MIAMI – FIU men's soccer standout
Santiago Patino (Orlando, Fla./Freedom) has been invited to the 2019 Major League Soccer (MLS) Player Combine in Orlando, Florida, Jan. 3-9. Patino is the second-consecutive Panther to take part in the Combine, following
Paul Marie who took part in 2018. Patino is one of 60 players from universities in the United States and Canada to be invited, and one of only two from Conference USA.
Click here to read complete 2019 MLS Combine release
"We are very happy for Santi on being invited to the MLS Combine," said FIU men's soccer Head Coach
Kevin Nylen. "This is deserving, and we are excited for him to showcase himself next month and to represent FIU."
Prospective selections in the 2019 MLS SuperDraft will have an opportunity to play scrimmages for scouts of all MLS teams, as well as go through various tests and speak to interested teams ahead of the SuperDraft, which will be on Jan. 11, at McCormick Place Convention Center in Chicago.
Patino appeared in 16 games for the Panthers during the 2018 campaign, starting in all 16, and playing 1,294 minutes. He logged 90-or-more minutes eight times during the season. One of the best players in collegiate soccer, Patino finished the season third in Conference USA in goals scored (12) and second in goals-per-game (0.75). He is also fourth in C-USA in points with 26 (12g, 2a), and third in points-per-game (1.62). In addition, Patino finished 11th in the nation in goals-per-game and 15th in total goals. Patino netted seven goals on the year in league play, and recorded his fourth multi-goal match of 2018, and the 11th of his career, with two scores against FAU Oct. 29.
Patino, who was recently named to the United Soccer Coaches All-Southeast Region Second Team, was also named the C-USA Golden Boot Award recipient – given to the top goal scorer in C-USA play – while also earning First Team All-Conference honors.
Patino finished his exceptional FIU career having played in 69 games with 51 starts and recorded 83 points on 37 goals and nine assists. He ends his collegiate career ranked seventh on the Panthers' all-time scoring list.
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