Nate Polak
{{short description|American soccer player (born 1989)}}
{{Infobox football biography
|name = Nate Polak
|image =
|caption =
|fullname = Nathan Polak
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1989|9|5}}
|birth_place = Lincoln, Nebraska, United States
|height = {{height|ft=6|in=2}}
|position = Forward
|currentclub =
|clubnumber =
|youthyears1 = 2008
|youthclubs1 = Drake Bulldogs
|youthyears2 = 2009–2011
|youthclubs2 = Hastings Broncos
|years1 = 2012–2014
|clubs1 = Minnesota United FC
|caps1 = 8
|goals1 = 1
|years2 = 2014
|clubs2 = → Oklahoma City Energy (loan)
|caps2 = 6
|goals2 = 0
|years3 = 2015
|clubs3 = Louisville City
|caps3 = 23
|goals3 = 1
|nationalyears1 =
|nationalteam1 =
|nationalcaps1 =
|nationalgoals1 =
|medaltemplates =
|club-update = September 7, 2015
|nationalteam-update =
}}
Nathan Polak (born September 5, 1989) is an American soccer player.
Career
Born in Lincoln, Nebraska, Polak played college soccer at Drake University{{cite web|url=http://www.godrakebulldogs.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=15700&ATCLID=1554958 |title=Nathan Polak Bio - GoDrakeBulldogs.com—Official Web site of Drake University Athletics |publisher=Godrakebulldogs.com |date=1989-09-05 |accessdate=2012-08-31}} in 2008 and then transferred to Hastings College between 2009 and 2011.{{cite web |url=http://www.nebraskastatesoccer.org/story/2012/1/17/nate-polak-selected-in-the-4th-round-of-the-mls-supplemental-draft-by-new-york-red-bulls/ |title=Story/News Archive | Nebraska State Soccer » Nate Polak selected in the 4th Round of the MLS Supplemental draft by New York Red Bulls |publisher=Nebraska State Soccer |accessdate=2012-08-31 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140301234439/http://www.nebraskastatesoccer.org/story/2012/1/17/nate-polak-selected-in-the-4th-round-of-the-mls-supplemental-draft-by-new-york-red-bulls/ |archivedate=2014-03-01 }}
Polak had a much decorated career for the Broncos as he was a two-time first team all-league selection and the 2011 GPAC Offensive Player-of-the-Year. He went on to be selected as a First Team NAIA All-American in 2011. Twice in 2011 he was named NAIA National Player-of-the-Week.{{cite web|url=http://www.theindependent.com/sports/hastings-nate-polak-selected-in-major-league-soccer-draft/article_66d737ea-415d-11e1-82e3-001871e3ce6c.html |title=Hastings' Nate Polak selected in Major League Soccer draft - The Grand Island Independent : Sports: college men's soccer, hastings college, nate polak, gpac, mls |publisher=Theindependent.com |date=2012-01-17 |accessdate=2012-08-31}}
In is junior year Hastings won the NAIA National Championship, while as a senior they were the NAIA National Runner-Up. He was named to the NAIA All-Tournament Team in both seasons (2010 and 2011).
On January 17, 2012, Polak was selected in the fourth round (no. 69 overall) of the 2012 MLS Supplemental Draft by New York Red Bulls. However, he wasn't signed by the club.
Polak signed his first professional contract with NASL club Minnesota Stars FC on August 15, 2012.{{cite web|url=http://mnstarsfc.com/2012/08/polak-signs/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130129225520/http://mnstarsfc.com/2012/08/polak-signs/ |url-status=usurped |archive-date=January 29, 2013 |title=Stars sign forward Nate Polak |publisher=MN Stars FC |date=2012-08-15 |accessdate=2012-08-31}} He scored his first professional goal for the Stars less than one month later, on September 11, 2012, against the Puerto Rico Islanders in his first ever starting appearance.{{cite web|url=http://mnstarsfc.com/2012/09/stars-sink-islanders-4-0-book-playoff-spot/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121219185412/http://mnstarsfc.com/2012/09/stars-sink-islanders-4-0-book-playoff-spot/ |url-status=usurped |archive-date=December 19, 2012 |title=Stars sink Islanders 4-0 |publisher=MN Stars FC |date=2012-08-15 |accessdate=2012-08-31}}
Personal
Nate is brother of Tyler Polak, who also plays for Greenville Triumph SC.{{cite web|url=http://journalstar.com/sports/local/college/other/nate-polak-selected-in-mls-supplemental-draft/article_8502b68c-6615-526a-86b8-55c381dce0ed.html |title=Nate Polak selected in MLS supplemental draft |publisher=Journalstar.com |date=2012-01-17 |accessdate=2012-08-31}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.godrakebulldogs.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=15700&ATCLID=1554958 Drake profile]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Polak, Nate}}
Category:American men's soccer players
Category:Drake Bulldogs men's soccer players
Category:Minnesota United FC (2010–2016) players
Category:OKC Energy FC players
Category:Louisville City FC players
Category:American people of Czech descent
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Soccer players from Nebraska
Category:Sportspeople from Lincoln, Nebraska
Category:New York Red Bulls draft picks
Category:North American Soccer League (2011–2017) players
Category:USL Championship players
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