Ben Garland '26 Recruiting Profile

      My goal is to go to a school that has a strong soccer program, have the opportunity to learn from great coaches and be challenged academically as well. I will give my all to my college's soccer program and do whatever is needed to support the success of the team.

       I am dedicated to doing what it takes to play soccer at the collegiate level. This year my varsity team won the state championship, and I was the starting center mid. Last year as a freshman on Norwell Varsity, I was Boston Globe player of the week, a Patriot Ledger player of the week nominee, and included in the Friday highlights in the Boston Herald. We were the conference champs, and I was the starting attacking mid in the playoffs. As the leading scorer and assist maker on my Bolts club team, my contributions played a great part in getting my team to the national championships in Denver last year and winning the Global 5s national championship in Virginia the year before that. I also spent two years training with the New England Revolution EPP, and was part of a highly selective, elite cohort being considered during covid. Aiming to play at the next level has always been what drives me.

       As a player, coaches have always told me that I am very coachable and driven. I am quietly very competitive and dedicated to the win, but I also have a positive outlook and I don't get rattled. Coaches have told me that I easily read the field, see opportunities, and am a playmaker. I have been told that I am unselfish and create opportunities for my teammates with passes to the outside and send balls which is important for my primary position, attacking mid. However, I also enjoy an offensive one-on-one and feel confident plowing through opposition with the ball sticking to my feet which helps me when I play my other position, striker. I really enjoy being part of a team, take direction well, and will eagerly play whatever position will best support my teammates.

      I take my schoolwork seriously, too. My grandfather was a professor, soccer coach and high school teacher, my aunt is a professor, and my mother is an elementary school teacher, so I know school is important. I am a very hardworking student and like to push myself to reach high goals. My teachers appreciate that I ask questions and want to learn. I really enjoy history. 

       I spend my weekends and evenings practicing or playing with my varsity team, traveling with my club team, training and playing state matches with ODP, doing fast feet and ball skills in my backyard, working out at the gym, focusing on eating well, or meeting up with town and club teammates at a soccer field. In fact, my first steps were to kick a soccer ball, and I have been attending New England Revolution games with my grandfather since not too soon after that. I couldn't imagine my life, or a college experience, without soccer.