CHICAGO(Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2015) – Chicago Fire midfielder Matt Polster was announced today as one of three finalists for the 2015 AT&T Rookie of the Year award.
A native of Las Vegas, Nev., Polster was selected in the first round (seventh overall) of the 2015 MLS SuperDraft. Polster made his professional debut in the season opener against the LA Galaxy on March 6 and started 27 of the 30 matches in which he appeared.
Polster made his first appearance for the U.S. Under-23 national team against England on Sept. 3 at Deepdale Stadium in Preston, England and earned the start in the U-23s final tune-up match against Qatar on Sept. 8 at Gigg Lane in Bury. Polster recently helped the United States advance to a playoff against Colombia for a spot in the 2016 Olympic games in Rio. Polster started all five matches for the U.S. in the 2015 CONCACAF Men’s Olympic Qualifying Championship, recording an assist in the second group match, a 6-1 win over Cuba on Oct. 3.
The finalists for Rookie of the Year were determined by votes from national media members, MLS players, technical staffs and front offices. San Jose Earthquakes midfielder Fatai Alashe and Orlando City SC forward Cyle Larin join Polster as finalists for the AT&T Rookie of the Year award.
A Fire PDL product, Polster is the eighth player in Fire history to be nominated for the MLS Rookie of the Year award, previously won by Carlos Bocanegra in 2000, Damani Ralph in 2003 and Austin Berry in 2012.
The winner for the AT&T Rookie of the Year award will be announced on Nov. 10.
