Position: Goalkeeper
Birthdate: 9/23/1998
Hometown: Clifton, Virginia
College: UNC Charlotte
Height: 6-1
Daniel Kuzemka enters his third season with the Black and Yellow.
The shot-stopper featured in three total matches in 2023, posting victories in all three contests. Kuzemka had one clean sheet, which came in the Battery’s 1-0 win over Charlotte Independence in the Third Round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
Kuzemka made four appearances and tallied 13 saves during his rookie campaign in 2022. He recorded his first career professional shutout on August 31 against Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, a 0-0 draw on the road.
The 25-year-old initially arrived in Charleston on a trial in the preseason that saw him between the pipes against Charlotte FC in the 2022 Breeze Airways™ Carolina Challenge Cup. He helped preserve the clean sheet in the 1-0 victory in a goalkeeper rotation with Joe Kuzminsky and Hugo Fauroux.
A native of Clifton, Virginia, Kuzemka played collegiately at Clemson University and UNC Charlotte.
Kuzemka appeared in five matches across three seasons with the Tigers before transferring to Charlotte. With the 49ers, Kuzemka blossomed into a formidable fixture, tallying 57 saves and four clean sheets during his senior season. The shot-stopper helped lead the 49ers to a berth into the 2021 NCAA Tournament and was named to the Conference USA All-Academic Team prior to graduation.
In joining the Battery, Kuzemka reunites with former Charlotte teammate Patrick Hogan. The two shared the pitch for the 49ers during the abbreviated 2021 Spring season.
