Ben Sippola Drafted By Columbus Crew

INDIANAPOLIS, IND. -- Butler senior men’s soccer standout Ben Sippola capped an honor-filled season by being selected in the Major League Soccer Supplemental Draft by the Columbus Crew on Tuesday, Jan. 18.  The Butler midfielder was the No. 30 pick by the Ohio team.

Sippola, who helped lead the Bulldogs to a 16-1-3 season, Horizon League regular season and tournament championships and a berth in the NCAA Tournament, became the first player in Butler men’s soccer history to earn both first team All-America and first team Academic All-America honors in the same season!  He was named the Horizon League Player of the Year, the League’s Offensive Player of the Year and the Most Valuable Player of the 2010 Horizon League Men’s Soccer Championship.  He further was named first team All-Horizon League and was selected to first team NSCAA All-Great Lakes Region.

The Butler midfielder, who was a semi-finalist for the Herman Trophy, led the Horizon League in assists (9) and finished second in the league in points (25).  He ranked third in the league in goals (8).  His nine assists tied him for fourth place on Butler’s single season assist chart.

Sippola finished his four seasons at Butler with 14 career goals and 14 career assists.  He played in 69 career matches, including 65 as a starter.  During his tenure, the Bulldogs compiled 52-14-13 record and won two Horizon League regular season championships.  He led Butler to an unbeaten regular season record and a #5 national ranking in 2010.

BUTLER AND THE MLS
Ben Sippola is the sixth Butler player to be chosen by the MLS.  Former Butler players taken by the MLS:
Jeremy Aldrich (Miami Fusion, 1999)
Stephen Armstrong (D.C. United, 2000)
Casey Sweeney (Tampa Bay Mutiny, 1996, Kansas City Wizards, 2000)
Michael Mariscalco (Dallas Burn, 2003)
John Mariscalco (Colorado Rapids, 2006)