Scott Benedetti
Encyclopedia
Scott “Benny” Benedetti is a retired American soccer player. He began his professional career with the semi-professional F.C. Portland
in 1986 and ended it with the U.S. second division club Portland Timbers
in 2005. While he spent most of his career in the lower U.S. divisions, he had just over a season in Major League Soccer
and half a season in the Primera División de México
with UNAM Pumas. He earned one cap with the U.S. national team
in 1996.
in Gresham, Oregon
. Benedetti attended the University of Portland
where he played men's soccer for Clive Charles
from 1985 to 1989. In 1988 he was named a First-Team All-American
as the Pilots went to the NCAA Final Four before falling to eventual champions Indiana
.http://www.up.edu/ccsc/highlights.htm In 1994, Benedetti was inducted into the University of Portland
Hall of Fame.http://www.portlandpilots.com/assets/sports/baseball/Athletic%20Hall%20of%20Fame.pdf
of the Western Soccer Alliance (WSA) during the collegiate off-season. The semi-pro nature of the league allowed him to retain his NCAA eligibility. In 1988, Benedetti led the WSA in scoring with eight goals while the team finished at the bottom of the standings. This led to his selection to the All-Star team, an honor he received each season until 1991. In 1989, he scored eight goals and added an assist for F.C. Portland team which finished second in the North Division. Portland lost to the eventual WSL champion San Diego Nomads
in the post-season semifinals. After graduating from college, Benedetti played a single season with the Tacoma Stars of the Major Indoor Soccer League
. After four seasons with Portland, Benedetti signed with the Seattle Storm
in February 1990. In 1991, he moved again to the Colorado Foxes
. In 1992, Benedetti played half a season for the Miami Freedom
and half the season with the UNAM Pumas. In 1993, Benedetti returned to the Colorado Foxes
. That year the Foxes defeated the Los Angeles Heat
for the APSL championship in a shootout after the game ended tied after overtimes. Benedetti would play for the Foxes again in 1994, but after that, his career has a blank spot for which there are no records. In 1996, the Colorado Rapids
drafted Benedetti in the eighth round (seventy-second overall) of the Inaugural MLS draft
. Benedetti started thirty-two games during the 1996 season, but saw his playing time drop to three games and only one start in 1997. In 2001, Benedetti signed with the Portland Timbers
of the USL First Division
. He played five seasons with the Timbers, retiring after the 2005 season.
with the national team
in a 4-1 loss to Peru. The national team had gone on strike over a disagreement with the United States Soccer Federation
(USSF) and the federation was forced to field a team of fringe and non-national team players for this game.
F.C. Portland
Portland Timbers, previously known as F.C. Portland, came into existence in 1985 as an independent U.S. soccer team based in Portland, Oregon. In 1989, the team adopted the name Portland Timbers. Portland was composed of both professional and amateur players. The amateur players largely came...
in 1986 and ended it with the U.S. second division club Portland Timbers
Portland Timbers (USL)
Portland Timbers was an American professional soccer team based in Portland, Oregon, United States. Founded in 2001, the team played in various leagues at the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, including the USL First Division and the USSF Division 2 Professional League, until the end of...
in 2005. While he spent most of his career in the lower U.S. divisions, he had just over a season in Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
and half a season in the Primera División de México
Primera División de México
The Primera División Profesional , known simply as the Primera División, is the top level of the Mexican football league system and is administered by the Mexican Football Federation. It was established in 1943 and as of 2011 has 18 clubs. Up to June 2011, it was divided into three groups competing...
with UNAM Pumas. He earned one cap with the U.S. national team
United States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
in 1996.
High school and college
Benedetti attended Centennial High SchoolCentennial High School (Gresham, Oregon)
Centennial High School is a public high school located in Gresham, Oregon, United States.-Academics:In 1989, Centennial High School was honored in the Blue Ribbon Schools Program, the highest honor a school can receive in the United States....
in Gresham, Oregon
Gresham, Oregon
- Demographics :As of the census of 2000, there were 90,205 people, 33,327 households, and 22,695 families residing in the city. The population density was 4,071.6 people per square mile . There were 35,309 housing units at an average density of 1,593.8 per square mile...
. Benedetti attended the University of Portland
University of Portland
The University of Portland is a private Roman Catholic university located in Portland, Oregon. It is affiliated with the Congregation of Holy Cross and is the sister school of the University of Notre Dame. Founded in 1901, UP has a student body of about 3,600 students...
where he played men's soccer for Clive Charles
Clive Charles
Clive Charles was a football player, coach and television announcer. Charles began his career with West Ham United and finished it in the Major Indoor Soccer League. He later coached at the high school, collegiate and international levels in the United States.-Player:Charles was born in London,...
from 1985 to 1989. In 1988 he was named a First-Team All-American
Division I First-Team All-American (soccer)
The Division I First-Team All-Americans are the best eleven U.S. college soccer players as selected by the NCAA.-1970–1983:From 1970 to 1983 the NCAA only named defenders and forwards in addition to one goalkeeper.-1983–present:...
as the Pilots went to the NCAA Final Four before falling to eventual champions Indiana
Indiana Hoosiers
The Indiana Hoosiers are the athletic teams for the Bloomington campus of Indiana University . Athletic teams sponsored by IU Bloomington include cross country, track, baseball, golf, tennis, rowing, volleyball, soccer, football and basketball...
