Ben Speas

Last updated

Ben Speas
Personal information
Full name Benjamin Vance Speas
Date of birth (1991-01-17) January 17, 1991 (age 32)
Place of birth Stow, Ohio, United States
Height 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Position(s) Forward, Winger
Youth career
2002–2008 Everest SC
2007 IMG Soccer Academy
2008–2009 Columbus Crew
College career
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2009–2010 Akron Zips 50 (4)
2011 North Carolina Tar Heels 26 (7)
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2010 Michigan Bucks 4 (0)
2012–2015 Columbus Crew 41 (2)
2016 Minnesota United 26 (4)
2017–2019 Indy Eleven 50 (7)
2019 → North Carolina FC (loan) 27 (2)
2020 North Carolina FC 14 (1)
Total162(16)
International career‡
2007 United States U17 10 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of October 3, 2020
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of November 1, 2012

Benjamin Vance Speas (born January 17, 1991) is a former American soccer player who previously played as a forward. Speas played for Columbus Crew, Minnesota United, Indy Eleven and North Carolina FC, before retiring on November 10, 2020. [1]

Contents

Career

Youth, college and amateur

As a Senior at Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy, Speas was the Eighth-ranked senior in the nation according to ESPN Rise. He is also a Two-time Parade All-American and a Two-time NSCAA High School Boys All-American. He also played six seasons for Everest SC (Hudson, OH) and one season for the Columbus Crew Youth Academy.

In 2009, Speas committed to the University of Akron. [2] In his freshman year, Speas appeared in all 25 matches and finished with two goals and three assists and was named College Cup All-Tournament Team. Akron finished the year unbeaten at 23-0-2, however they would eventually lose the College Cup final to the University of Virginia on penalties. [3] In 2010, Speas appeared in all 25 games and finished with two goals and three assists. Akron would return to the National Title game and this time would come out on top after defeating top ranked Louisville 1-0 and capturing the school's first ever national title in any sport. [4]

In July 2011, Speas transferred University of North Carolina. [5] In his first and only season with the Tar Heels in 2011, Speas started 25 of his 26 appearances and recorded seven goals and 10 assists. One of the seven goals came in the College Cup final against UNC Charlotte, which also turned out to be the goal that won the National title for the Tar Heels. [6]

Speas also spent the 2010 season with the Michigan Bucks in the USL Premier Development League. [7]

Professional

Columbus Crew SC

Speas signed a multi-year contract with the Columbus Crew as a Home Grown Player ahead of the 2012 season. [8] His debut didn't come until the final day of the season on October 28 as he got the start and went 64 minutes in Columbus's 2-1 victory over Toronto FC. [9] His contract was not renewed following the 2015 season. [10]

Minnesota United FC

In February 2016, Speas signed with North American Soccer League side Minnesota United. [11]

International

Speas was a member of the U.S. Soccer Residency program in 2007. He made 10 appearances for the U.S. U17 and scored one goal. He was also called into both the U18 and U20 national team camps although he never made an official appearance for them.

Honors

University of Akron

University of North Carolina

Individual

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Carolina Tar Heels</span> University sports teams

The North Carolina Tar Heels are the intercollegiate athletic teams that represent the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The name Tar Heel is a nickname used to refer to individuals from the state of North Carolina, the Tar Heel State. The campus at Chapel Hill is referred to as the University of North Carolina for the purposes of the National Collegiate Athletic Association. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill was chartered in 1789, and in 1795 it became the first state-supported university in the United States. Since the school fostered the oldest collegiate team in the Carolinas, the school took on the nickname Carolina, especially in athletics. The Tar Heels are also referred to as UNC or The Heels.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Caleb Porter</span> American soccer coach (born 1975)

Caleb Porter is an American soccer coach who most recently served as the head coach of Major League Soccer club Columbus Crew from 2019 to 2022. He was previously head coach of the Portland Timbers from 2013 until 2017. He won MLS Cup in 2015 with Portland and 2020 with Columbus. In addition to MLS, he coached the United States U-23 team in 2011–12, and the University of Akron men's team from 2006 to 2012, winning the NCAA title in 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Akron Zips men's soccer</span> Mens soccer team of the University of Akron

The Akron Zips men's soccer team is an intercollegiate varsity sports team of the University of Akron. As of the next National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I men's soccer season in 2023, the Zips will play in the Big East Conference. This move followed Akron's full-time home of the Mid-American Conference (MAC) shutting down its men's soccer league after the 2022 season. Akron is regularly ranked in the Top 10 NSCAA collegiate men's soccer poll. They have been ranked No. 1 previously in 2005, 2009, 2010, and 2016. The Zips have played their home games at FirstEnergy Stadium-Cub Cadet Field, formerly named Lee R. Jackson Soccer Field and Cub Cadet Field, since 1966. They won their first national championship in 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tony Tchani</span> Cameroonian footballer

Tony Ghislain Tchani is a Cameroonian footballer who plays as a midfielder for Maryland Bobcats in the NISA.

