Scott Benedetti

Infobox Football biography
playername= Scott Benedetti
fullname = Scott Benedetti
nickname =


dateofbirth = birth date and age|1966|11|13
cityofbirth = Portland, Oregon
countryofbirth = United States
height = height|ft=5|in=11
currentclub =
clubnumber =
position = Forward / Midfielder
youthyears = 1985-1989
youthclubs = University of Portland
years = 1986-1989
1989-1990
1990
1991
1992
1992
1993-1994
1996-1997
2001-2005
clubs = F.C. Portland
Tacoma Stars "(indoor)"
Seattle Storm
Colorado Foxes
Miami Freedom
UNAM Pumas
Colorado Foxes
Colorado Rapids
Portland Timbers
caps(goals) =
19 0(5)
07 0(3)
03 0(0)
0? (11)
35 0(3)
96 0(6)
nationalyears = 1996
nationalteam = United States
nationalcaps(goals) = 01 0(0)
pcupdate = 7 december 2006
ntupdate = 7 december 2006

Scott “Benny” Benedetti (born November 13 1966 in Portland, Oregon) is a retired U.S. soccer forward. 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 Mexican First Division with UNAM Pumas. He earned one cap with the U.S. national team in 1996.

High school and college

Benedetti attended Centennial High School 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]}

F.C. Portland

While still in college, Benedetti played for F.C. Portland 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 8 goals while the team finished at the bottom of the standings. ^{[http://a-leaguearchive.tripod.com/1988/1988wsa.htm]} This led to his selection to the All Star team, an honor he received each season until 1991. In 1989, he scored 8 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.

Tacoma Stars

After graduating from college, Benedetti played a single season with the Tacoma Stars of the Major Indoor Soccer League.

APSL

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.

MLS

In 1996, the Colorado Rapids drafted Benedetti in the 8th round (72d 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. ^{[http://www.coloradorapids.com/PDF/History/Stats_96-03.pdf]}

Portland Tmbers

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.

National team

On October 16 1996, Benedetti earned his single cap with the national team in a 4-1 loss to Peru. ^{[http://www.rsssf.com/tablesu/usa-intres-det80.html]} 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.

Post playing career

Since retiring from playing, Benedetti has entered the ranks of the youth soccer coaches with the Lake Oswego Youth Soccer Club. He has also owned a real estate investment business and a construction company. ^{[http://www.portlandtribune.com/sports/story.php?story_id=23882]}

External links

* [http://a-leaguearchive.tripod.com/1988/1988wsa.htm Sams-Army profile]
* [http://www.timbersfanpage.com/teamrecords.htm 2001-2004 Timbers stats]