Former Generals soccer players headed to Final Four
HERKIMER, NY – Herkimer soccer alum Ben Polk scored the game winner in Syracuse University’s (16-5-3) 1-0 win over Boston College in the NCAA Division I Elite Eight on Saturday (12/5).
Polk, Syracuse’s leading goal scorer, netted his 12th goal of the season on a header from a corner kick in the 79th minute to help the Orange advance to the NCAA DI National Final Four for the first time in program history.
Polk - a resident of Banbury, UK - was Region III Male Athlete of the Year and a first team All-American (NCSAA and NJCAA), leading the country in goals during the 2014 season as a General with 33. That wasn’t it however as Polk also earned the SUNY Chancellor’s Scholar Athlete Award, which is given to student-athletes who have exemplary academic credentials and athletics accomplishments.
“It has been great to watch three NCAA tournament games at Syracuse and see Ben score in two of them,” said Head Men’s Soccer Coach Pepe Aragon. “Our Herkimer family is so proud of him and Korab Syla. Syla, like Polk, was a first team All-American and NSCAA National Player of the Year for the Generals.”
The Orange will now face Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) foe Clemson for the third time this season. The teams split the previous two meetings, with each team winning on the other's home field. Polk scored both of the goals for Syracuse in their 2-0 win over the Tigers in the ACC Conference Semifinal. Both teams are scheduled to faceoff on Friday (12/11) at the Sporting Park in Kansas City, KS at 6 p.m. It will also be viewable on ESPNU.