OKC Energy FC forward/midfielder Coy Craft has had quite the month. Between scoring Energy FC’s game-winning goal against Swope Park two weeks ago, and being named to the 2016 Chipotle MLS Homegrown Game roster, the Southwestern Virginia native has had plenty to smile about.

The recent success Craft has enjoyed is due to years of hard work, and is the culmination of a journey that took him from small-town Virginia to the starting 11s of both FC Dallas and OKC Energy FC.

“It’s honestly crazy to think about,” said Craft. “I was just a small-town kid playing soccer and I somehow ended up in Dallas.”

Craft ended up in Dallas thanks to a chance meeting with Óscar Pareja at a youth national team tryout when Craft was in eighth grade. The meeting ultimately paved the way for Craft to become a professional, as the Virginia native joined the FC Dallas Academy soon after meeting Pareja.

After a few short years learning under the coaches at the FC Dallas academy, training stints overseas, including one with Stuttgart, and multiple collegiate scholarship offers, Craft signed as a Homegrown Player with FC Dallas in 2014, becoming the club’s 12th Homegrown signing.

Over the past two years, Craft has appeared sparingly for FC Dallas due to myriad factors, with the quality of talent ahead of him on the depth chart chief among them. Not wanting to stunt his growth, FC Dallas loaned Craft to USL partner Energy FC earlier this season, which presented a new challenge for Craft. It was totally welcomed by the young FC Dallas academy product.

“It’s hard to sometimes to be in-and-out of the roster, and it’s hard to keep developing at such a young age unless you’re getting consistent minutes at a high level, so, obviously, I think it’s the best thing for my career right now to be there and get quality minutes against quality competition,” said Craft. “I think it’s been really good for me this season so far. The team is great, the city’s great, and I love the coaching staff, so it’s been a great experience for me this season so far.”