period laid the groundwork for his transition into senior-level opportunities.
Path to Professional Soccer
Scardina’s first senior appearance came on June 25, 2019, when he entered as a late substitute for Portland Timbers 2 in a USL Championship match against Reno 1868 FC. Despite the 2-1 loss, the appearance marked his debut in a professional league at age 18. It signaled that he could handle the physical and tactical demands of senior men’s soccer.
While continuing his development, Scardina enrolled at the University of Washington in 2019, where he played four seasons for the Washington Huskies men’s soccer program through 2022. Over that collegiate span, he made 60 appearances, scored 18 goals, and added 7 assists, earning recognition as a Pac-12 All-Conference First Team selection in 2022. During his college summers, he also gained senior minutes with USL League Two side PDX FC in 2021 and National Premier Soccer League side Crossfire Premier in 2022, broadening his experience across multiple competitive formats.
Nicholas Scardina Career
Early Career (2019–2022)
Scardina’s earliest senior exposure came in the USL Championship with Portland Timbers 2 in 2019. His brief appearance against Reno 1868 FC provided his first taste of professional match play and validated the progress he had made within the Portland Timbers academy.
Across the following college years, he supplemented his Huskies schedule with summer stints at PDX FC in 2021 and Crossfire Premier in 2022. Those seasons allowed him to apply his university form in senior men’s environments while preparing for the next step toward Major League Soccer.
MLS Breakthrough with Charlotte FC (2023–2025)
On December 22, 2022, Scardina was selected 40th overall in the 2023 MLS SuperDraft by Charlotte FC. He signed his first professional contract with the club on February 24, 2023, ahead of Charlotte’s second season in Major League Soccer. The move represented the realization of a long-held ambition to compete at the top tier of American soccer.
To secure consistent playing time, Scardina was loaned to Crown Legacy FC, Charlotte’s developmental affiliate, where he worked to translate his college production into the professional game. Charlotte FC exercised the contract option on Scardina at the end of the 2023 season, confirming his place within the organization’s long-term plans. He continued to feature across the Charlotte and Crown Legacy setups through the 2025 season, refining his craft across midfield and forward roles.
Rhode Island FC Move (2026–Present)
Following his release from Charlotte FC at the conclusion of the 2025 season, Scardina signed with USL Championship side Rhode Island FC on January 12, 2026. The transfer positioned him as a key attacking addition for the club heading into its next campaign.
At Rhode Island FC, Scardina wears the number 22 shirt and is expected to contribute as an attacking midfielder. The move offers him a featured role within a club competing for promotion and a return to consistent starting minutes at the senior level.
Driving Style and Strengths
Scardina is valued for his positional flexibility, having lined up as a full-back, an attacking midfielder, and a forward. His college record of 18 goals and 7 assists across 60 appearances highlights an eye for goal combined with creative distribution. Coaches have leaned on his work rate, comfort in tight spaces, and willingness to adapt tactically from match to match.
Notable Events and Milestones
Key moments in Scardina’s career include his professional debut with Portland Timbers 2 in 2019, his Pac-12 All-Conference First Team selection in 2022, his 40th overall selection in the 2023 MLS SuperDraft, and his first professional contract with Charlotte FC. His January 2026 transfer to Rhode Island FC marks the latest chapter in a steady ascent through American soccer.
Nicholas Scardina Career Wins
Nicholas Scardina’s career to date is best measured by progression through increasingly competitive environments rather than major trophy wins. From a Portland Timbers academy product to an MLS SuperDraft selection and a contributor in the USL Championship, his record reflects steady development at every stage of his journey.
Collegiate and Senior Highlights
At the University of Washington, Scardina recorded 18 goals and 7 assists across 60 appearances from 2019 through 2022, capped by a Pac-12 All-Conference First Team selection in 2022. His senior-level experience began with a USL Championship debut for Portland Timbers 2 in 2019 and continued through summer assignments with PDX FC and Crossfire Premier.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond team results, Scardina’s performances have produced personal recognition, including conference honors at Washington and a place among MLS SuperDraft selections in 2023. His continued involvement with Crown Legacy FC and his subsequent signing with Rhode Island FC reflect sustained evaluation by professional staff across multiple organizations.
Nicholas Scardina Family
Family Background and Soccer Lineage
Scardina was raised in Portland, Oregon, where he came of age within a region long associated with American soccer culture. His path through the Portland Timbers academy reflects the influence of that local environment on his early sporting development.
Personal Life
Publicly available details about Scardina’s personal and family life remain limited. He is recognized primarily through his professional career and on-field accomplishments rather than through widely reported personal disclosures.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season represented the final year of Scardina’s tenure with the Charlotte FC organization, with time split between the MLS first team and developmental affiliate Crown Legacy FC. He continued to develop his craft across multiple positions within the club’s system.
At the conclusion of the 2025 campaign, Charlotte FC released Scardina, opening the door for his January 12, 2026 move to Rhode Island FC. The transition offered him an opportunity to step into a central role with a USL Championship club aiming to compete near the top of the standings.
Heading into the 2025 period and beyond, Scardina’s outlook centers on consistent senior minutes, further refinement of his attacking output, and establishing himself as a long-term contributor for Rhode Island FC.