This morning, Matt Polster, 21, defender and former player with the Downtown Las Vegas Soccer Club and Palo Verde High School graduate, was chosen as the seventh pick in the first round of the 2015 MLS SuperDraft. When the MLS season begins this spring, his new home will be with the Chicago Fire.
He was selected as one of 55 college players to participate in the combine, which was held in Fort Lauderdale, Florida earlier this week. He is one of two Las Vegans and former Downtown Las Vegas Soccer Club players from Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville to be invited to the combine. Christian Volesky has not currently been drafted. (The 2015 SuperDraft began at 12:30 EST today in Philadelphia.)
With 16 credit hours left, Polster plans to leave school and return in the off season to finish his college academic career.
“I’ve been playing since I was 3, so getting even the chance to possibly play professional soccer is something I’ve always wanted,” he said before leaving for the combine last week. “So, this is special.”
Video of Polster’s speech: Rewind feed to 50:20 to see Matt Polster accept a place on the Chicago Fire. http://www.mlssoccer.com/superdraft/2015
Video highlights: http://www.mlssoccer.com/video/2015/01/14/highlights-matt-polster-d-siu-edwardsville-2015-mls-superdraft
Chicago Fire Twitter account: https://twitter.com/ChicagoFire/status/555804023668736001/photo/1