Interview with Steven Emory

Follow Steven Emory (Fort Collins, Colo./Fort Collins H.S.) through the media

COMMERCE CITY, Colo. - Former Metro State men's soccer player Steven Emory (Fort Collins, Colo./Fort Collins H.S.) became the first player in school history to sign a contract with a Major League Soccer team, signing a deal with the MLS defending champion Colorado Rapids on Tuesday.  Emory becomes the first former Metro State student-athlete to sign with a major professional team in any sport.  Metro State has had 17 baseball players go on to play minor league baseball, but none have made it to the Major Leagues.  Similarly, 25 former men's basketball players have played professionally in the United States or overseas, but none have reached the NBA.

Emory, a 6-foot-2 midfielder from Fort Collins, Colo., has played his entire soccer career in the state of Colorado (youth, high school, college and professional).  He finished his Metro State career this past fall as one of the most prolific players in school history. Emory was named first team All-America by both the National Soccer Coaches Association of America and Daktronics, and finished his career as a two-time Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Player of the Year and Daktronics Central Region Player of the Year. He scored 17 goals and had 10 assists for 44 points in 2010, the third-highest point total in school history. In his four-year career, he totaled 99 points on 38 goals and 23 assists, ranking third in school history in points and assists and fourth in goals. Emory finished as Metro State's all-time leader in shot attempts (268) and second in shots on goal (135). He led Metro State to four winning seasons and two NCAA Tournament appearances.

Emory was invited to training camp with the Rapids after impressing during a tryout in January.  He continued to impress during the preseason, scoring two goals and adding an assist against Columbus and the L.A. Galaxy.

The Rapids open the season at home on March 19 against Portland, an expansion team. They won the MLS Cup last year and had a record of 12-8-10 during 2010.

Emory is five classes and an internship away from graduating from Metro State with a degree in health care management and a minor in business. He is taking two classes this semester as he works towards graduation.