Liberty men's soccer player Uriah Bentick was selected in the first round of the 2013 Major League Soccer (MLS) Supplemental Draft, held yesterday.
Bentick, a defender from Port of Spain, Trinidad, was chosen by the Philadelphia Union with the 17th pick of the first round of the draft.
With his selection, he becomes the highest Big South Conference player picked by an MLS team in this year's draft.
Bentick becomes the eighth Flames soccer player to be drafted by a MLS team. Liberty has had eight players selected by MLS teams over the past nine years. Defender Hollis Donaldson became the first Flame drafted in 2005, while last season, two players, forward Darren Amoo and Phillip Aseweh, were selected.
"The Alder family and our coaching staff is humbled and blessed by being a part of Uriah's life during the past four years," stated Liberty head coach Jeff Alder. "He is an outstanding human being with the physical and mental makeup to be successful at the professional level.
His testimony for God and Liberty University during his time with our program and on our campus has been exemplary."
Bentick was a key member of the Flames' defensive corps during his four years at Liberty.
The defender earned Big South All-Conference honors three times during his career, being selected to the first team in 2010 and 2011 and to the second team this past season. He also was named to the Big South All-Academic team this past year.
In addition, the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) named Bentick to its Division I South Atlantic Region team three times.
During his final season, the defender started every Liberty contest, scoring one goal and recording a team-leading four assists. He also helped anchor a defense which allowed 1.11 goals per game. The sport management major also earned inclusion on the Big South All-Academic squad.
Bentick played in 62 games during his Liberty career, compiling 25 points on eight goals and nine assists. The defender also earned inclusion on the Big South Presidential Honor Roll the past three years.
Bentick's faith pays off as defender heads to the MLS.
By: Shaun Fuentes (TTFF).
Former national youth team defender Uriah Bentick became the third Trinidad and Tobago player to join American MLS club Philadelphia Union when he was 17th pick during the first round of Supplemental Draft on Tuesday.
He was among five players selected by the Union in the Draft held via conference call between all 19 Major League Soccer coaches. He became the eighth Liberty player to join the MLS in nine years.
Bentick, a 23-year-old standout with Liberty University for which he played 62 matches and won several accolades, will join another ex-T&T under 20 defender Damani Richards who signed a one-year contract with the Union last week.
Senior national midfielder Keon Daniel has already completed two seasons with the Union. Bentick said he was humbled by the news that Union selected him.
“To be honest I feel very humbled, happy and blessed because I have been praying for this since the age of sixteen,” said Bentick who played for T&T at the Under 17 and Under 20 level.
“I believe that is was all Jesus Christ’s faithfulness and grace. My family, coaches, friends and teammates all had a significant contribution to this as well.
Looking back at his college career during which he also completed a major in sports management and a minor in Business, Bentick said: “My college career was a great experience to grow in my faith in Jesus Christ and build relationships with the students on the campus. On the field I was encouraged and pushed to perform at a high level by my coaches and fellow teammates.”
Bentick never takes the field for training or a match without communicating with Almighty God. He said this was the secret behind his progress thus far.
“The only answer to this question is Jesus Christ, because I am learning that He gave me life and the ability to play and because of Him I am able to recover from injuries, have energy to perform my role as a player and be able to be a part of a team.
It is because of Him I am able to share life’s journey with my family, friends, coaches and teammates. Jesus Christ has blessed me with this talent and my way of thanking Him is by striving to do my very best,’ Bentick said.