Dante Polvara

Dante Polvara
Personal information
Date of birth (2000-06-21) June 21, 2000 (age 24)
Place of birth Pleasantville, New York, United States
Height 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Aberdeen
Number 8
Youth career
2016–2019 New York City FC
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2019–2021 Georgetown Hoyas 56 (16)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2022– Aberdeen 36 (2)
2023 → Charleston Battery (loan) 18 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 05:40 UTC May 16, 2024

Dante Polvara (born June 21, 2000) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Scottish Premiership club Aberdeen. He played college soccer for Georgetown University. Polvara was the 2021 recipient of the Hermann Trophy awarded to the best college soccer player in the United States.

Career

Youth and college

Polvara played for the New York City FC academy during his high school years, and was a regular starter for four years in the academy. Polvara helped NYCFC win back-to-back US Soccer Development Academy National Championships, captaining the team for their second championship. While with NYCFC Academy, Polvara played three years of high school soccer for the Brunswick School in Connecticut, where he served as captain for the program his junior year.[1]

On December 17, 2018, Polvara signed a National Letter of Intent to play collegiately for Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.[2] Polvara made his college debut on August 30, 2019, against Syracuse University, where he also scored his first collegiate goal.[3] In his second match on September 2, 2019, he scored again, against Temple University.[4] Polvara concluded his freshman campaign with 24 appearances, scoring four goals and having two assists. Polvara was also named to the 2019 Big East Conference Men's Soccer Tournament All-Tournament Team.[5]

During his second year, Polvara became a starter for the Hoyas, making 14 appearances for the program. He had his first multi-goal game on February 27, 2021, against Villanova University.[6] He finished the 2020 season with eight goals, and was named the Big East Midfielder of the Year.[7]

Polvara replicated his success from 2020 in the 2021 season, making 22 appearances, scoring seven times, including three goals in the 2021 NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Tournament. His success earned him the Big East Midfielder of the Year Award and First-Team All-Conference. Additionally, Polvara earned the Hermann Trophy, which is an annual award given to the top college soccer player in the country.[8] Polvara concurrently won the TopDrawerSoccer.com Men's National Player of the Year Award.[9]

Aberdeen FC

Polvara decided to forgo his final year of college eligibility and opted to sign a professional contract after the 2021 NCAA Division I men's soccer season. On January 9, 2022, Polvara signed a two-and-a-half-year deal with Scottish Premiership side, Aberdeen.[10][11] He reportedly turned down a Homegrown contract to play with New York City FC in Major League Soccer.[12]

On March 6, 2022, Polvara made his professional debut coming on in the 84th minute in a 0–1 loss at Rangers. He made his first start for the club in a league game against Hibernian in May 2022.[13]

On March 8, 2023, Polvara was loaned to USL Championship side Charleston Battery for their 2023 season.[14][15] He returned to Aberdeen in July 2023.[16]

On September 21, 2023, Polvara scored his first goal for the club against in the UEFA Europa Conference League against Eintracht Frankfurt[17] and again in the same competition against PAOK. Polvara scored his first domestic league goal in 4–0 win against Hibernian in May 2024.[18]

Career statistics

match played May 19, 2024

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[19]
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Aberdeen 2021-22 Scottish Premiership 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 0
2022-23 Scottish Premiership 3 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 6 0
2023-24 Scottish Premiership 28 2 3 0 3 0 6 2 40 4
Charleston Battery (loan) 2023 USL Championship 18 1 3 0 0 0 – 21 1
Total 36 2 3 0 6 0 6 2 51 4
Career total 54 3 6 0 6 0 6 2 72 5

Honors

Individual

  • Hermann Trophy: 2021
  • ESPYS Nominee: 2022, Best Athlete, Men's Sport
  • TopDrawer Soccer Player of the Year: 2021
  • Big East Conference Midfielder of the Year: 2020, 2021
  • All American Scholar: 2021

References

  1. ^ "Six Bruins Awarded NCAA National Letters of Intent". Brunswick School. November 14, 2018. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
  2. ^ "Men's Soccer Signs Five to National Letters of Intent". GUHoyas.com. December 17, 2018. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
  3. ^ "No. 13 Georgetown Downs Syracuse 3–1 in Season Opener". Georgetown University Athletics. August 30, 2019. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
  4. ^ "Men's Soccer vs Temple on 9/2/2019 – Box Score". Georgetown University Athletics. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
  5. ^ "Big East Men's Soccer Report • November 20, 2019" (PDF). bigeast.com. November 20, 2019. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 16, 2020. Retrieved December 11, 2019.
  6. ^ "Men's Soccer vs Villanova on 2/27/2021 – Box Score". Georgetown University Athletics. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
  7. ^ "BIG EAST Announces Men's Soccer Regular Season Awards". www.bigeast.com. April 14, 2021. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
  8. ^ "NYCFC Academy alum Dante Polvara wins 2021 MAC Hermann Trophy". MLSSoccer.com. January 8, 2022. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  9. ^ Clark, Travis (December 21, 2021). "2021 Men's Division I Postseason Awards". TopDrawerSoccer.com. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  10. ^ "Aberdeen sign 'fantastic emerging talent' Dante Polvara from US college football". BBC. January 8, 2022. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  11. ^ Mair, Steven (January 8, 2022). "Dante Polvara joins Aberdeen as Christian Ramirez helps seal Dons transfer". Daily Record. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
  12. ^ Goff, Steven (January 8, 2022). "Georgetown's Dante Polvara agrees to deal with Aberdeen". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  13. ^ "ANALYSIS: Aberdeen midfielder Dante Polvara proves he can make transition from American college football to Scottish top flight". May 8, 2022.
  14. ^ "Aberdeen FC – Midfielder heads Stateside on loan". Aberdeen FC.
  15. ^ USLChampionship com Staff (March 8, 2023). "Charleston acquires Dante Polvara on loan from Aberdeen FC". USL Championship.
  16. ^ USLChampionship com Staff (July 5, 2023). "Battery announce return of Dante Polvara to Aberdeen following loan stint". USL Championship.
  17. ^ "Aberdeen show 'desire & know-how' in Eintracht defeat". BBC Sport. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  18. ^ "Aberdeen hammer Hibs to increase pressure on Montgomery". BBC Sport. May 12, 2024. Retrieved May 12, 2024.
  19. ^ "AFC Heritage Trust - Dante Polvara". afcheritage.org. Retrieved May 19, 2024.