Mike Palacio
Encyclopedia
Michael "Mike" Palacio is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 soccer player currently playing for Fort Lauderdale Strikers in the North American Soccer League.

Youth and college

Palacio was a four year letterwinner at center midfield at Long Beach High School
Long Beach High School
Long Beach High School may refer to:*Long Beach Polytechnic High School, serving Long Beach, California.*Long Beach High School , serving Long Beach, New York, and the surrounding school district....

 where he holds school records for assists in a game, season and career. He was named first team all-state as a senior, three time all-county selection. Michael also emerged from one of the top soccer clubs in the NY area Blau-Weiss Gottschee Soccer Club, at Gottschee he excelled and developed many of his future attributes in becoming a prolific attacking midfielder.

Palacio played college soccer
College soccer
College soccer is a term used to describe association football played by teams who are operated by colleges and universities as opposed to a professional league operated for exclusively financial purposes...

 at Stony Brook University under head coach Cesar Markovic. Palacio was a three-time selection on the All-America East First Team, and was named to the NSCAA All-Northeast Region Second Team in his junior season. He is the Stony Brook all-time leader in assists and was named the America East Midfielder of the Year in 2006 and also was instrumental in Stony Brook's run to the NCAA tournament in 2005, Michael led the team with 25 points 7 goals 11 assists.

During his college years Palacio also played with Fort Wayne Fever
Fort Wayne Fever
Fort Wayne Fever was an American soccer team based in Fort Wayne, Indiana, United States. Founded in 2003, the team played in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2009, after which the franchise folded and the team left the league.The team...

 in the USL Premier Development League
USL Premier Development League
The USL Premier Development League is the amateur league of the United Soccer Leagues in the United States, Canada, and Bermuda, forming part of the American Soccer Pyramid...

.

Professional

Palacio was drafted by the New York Red Bulls in the second round, 21st overall, in the 2008 MLS Supplemental Draft
2008 MLS Supplemental Draft
The 2008 MLS Supplemental Draft was held on January 24, 2008, following the SuperDraft , as teams fill out their developmental rosters.-Round 1:-Round 2:-Round 3:-Round 4:...

, where he played along side teammate from college Chris Megaloudis. Unfortunately, in a scrimmage match against New England Revolution
New England Revolution
The New England Revolution is an American professional association football club based in Foxborough, Massachusetts which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada...

 he suffered a torn ACL making him miss the rest of the season. Following the surgeries (knee and appendix) and a 14 month recovery, Palacio signed with the Long Island Rough Riders
Long Island Rough Riders
Long Island Rough Riders is an American soccer team based in South Huntington, New York, United States. Founded in 1994, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Mid Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference.The team plays its...

 of the USL Premier Development League
USL Premier Development League
The USL Premier Development League is the amateur league of the United Soccer Leagues in the United States, Canada, and Bermuda, forming part of the American Soccer Pyramid...

 where he had the opportunity to show that his recovery was completed, scoring an additional 6 goals in 15 appearances in 2009

Following the end of the 2009 PDL season, Palacio, together with his Stony Brook team-mate Petar Raković
Petar Rakovic
Petar Raković is a Serbian footballer who currently plays as a defender for FK Radnički Obrenovac.-Career:...

, travelled to Europe where, while preparing for trials with some clubs in Denmark and training in Serbia, he was invited to take part in a friendly game between Radnički Obrenovac
FK Radnicki Obrenovac
FK Radnički Obrenovac is a football club from Obrenovac, Serbia.-History:The greatest club archivements were the 12th place in the First League of Serbia and Montenegro archived in the 2003-04, and the reaching of the quarter-finals of the Cup in 2000-01.-Recent seasons:- Squad :As of November...

 and Serbian SuperLiga
Serbian Superliga
Serbian SuperLiga is a Serbian professional league for football clubs. At the top of the Serbian football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. It is contested by 16 clubs, operating a system of promotion and relegation with the Serbian First League...

 club OFK Belgrade
OFK Beograd
Omladinski fudbalski klub Beograd, commonly referred to as OFK Beograd , is a football club from Belgrade, Serbia, more precisely from the Karaburma urban neighborhood. It currently is the oldest team playing in the Serbian SuperLiga. The name means "Youth Football Club Belgrade" in Serbian...

. The match ended with a 1-1 draw, with Palacio scored his team's only goal, and the Obrenovac offered him a contract. Palacio played with Obrenovac throughout the 2009-2010 season, scoring 3 goals in 25 games, before returning to the United States in the summer of 2010.

After a brief stint playing for New York-based amateur club New York Pancyprian-Freedoms
New York Pancyprian-Freedoms
New York Pancyprian-Freedoms is an American amateur soccer team based in Jamaica, New York, United States. Founded in 1974, the team plays in Region I of the United States Adult Soccer Association, a network of amateur leagues at the fifth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid.The team plays its home...

 during their 2010 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup run, Palacio signed with Fort Lauderdale Strikers of the North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League (2010)
The North American Soccer League is a professional men's soccer league in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico which began league play on April 9, 2011. It has been provisionally sanctioned as the second tier of soccer in the United States soccer pyramid, behind Major League Soccer in the...

 on March 16, 2011.

Personal

Mike's his father, Leo Palacio, was a former player at the University of North Carolina.

External links

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