New England Soccer Today

BC Alum Bedoya Makes MLS Debut

Photo credit: Kari Heistad/capturedimages.biz

Photo credit: Kari Heistad/capturedimages.biz

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Alejandro Bedoya can add another positive Boston experience to the list.

Before Bedoya experienced a successful career in Sweden, he transferred to Boston College for the final two years of his collegiate career. On Saturday night, he made his Major League Soccer debut with the Philadelphia Union, walking away with a 4-0 win over the New England Revolution.

“I think it went well, there aren’t many things to complain about when you win 4-0,” Bedoya said. “For me, it was nice to be out there. This is obviously my third week for preseason really, so I’m just trying to get match fit. I felt good out there. I was doing the role that the coaches want me to play, which is to kind of like number eight but this game was to sit more in front of the back four and combine with Warren and link up play between the back and the forwards.

“I can already see with me and [Tranquillo] Barnetta and the front three, there’s going to be the ability to combine with each other and play off each other. I’m excited to be a part of this team and I think the future bodes well for this club. For me it was nice to get through 65-70 minutes.”

After transferring from Farleigh Dickinson to Boston College, Bedoya made an immediate impact with the Eagles. Eagles’ head coach Ed Kelly – who was an assistant at Farleigh Dickinson when Alejandro’s father Adriano played at FDU – welcome Bedoya with open arms, especially when the defending ACC Player of the Year Charlie Davies left midseason.

In his first year at BC, Bedoya played in and started all 21 games at midfield, registering 26 points – eight goals and 10 assists He also captured NSCAA All-America first-team honors, received NSCAA All-South Atlantic Region first-team recognition, earned Soccer America and College Soccer News All-America first-team honors and was named ACC Offensive Player of the Year.

In his senior season, he led the Eagles with 17 points – six goals, five assists – and was named to the ACC First Team.

In his MLS debut, Bedoya played just over 70 minutes, departing with the Union holding a 3-0 lead. Bedoya had 51 touches on Saturday night, completing 45 passes at an 88.9% success rate – both ranking fourth highest on the team.

“I think you saw what the addition of Alejandro [does],” Union head coach Jim Curtin said. “He’s a guy that can slow the game down when it needs to slow down and can speed it up when it needs to speed up so it gave us a little bit of a calming presence in possession and I think the guys fed off of that. I thought we were tough to break down all night.”

After the game, Bedoya noted Kelly came to visit him and Davies prior to the game and talked about being back at his old stomping grounds.

“Before the game today, Ed Kelly, the BC head coach, came by the hotel to say what’s up,” Bedoya said. “It was a good 45 minutes just catching up, with the memories of playing here in college in Boston. I had a great time at BC and Boston is an awesome city so it was nice to be back.”

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