VESTAL, N.Y. – Former men's soccer standout Jake Keegan has signed a contract with FC Edmonton of the North America Soccer League (NASL). It marks the second professional team he has played with since graduating from Binghamton University in 2013.
 
For four seasons, Keegan was the main target up front for the Bearcats. He scored 11 goals as a senior in 2012 and was named first-team America East All-Conference and third-team All-Northeast Region. In the classroom, Keegan was named to the America East's All-Academic Team his final season and was honored as a Scholar All-Region player by the NSCAA.

After being drafted by the Philadelphia Union of Major League Soccer (MLS) in the 2013 Supplemental Draft, Keegan played for Galway United of the Irish Premier Division in 2014 and 2015. In those two seasons, Keegan scored 35 goals and led Galway United to a runner-up finish for the League Cup in 2015.

"I really learned a lot by myself as both a player and person while playing overseas," Keegan said. "But its great to be back in North America. Hopefully I can keep improving my game and I hope someday to be playing in MLS."

The NASL is the second-highest professional soccer league in North America, behind only MLS. FC Edmonton finished the 2015 season seventh out of 11 teams in the NASL with 35 points. 

"Jake has good pace, he is dangerous around the box and he can see a pass early," FC Edmonton head coach Colin Miller stated. "He is a different type of player from what we currently have at the moment and I think he will be full of enthusiasm to play for us. What it does for him as a young American is put him in the shop window for maybe a different level of football if he can be a success for us. There is a lot for Jake to play for here."

Keegan's progress professionally does not surprise the Binghamton men's soccer program. Even during his career with the Bearcats, he showed signs of being able to excel at the next level.

"We are delighted that Jake is now playing closer to Binghamton," head coach Paul Marco said. "He has really developed into a terrific pro. When he was here, he not only worked very hard on the field but he did all the little things to take care of himself off the field. He ate right, got enough sleep and was always fit."

Having a player like Keegan signing with the NASL benifits the Binghamton men's soccer program in more ways than one.

"It not only gets our name out there but it shows our current and future players that we can develop guys to not only play at this level but also prepare them to play beyond college," Marco said.

Although Keegan graduated from Binghamton three years ago, so much of what he learned with the men's soccer program remains with him today.

"It's difficult to put into words just how much being at Binghamton helped me get to where I am," Keegan said. "So much about working hard to achieve our goals and overcoming adversity has stuck with me through the years. I owe so much to Coach Marco and the Binghamton program."

Even though he lived overseas, Keegan was able to follow the success of the current Binghamton team this season.

"It's great that they got back to the (America East) title game," he said. "I still keep in contact with Tommy (Moon) and Bret (Celeste). It was also great to finally see Pascal (Trappe) healthy this year. I wish he was healthy when I was here. I would loved to have played with him."