While several of the top collegiate men's soccer players hoped to hear their names called in Thursday's Major League Soccer SuperDraft, North Carolina junior Ben Speas was not one of them.
Speas, who scored the game-winner for North Carolina in this year's NCAA championship, already knew his MLS fate on Wednesday as he signed a "homegrown player" contract with the Columbus Crew.
In MLS, a player can sign with a team without being subjected to the SuperDraft if the player has trained for at least one year with that franchise's youth development program. Speas, an Ohio native, not only played for the Crew's U-19 and U-17/18 teams, but he also grew up a Columbus fan.
"I wanted to keep my options open, but at the same time I knew that the Crew is where I wanted to be," said Speas, who turned down offers to play overseas. "They've done so much for me. I just wanted to be able to play there some day. I couldn't pass up the opportunity."
The past two years have taken Speas from Ohio to Chapel Hill and now back to Ohio. But wherever Speas has been, he's won.
In 2009, Speas was a freshman as Akron finished runner-up in the NCAA championship.
After starring for 2010 NCAA champions, Speas and Zips coach Caleb Porter decided to part ways and allowed the player to transfer.
Speas won an NCAA championship with his second team in two years when the Tar Heels defeated the Charlotte 49ers 1-0.
He was also named MVP of the ACC tournament and became the first Tar Heel player in school history to earn National Player of the Year honors. He ended last season with seven goals and 10 assists.
"I feel very fortunate to have played in three national championships while in college and win two of them," Speas said.
Speas, who is turning pro after his junior season, is about three semesters away from graduating and plans to finish his degree at UNC. Despite deep Ohio ties and winning titles at two universities, the forward said he will identify as a Tar Heel.
"It was amazing. I'll go back there throughout my years," Speas said. "I'm so glad I was able to be a Tar Heel. Everything coach (Carlos) Somoano was able to teach me, and help me out, I'll never forget it."
