Former Herkimer alumni Polk invited to MLS Combine
Ft. Lauderdale, FL – Former Generals soccer star Ben Polk is one of 60 college players invited to the Major League Soccer (MLS) Combine that will be held Jan. 8-12 in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. College players from all across the country will play three matches in front of MLS coaches, then will have the opportunity to be drafted at the MLS SuperDraft Thursday, January 14th in Baltimore, MD.
Polk led Syracuse University in 2015 to an Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Championship where he was named the ACC MVP, scoring the game winner in a 1-0 win over Notre Dame. He also scored the game winner in the Elite 8 versus Boston College (1-0) to send the Orange to their first ever final four appearance. Polk led Syracuse in scoring with 12 goals and 14 points.
“I am very happy and excited for Ben,” said his former head coach at Herkimer Pepe Aragon. “He has worked extremely hard both on-and-off of the field. He truly deserves this opportunity! I am confident that he will impress several of the coaches with his strength, speed, work ethic and attitude. We are all so proud of him!”
Polk is Herkimer’s third player invited to the MLS Combine, an event Aragon will be at as it is part of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) National Convention. Midfielder Usiel Vazquez was invited in 2004 out of Southern Connecticut State University and forward Dwight Barnett was invited in 2008 out of Lynn University.
-Pepe Aragon