Elmar Bolowich was most recently head coach of the George Mason Patriots men's soccer team at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, United States. He was previously the head coach of the Creighton Bluejays men's soccer team at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska for eight years after leaving his 22-year tenure as the head coach of the North Carolina Tar Heels men's soccer team at the University of North Carolina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Perry Kitchen</span> American professional soccer player

Perry Allen Kitchen is an American former professional soccer player who played as a defensive midfielder.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kofi Sarkodie</span> American soccer player

Kofi Kwarteng Frempong Sarkodie is an American soccer player.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Carolina Tar Heels men's soccer</span> American college soccer team

The North Carolina Tar Heels men's soccer team represents the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in men's NCAA Division I soccer competition. They compete in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Tar Heels won the NCAA championship in 2001 and 2011.

The 2011 NCAA Division I men's soccer tournament was a single-elimination tournament involving 48 teams to determine the champion of the 2011 NCAA Division I men's soccer season. The 53rd edition of the tournament began on November 17, 2011 and culminated with the North Carolina Tar Heels defeating the Charlotte 49ers, 1–0, in the final on December 13 at Regions Park in Hoover, Alabama.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kirk Urso</span> American soccer player (1990–2012)

Kirk Jon Urso was an American professional soccer player who played as a midfielder. A product of Glenbard East High School and the IMG Soccer Academy, Urso played four years of college soccer at North Carolina. He helped the Tar Heels win three Atlantic Coast Conference titles, reach four consecutive College Cups, and claim a national championship in 2011. Upon his graduation, Urso's 91 appearances for North Carolina were the most in program history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ethan Finlay</span> American soccer player

Ethan Christopher Finlay is an American professional soccer player who plays as a winger for Major League Soccer club Austin FC.

..Picture, Jordan C. Gafa is an American soccer player who most recently played for Jacksonville Armada FC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wil Trapp</span> American soccer player (born 1993)

William Alexander Trapp is an American professional soccer player who plays as a defensive midfielder for Major League Soccer club Minnesota United.

Carlos Somoano is an American soccer coach, and is currently the head coach of the University of North Carolina men's soccer team. In his first season in charge of the Tar Heels, he led the team to the NCAA championship, becoming the second rookie head coach, after Mike Freitag, in NCAA history to do so.

The 1972 North Carolina Tar Heels football team represented the North Carolina Tar Heels of University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill during the 1972 NCAA University Division football season. The team won its second consecutive Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) championship, going 6–0 in conference play, and played in the 1972 Sun Bowl, defeating Texas Tech by a score of 32–28. The Tar Heels ended the year ranked 12th in the AP Poll with an 11–1 record—the lone loss coming at Ohio State in their fourth game. This was the first of only four seasons where North Carolina was able to win 11 games.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alessia Russo</span> English footballer

Alessia Mia Teresa Russo is an English professional footballer who plays as a forward for Women's Super League club Arsenal and the England national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2017 Akron Zips men's soccer team</span>

The 2017 Akron Zips men's soccer team represented The University of Akron during the 2017 NCAA Division I men's soccer season. The Zips, played in the Mid-American Conference.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2001 North Carolina Tar Heels men's soccer team</span>

The 2001 North Carolina Tar Heels men's soccer team represented University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in the 2001 NCAA Division I men's soccer season. The team was coached by Elmar Bolowich, who was in his thirteenth season with North Carolina. The Tar Heels played their home games at Fetzer Field in Chapel Hill, North Carolina and competed in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Susan Elizabeth Quill is an American former soccer player and current coach who played as a forward, making ten appearances for the United States women's national team.

Sebastian Berhalter is an American professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Major League Soccer club Vancouver Whitecaps FC.

References

  1. ↑ Birkedal, Morgan (November 10, 2020). "Ben Speas to Retire After a Nine-Year Professional Soccer Career". NorthCarolinaFC.com. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  2. ↑ "Men's Soccer Officially Announces Top-Ranked Recruiting Class". gozips.com. University of Akron. February 9, 2009. Retrieved November 1, 2012.
  3. ↑ "Akron Falls to Virginia in National Championship Game". gozips.com. University of Akron. December 13, 2009. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved November 1, 2012.
  4. ↑ "The New Gold Standard: Men's Soccer Captures National Title". gozips.com. University of Akron. December 12, 2010. Retrieved November 1, 2012.
  5. ↑ Beaven, Michael (July 23, 2011). "UA's Ben Speas moves on to North Carolina soccer team". Akron Beacon Journal. Retrieved November 1, 2012.
  6. ↑ "Tar Heels Claim National Title". goheels.com. University of North Carolina. December 11, 2011. Retrieved November 1, 2012.
  7. ↑ "United Soccer Leagues (USL)". www.uslsoccer.com. Archived from the original on September 14, 2012. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
  8. ↑ "Crew signs NCAA College Cup MVP Ben Speas as homegrown player". TheCrew.com. Crew Communications. January 11, 2012. Retrieved November 1, 2012.
  9. ↑ Merz, Craig (October 28, 2012). "Match Recap: Crew vs. Toronto FC" . Retrieved November 1, 2012.
  10. ↑ "Core of Eastern Conference Champion Columbus Crew SC to return in 2016 as club exercises options on 11 contracts". Crew SC Communications. December 7, 2015. Retrieved February 12, 2016.
  11. ↑ "Ben Speas signs for Minnesota United". Minnesota United FC. February 12, 2016. Archived from the original on February 15, 2016. Retrieved February 12, 2016.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.