FEBRUARY 8 • 2024 | 33
J
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B

en Rosenblatt of 
Huntington Woods 
is on the move as he 
pursues his dream to be a profes-
sional soccer player.
Rosenblatt, a 
2020 Jewish News 
High School Athlete 
of the Year, has 
transferred from 
Elon University to 
Syracuse University 
for his final year of 
collegiate soccer eligibility.
While Elon and Syracuse are 
both Division I soccer programs, 
Syracuse is a perennial nation-
al power that won the NCAA 
championship in 2022 and plays 
in the Atlantic Coast Conference, 
the best conference in the coun-
try for men’s soccer.
“I loved my time at Elon. They 
were some of the best years of 
my life,
” Rosenblatt said. “But I 
was looking for a new challenge 
in soccer and Syracuse is a great 
program. It’s a place where I can 
push myself to reach the next 
level (pros).
”
Rosenblatt’s pro goal is to 
be selected by a Major League 
Soccer team in the league’s draft 
in December. If that doesn’t hap-
pen, opportunities to play profes-
sionally in the U.S. or Israel may 
come his way.
Rosenblatt accumulated 
3,493 minutes of playing time 
in 47 games at Elon over four 

seasons and was named to the 
2021 and 2022 Coastal Athletic 
Association All-Tournament 
teams. 
The Berkley High School 
graduate was a co-captain for 
Elon this past fall in his senior 
season at the small private school 
in North Carolina.
A big moment in Rosenblatt’s 
Elon career came in 2022, when 
he scored the game’s lone goal 
in Elon’s 1-0 win over Drexel in 
the CAA tournament semifi-
nals. Elon went on to play in the 
NCAA tournament that season.
A 5-foot-10, 156-pound 
defender and midfielder, 
Rosenblatt had three goals and 
one assist during his time at 
Elon. 
Rosenblatt graduated from 
Elon in December with a bach-
elor’s degree in sports manage-
ment and landed at Syracuse in 
January.
He’s a graduate student at 
Syracuse, pursuing a certificate 
in Conflict and Collaboration, a 
one-year program, with plans of 
eventually going to law school or 
into medical sales.
Rosenblatt has another year to 
play college soccer because the 
NCAA granted college athletes 
an additional year of eligibility in 
the wake of the shutdown of col-
lege sports in 2020 caused by the 
COVID-19 pandemic.
“I always planned to use the 

COVID year,
” he said. “I knew 
it would be a great opportunity 
for me to continue my education 
and continue playing soccer.
”
Rosenblatt entered his name 
in the NCAA transfer por-
tal in September, during the 
men’s soccer season. He said he 
heard almost immediately from 
Syracuse.
“We knew about Ben and were 
happy to see he was looking for 
a place to play his final collegiate 
season,
” said Syracuse coach Ian 
McIntyre. “He came to our camp 
when he was in high school and 
he did well at Elon, a great pro-
gram.
“Ben is a tough, physical, 
athletic player who fits into our 
system and is an outstanding 
person. We’re glad to have him 
here early.
”
Rosenblatt heard from sever-
al schools after he entered the 
transfer portal. The final two 
in his decision-making process 
were Syracuse and Michigan 
State.
One of the big draws of play-
ing for MSU was its proximity 
for family and friends to see him 
play.
“Much better than the 12-hour 
drive to Elon,
” he said.
But in the end, the draw of 
playing at Syracuse won out.
Rosenblatt said his post-grad-
uate recruiting process was much 
less stressful than his recruitment 

out of high school.
“It was more fun and I had 
more opportunities,
” he said.
Rosenblatt, 21, is one of nine 
transfers who joined the Syracuse 
team in January as McIntyre took 
steps to fill holes in his roster 
caused by graduation and players 
turning pro. 
The Orange finished 9-5-7 last 
season and played in the NCAA 
tournament for the eighth time 
since McIntyre became coach in 
2010. Syracuse has won the ACC 
tournament championship twice 
(2015 and 2022) during his time 
there.
“Getting players from the 
transfer portal isn’t as much 
about volume for us as it is 
finding the right players for 
our team,
” McIntyre said. “This 
latest group is talented with a 
tremendous amount of college 
soccer experience. Each player 
in a wonderful addition to our 
locker room and Syracuse soccer 
culture.
”
Rosenblatt played just one 
season of high school soccer at 
Berkley, opting instead to play 
club soccer for Vardar. He earned 
all-state honorable mention hon-
ors when he played for the Bears 
as a sophomore. 
His parents are Marc and 
Debbie Rosenblatt. 

Send sports news to stevestein502004@

yahoo.com.

Ben Rosenblatt transfers to perennial 
national power Syracuse for his 
final season of college soccer.

His ‘Goal’ 
Is the Pros

STEVE STEIN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

SPORTS

Ben 
Rosenblatt

SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY

Elon University’s Ben Rosenblatt (25) and a Duke player battle for the 
ball during a 2021 game.

TROY SAYLES

