Ben Collins (soccer)
Encyclopedia
Ben Collins is a retired Liberian soccer midfielder
who played professionally in the North American Soccer League
and Major Indoor Soccer League.
. In 1994, he was inducted into the National Junior College Athletic Hall of Fame. He was inducted into the Morrisville Athletic Hall of Fame in 1999. In 1982, he transferred to Florida International University
where he was a 1982 NCAA Division II First Team All American soccer player. That year FIU won the NCAA Men's Division II Soccer Championship
.
selected Collins in the fourth round (40th overall) of the 1983 Major Indoor Soccer League Draft. The Stallions cut him during the preseason. On July 27, 1984, the Minnesota Strikers
of the North American Soccer League
signed Collins on a 15 day contract to replace the injured Bruce Miller
. While he played only one game for the Strikers during the outdoor season, he remained with the team when it moved to the MISL in the fall of 1984. He became a regular in the Minnesota midfield through two seasons. On November 15, 1985, the Strikers traded Collins, its 1986 first round and 1987 second round draft pick to the Chicago Sting
in exchange for Dan Canter
. Collins spent three seasons in Chicago. When the team folded following the 1987-1988 season, he signed with the Los Angeles Lazers
as a free agent in August 1988. When the Lazers folded at the end of the season, the Wichita Wings
selected Collins in the Dispersal Draft. That summer, he returned to outdoor soccer with the Orlando Lions
of the American Soccer League
. When the Wichita Wings failed to sign Collins, he became a free agent and signed with the San Diego Sockers. He was the 1991 MISL Championship MVP. He had suffered from knee injuries during his career including losing nearly half of his first season with the Sockers. During the 1991-1992 season, he reinjured his knee in February 1992. He eventually had knee surgery and retired at the end of the season.
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
who played professionally in the North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
and Major Indoor Soccer League.
College
In 1980, Collins began his collegiate soccer career with Morrisville State College in New YorkNew York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. In 1994, he was inducted into the National Junior College Athletic Hall of Fame. He was inducted into the Morrisville Athletic Hall of Fame in 1999. In 1982, he transferred to Florida International University
Florida International University
Florida International University is an American public research university in metropolitan Miami, Florida, in the United States, with its main campus in University Park...
where he was a 1982 NCAA Division II First Team All American soccer player. That year FIU won the NCAA Men's Division II Soccer Championship
NCAA Men's Division II Soccer Championship
The NCAA Division II Men's Soccer Championship has been played since 1972.The tournament is a 32-team, single-elimination tournament. The Division II tournament is structured around the eight NCAA regions . Four teams from each region are selected with no automatic qualifiers given...
.
Professional
On October 26, 1983, the Buffalo StallionsBuffalo Stallions
The Buffalo Stallions were a soccer team based out of Buffalo, New York that played in the Major Indoor Soccer League from 1979 to 1984. Their home arena was Buffalo Memorial Auditorium.-History:...
selected Collins in the fourth round (40th overall) of the 1983 Major Indoor Soccer League Draft. The Stallions cut him during the preseason. On July 27, 1984, the Minnesota Strikers
Minnesota Strikers
The Minnesota Strikers was an American professional soccer team located in the Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area. The team played one season in the North American Soccer League and 4 seasons in the Major Indoor Soccer League....
of the North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
signed Collins on a 15 day contract to replace the injured Bruce Miller
Bruce Miller (soccer)
Bruce Miller is a retired Canadian soccer player who played professionally in the North American Soccer League, and Major Indoor Soccer League. He also earned eight caps with the Canadian national team and coached the Cleveland Crunch to two National Professional Soccer League titles...
. While he played only one game for the Strikers during the outdoor season, he remained with the team when it moved to the MISL in the fall of 1984. He became a regular in the Minnesota midfield through two seasons. On November 15, 1985, the Strikers traded Collins, its 1986 first round and 1987 second round draft pick to the Chicago Sting
Chicago Sting
The Chicago Sting was an American professional soccer team based in Chicago, Illinois. The Sting played in the North American Soccer League from 1975 to 1984 and in the Major Indoor Soccer League from in the 1982-83 season and again from 1984 to 1988...
in exchange for Dan Canter
Dan Canter
Dan Canter is a retired U.S. soccer defender. He played three seasons in the North American Soccer League and three in Major Indoor Soccer League. He also earned twenty-nine caps with the U.S. national team, scoring two goals, between 1983 and 1985....
. Collins spent three seasons in Chicago. When the team folded following the 1987-1988 season, he signed with the Los Angeles Lazers
Los Angeles Lazers
Los Angeles Lazers were a soccer team based out of Los Angeles that played in the Major Indoor Soccer League from 1982 to 1989.-History:Major Indoor Soccer League awarded a Los Angeles franchise to Jerry Buss on June 24, 1982. Buss had purchased the Philadelphia Fever and wanted to move it to...
as a free agent in August 1988. When the Lazers folded at the end of the season, the Wichita Wings
Wichita Wings
This article is about the original team. For the current team, see Wichita Wings .The Wichita Wings were a professional indoor soccer franchise based in Wichita, Kansas. The Wings were admitted to the Major Indoor Soccer League as an expansion team on August 21, 1979...
selected Collins in the Dispersal Draft. That summer, he returned to outdoor soccer with the Orlando Lions
Orlando Lions
The Orlando Lions was an American soccer team from Orlando, Florida which existed from 1985 to 1996. Over the years, the Lions competed at both the amateur and professional levels including some seasons as an independent team....
of the American Soccer League
American Soccer League
The American Soccer League has been a name used by three different professional soccer leagues in the United States. The first American Soccer League was established in 1921 by the merger of teams from the National Association Football League and the Southern New England Soccer League. For...
. When the Wichita Wings failed to sign Collins, he became a free agent and signed with the San Diego Sockers. He was the 1991 MISL Championship MVP. He had suffered from knee injuries during his career including losing nearly half of his first season with the Sockers. During the 1991-1992 season, he reinjured his knee in February 1992. He eventually had knee surgery and retired at the end of the season.