 Higgins played college soccer at California State University, Fullerton from 1996 to 2000, and four seasons with Orange County Blue Star in the USL Premier Development League, helping them to the PDL national semi-finals in 2004 and 2006.Higgins signed with the Portland Timbers in the USL First Division in 2005, playing 16 games (934 minutes) in his rookie season.He scored two goals during the season, both against Northwest rivals the Seattle Sounders, was named to the USL First Division Team of the Week for Week 18.