Kyle makes big save against Wesleyan in the NCAA Division III Tournament
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - Western New England College senior goalkeeper Kyle Bak (Cumberland, RI) will attend the United Soccer League (USL) Men’s Player Showcase Thursday through Saturday (Feb. 4-6) in Charleston, South Carolina.
Ninety of the top collegiate players in the country, many of whom played in the Premier Development League (PDL), will attend the combine event and vie for attention and selection from professional scouts, both domestic and international. The USL has helped to establish the professional careers of 109 players through the USL Player Combine since 2006.
“Kyle came to Western New England College with the goal of obtaining a world-class Business education and participating in a nationally-competitive program," said Western New England College men's soccer coach Erin Sullivan. "He always had a dream of playing professional soccer and has worked tirelessly toward achieving this opportunity throughout this career.
“This past fall Kyle recorded one of the greatest seasons by a goalkeeper that I have ever witnessed. Not only did he have a 900-minute plus shutout streak and a 0.48 goals-against-average, he propelled us back to the NCAA Division III Tournament with several stellar performances. These efforts are a testament to Kyle’s growth and maturity as a goalkeeper over the past four years and his always gritty makeup as a competitor,” Sullivan stated.
At 6-4 and 190 pounds, Bak ranks high among the players in the team's physical fitness tests. He possesses excellent quickness and lateral movement, jumps well, and has a strong leg for kicks. "Kyle has a lot of skills that scouts like," noted Sullivan.
Bak was among the top players on the Golden Bears’ men’s soccer team that posted a 16-5-4 record this past fall. The Golden Bears captured The Commonwealth Coast Conference (TCCC) Tournament title for the third straight year and participated in their sixth consecutive NCAA Division III Championship defeating Babson 1-0 in an opening round match and tying Wesleyan 0-0 in double overtime before the Cardinals advanced on penalty kicks.
Bak, a Sport Management major, compiled a 15-4-4 record with 12 shutouts in 2009. He was third nationally in save percentage (.908) and seventh in goals-against-average (0.48). Bak had a 25-7-8 career record with 18 shutouts and a 0.62 goals-against-average.
Last summer Bak played for the Rhode Island Stringrays in the Premier Development League of the USL.
“I’m grateful for the opportunity to compete with some of the best college soccer players in America for a chance to continue my dream of playing professional soccer,” said Bak. “I’m excited to be able to showcase my skills that I have learned from playing for Coach Sullivan. He is among several outstanding coaches that have taught me important lessons on and off the pitch that have helped me become the goalkeeper that I am today.”
Kyle Bak’s Awards in 2009
Soccer City Shootout Defensive MVP (Sept. 6)
TCCC Defensive Player-of-the-Week (Sept. 8, Oct. 5, Oct. 12)
ECAC New England Division III Defensive Player-of-the-Week (Oct. 7)
WNEC Male Athlete-of-the-Week (Oct. 7)
All-TCCC First Team (Oct. 30)
ECAC Division III New England All-Star Second Team (Dec. 2)
NSCAA Division III All-New England West Second Team (Dec. 11)