.http://www.up.edu/ccsc/highlights.htm In 1994, Benedetti was inducted into the University of Portland
University of Portland
The University of Portland is a private Roman Catholic university located in Portland, Oregon. It is affiliated with the Congregation of Holy Cross and is the sister school of the University of Notre Dame. Founded in 1901, UP has a student body of about 3,600 students...
Hall of Fame.http://www.portlandpilots.com/assets/sports/baseball/Athletic%20Hall%20of%20Fame.pdf
Professional
While still in college, Benedetti played for F.C. PortlandF.C. Portland
Portland Timbers, previously known as F.C. Portland, came into existence in 1985 as an independent U.S. soccer team based in Portland, Oregon. In 1989, the team adopted the name Portland Timbers. Portland was composed of both professional and amateur players. The amateur players largely came...
of the Western Soccer Alliance (WSA) during the collegiate off-season. The semi-pro nature of the league allowed him to retain his NCAA eligibility. In 1988, Benedetti led the WSA in scoring with eight goals while the team finished at the bottom of the standings. This led to his selection to the All-Star team, an honor he received each season until 1991. In 1989, he scored eight goals and added an assist for F.C. Portland team which finished second in the North Division. Portland lost to the eventual WSL champion San Diego Nomads
San Diego Nomads
-History:The Nomads joined the Western Soccer Alliance in 1986. In 1989, the WSA changed its name to the Western Soccer League and in 1990, the team joined the American Professional Soccer League in 1990 when the WSL merged with the American Soccer League. After winning the WSL championship in...
in the post-season semifinals. After graduating from college, Benedetti played a single season with the Tacoma Stars of the Major Indoor Soccer League
Major Soccer League
The Major Indoor Soccer League, known in its final two seasons as the Major Soccer League, was an indoor soccer league in the USA from 1978 to 1992. After the folding of the North American Soccer League in 1984, the MISL was the Division I soccer league for the United States...
. After four seasons with Portland, Benedetti signed with the Seattle Storm
Seattle Storm (soccer)
Football Club Seattle Storm, also known as the F.C. Seattle Storm, was an American soccer team based in Seattle, Washington. F.C. Seattle was a "super club" created to provide Seattle players an opportunity to play at a higher level than the local recreational and semi-pro leagues. In addition to...
in February 1990. In 1991, he moved again to the Colorado Foxes
Colorado Foxes
The Colorado Foxes were a professional soccer team, based in Commerce City, Colorado, that played in the APSL between 1990 and 1997. The Foxes won two APSL titles, in 1992 and 1993. When Major League Soccer started and the Colorado Rapids became the region's premier team, the Foxes tried to stay...
. In 1992, Benedetti played half a season for the Miami Freedom
Miami Freedom
The Miami Sharks were an inaugural franchise of the third incarnation of the American Soccer League in 1988. The team were renamed the Miami Freedom and joined the American Professional Soccer League in 1990 when the ASL merged with the Western Soccer League...
and half the season with the UNAM Pumas. In 1993, Benedetti returned to the Colorado Foxes
Colorado Foxes
The Colorado Foxes were a professional soccer team, based in Commerce City, Colorado, that played in the APSL between 1990 and 1997. The Foxes won two APSL titles, in 1992 and 1993. When Major League Soccer started and the Colorado Rapids became the region's premier team, the Foxes tried to stay...
. That year the Foxes defeated the Los Angeles Heat
Los Angeles Heat
Los Angeles Heat joined the Western Soccer Alliance in 1986. They joined the American Professional Soccer League in 1990 when the WSL merged with the American Soccer League...
for the APSL championship in a shootout after the game ended tied after overtimes. Benedetti would play for the Foxes again in 1994, but after that, his career has a blank spot for which there are no records. In 1996, the Colorado Rapids
Colorado Rapids
The Colorado Rapids are an American professional soccer club based in the Denver suburb of Commerce City, Colorado which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, having competed in the league...
drafted Benedetti in the eighth round (seventy-second overall) of the Inaugural MLS draft
1996 MLS Inaugural Player Draft
The MLS Inaugural Player Draft, held before Major League Soccer's initial 1996 season, distributed players who had already graduated from college to the league's ten inaugural teams. The draft occurred on February 6 and 7, 1996...
. Benedetti started thirty-two games during the 1996 season, but saw his playing time drop to three games and only one start in 1997. In 2001, Benedetti signed with the Portland Timbers
Portland Timbers (USL)
Portland Timbers was an American professional soccer team based in Portland, Oregon, United States. Founded in 2001, the team played in various leagues at the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, including the USL First Division and the USSF Division 2 Professional League, until the end of...
of the USL First Division
USL First Division
The United Soccer Leagues First Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico....
. He played five seasons with the Timbers, retiring after the 2005 season.
National team
On October 16, 1996, Benedetti earned his single capCap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
with the national team
United States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
in a 4-1 loss to Peru. The national team had gone on strike over a disagreement with the United States Soccer Federation
United States Soccer Federation
The United States Soccer Federation is the official governing body of the sport of soccer in the United States. Its headquarters are located in Chicago, Illinois. It is a member of FIFA and is responsible for governing amateur and professional soccer, including the men's, women's, youth, futsal...
(USSF) and the federation was forced to field a team of fringe and non-national team players for this game.