Aaron Benjamin
{{short description|Canadian former soccer player|bot=PearBOT 5}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Aaron Benjamin
| image =
| fullname = Aaron Benjamin
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1979|03|02}}
| birth_place = Toronto, Canada
| height = {{height|m=1.75}}
| position = Forward
| currentclub =
| clubnumber =
| youthyears1 = 1987–1988
| youthclubs1 = Wexford
| youthyears2 = 1989–1990
| youthclubs2 = Scarborough Maple Leaf
| youthyears3 = 1991–1996
| youthclubs3 = Scarborough Malvern
| youthyears4 = 1996
| youthclubs4 = Northwest Azzurri
| youthyears5 = 1997
| youthclubs5 = Chinguacousy
| years1 = 1999–2000
| clubs1 = Edmonton Drillers (indoor)
| caps1 = 5
| goals1 = 1
| years2 = 2000–2002
| clubs2 = Toronto Lynx
| caps2 = 48
| goals2 = 5
| years3 = 2002
| clubs3 = Mississauga Olympians
| caps3 = 10
| goals3 = 2
| years4 = 2003–2004
| clubs4 = Metro Lions
| caps4 = 16
| goals4 = 1
| nationalyears1 = 1993–1995
| nationalteam1 = Canada U17
| collegeyears1 = 1997–1999
| college1 = Maine Black Bears
| pcupdate = April 18, 2015
| ntupdate =
}}
Aaron Benjamin (March 2, 1979) is a Canadian former soccer player who played in the United Soccer Leagues, National Professional Soccer League and the Canadian Professional Soccer League.
Playing career
Benjamin began his professional career in 1999 with the Edmonton Drillers of the National Professional Soccer League, and appeared in five matches and recorded one goal.{{Cite web|url=http://soccerstats.us/bios/aaron-benjamin/|title=Aaron Benjamin {{!}} SoccerStats.us|website=soccerstats.us|access-date=2016-03-26}} During the summer season he signed with the Toronto Lynx of the USL A-League.{{Cite web|url=http://www.lynxsoccer.com:80/team.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000816052127/http://www.lynxsoccer.com/team.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=2000-08-16|title=2000 Team Roster|date=2000-08-16|access-date=2017-10-28}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.lynxsoccer.com:80/players/benjamin.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010420073027/http://www.lynxsoccer.com/players/benjamin.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=2001-04-20|title=The Team|date=2001-04-20|access-date=2017-10-28}} He recorded his first goal on June 1, 2000 in a 4-1 victory over the Connecticut Wolves.{{Cite web|title = Toronto Lynx vs Connecticut Wolves|url = http://www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com/00lynx12.htm|website = www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com|accessdate = 2015-04-19|last = Glover|first = Robin}} In his first season with Toronto he recorded five goals and assisted the club by reaching the postseason the second time in the club's history. He appeared in all the matches in the postseason, but were eliminated from competition by the Rochester Rhinos. He was re-signed to a new contract by Toronto on April 24, 2001.{{Cite web|title = April 24th, 2001 Lynx Press Conference|url = http://www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com/01lynx04.htm|website = www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com|accessdate = 2015-04-19|last = Glover|first = Robin}} Unfortunately he had a disappointing season without registering a single goal throughout the season. In 2002, he appeared in one match for the club and subsequently was released from his contract.
Following his release he signed with Mississauga Olympians of the Canadian Professional Soccer League, and making his debut on May 24, 2002 in a match against the York Region Shooters.{{Cite web|title = May 24, 2002 CPSL York Region Shooters vs Mississauga Olympians (by Rocket Robin)|url = http://www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com/reports02/02cpsl13.htm|website = www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com|accessdate = 2015-04-19|last = Glover|first = Robin}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.cpsl.ca:80/gallery/missisauga_olympians.asp|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021225092543/http://www.cpsl.ca/gallery/missisauga_olympians.asp|url-status=dead|archive-date=2002-12-25|title=CPSL - Canadian Professional Soccer League|date=2002-12-25|access-date=2017-12-21}} He helped the Olympians finish second in the Western Conference and thus secure a postseason berth. In 2003, Benjamin signed with the Metro Lions and his best result with the club came in 2004, where he assisted the team by finishing second in the Eastern Conference, and reaching the quarterfinals in the playoffs.{{Cite web|title = September 30, 2004 CPSL Week 20 Standings (End of Regular Season)|url = http://www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com/reports04/04cpwk20.htm|website = www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com|accessdate = 2015-04-19}}
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Benjamin, Aaron}}
Category:Soccer people from Ontario
Category:Men's association football forwards
Category:Canadian men's soccer players
Category:Black Canadian men's soccer players
Category:Canadian Soccer League (1998–present) players
Category:A-League (1995–2004) players
Category:Edmonton Drillers (1996–2000) players
Category:National Professional Soccer League (1984–2001) players