Ryan Kinne has become the standard by which all future Monmouth University men’s soccer team players will be measured.
During the four-year career of the Naugatuck, Conn., native, the Hawks thrived, winning four consecutive regular-season Northeast Conference titles and two consecutive NEC Tournament titles (in 2009 and 2010).
In 2009, the Kinne-led Hawks hosted an NCAA Tournament first-round match on the Great Lawn and defeated the University of Connecticut for the program’s first-ever NCAA win. This past fall, the Hawks, ranked in the top 10 in the country all year, again hosted an NCAA first-round match, but this time they lost on their home pitch to Dartmouth College.
While the Hawks were becoming a nationally ranked program, Kinne became recognized as one of the country’s best players. The midfielder became the first Hawk player to be a two-time First Team All-America. He was also the NEC Player of the Year both seasons and was a three-time First Team All- NEC pick.
Kinne was twice a semifinalist for the Hermann Trophy, the Heisman Trophy of men’s collegiate soccer. Kinne added one more distinction last week when he signed a contract to play professionally with the New England Revolution of Major League Soccer (MLS).
“It’s amazing to realize my dream has come true, and it’s an honor to be playing at this level,” Kinne said in a Monmouth University press release. “Now I need to continue to push myself and work to become a better player and have an impact for my team here in New England.”
Kinne was the sixth pick in the third round of the MLS’s SuperDraft by the Revolution He joins Monmouth teammate goalie Bryan Meredith, who was picked by the Seattle Sounder FC in the MLS. Together they are the third and fourth players to play professionally since Robert McCourt became head coach seven years ago.
“This is tremendous news for Ryan,” said McCourt. “We are very happy for him. Ryan is a very talented player that has the work ethic of a young professional. From the first day of preseason, Ryan has worked toward this day. It is a wonderful opportunity for him and his family.”