Matt Polster

How he joined the club: Selected in the first round (No. 7 overall) of the 2015 MLS SuperDraft

2017 (CHICAGO FIRE): Polster enjoyed a breakout season for the Fire, notching one goal and seven assists in 22 games, 21 of which were starts. His seven assists were a career high by five, as the center midfielder transitioned to a new role at right back. MLS Cup Playoffs: Started and played 90 minutes in the Fire’s 4-0 loss vs. NY on 10/25. U.S. Open Cup: Played in both of the Fire’s two matches. He came off the bench for 33 minutes at St. Louis FC on 6/15, and played 120 minutes at FC Cincinnati on 6/29.

2016 (CHICAGO FIRE): Had two goals and two assists in his second MLS campaign. Polster played 27 matches, 24 of which were starts. His first career goal as a professional came on 7/31 vs. NYRB. Two games later, he notched his first career assist in the pro ranks on 8/14 vs. ORL. U.S. Open Cup: Started two of the club’s four matches, and came off the bench in the semifinal on 8/9 at NE.

2015 (CHICAGO FIRE): Polster played in 30 games, including 27 starts, during his rookie campaign. He made his club debut against LA on 3/6 and took hold of a starting spot one week later vs. VAN on 3/14. U.S. Open Cup: Polster started each of the club’s four games in the tournament.

INTERNATIONAL (UNITED STATES): 2016: Named to Jurgen Klinsmann’s January Camp roster. Also played in both of the U.S. U-23’s Olympic Playoff matches against Colombia, logging 90-minute shifts in each. 2015: Polster earned his first call-up with the U.S. U-23’s ahead of 2015 CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying in the United States. He started group stage matches against Canada on 10/1, Cuba on 10/3 and Panama on 10/6. He also started both of the American’s knockout matches, a 2-0 loss against Honduras on 10/10 and a 2-0 win against Canada on 10/13.

COLLEGE (SIU EDWARDSVILLE): Started all 79 matches in which he appeared, tallying six goals and 12 assists. A product of Las Vegas, Nev., Polster earned 2014 NSCAA All-West Region First Team, 2014 NSCAA Scholar All-American First Team, 2012 NSCAA All-Region First Team and 2011 Missouri Valley Conference Freshman of the Year honors while in college. The 2010-11 Gatorade Nevada Boys Soccer Player of the Year, Polster made three appearances for the Chicago Fire PDL squad in 2014.

PDL (CHICAGO FIRE): Appeared in three matches in 2014.

YOUTH (DOWNTOWN LAS VEGAS SC): Played with the club for seven years and was coached by George McKenna, Patrick Lawrence and Liam Connors.