Scott Palguta comes to the Rapids after four years with USL-1 club the Rochester Rhinos, where he played under current Rapids Assistant Coach Steve Guppy in 2008. A versatile defender, Palguta started all but one game during his collegiate career and is one of only two players from the Ivy League to be drafted into the USL First Division.

 

2009: Appeared in 23 games, 19 starts, playing in 1,749 minutes…Played 48 minutes in friendly vs. Club America (7/15)…Played in 19 minutes at Seattle (5/26) in second U.S. Open Cup play-in match…Earned his first career MLS start at Houston (4/19) playing all 90 minutes…Made his MLS regular season debut at Columbus (4/11) playing on 72 minutes…Played in all 120 minutes at LA (4/7) in U.S. Open Cup play-in match.

 

OTHER PROFESSIONAL HIGHLIGHTS
Comes to the Rapids from the Rochester Rhinos where he played from 2005-2008…Ends his career with the Rhinos appearing in 104 games with 97 starts for 8,610 minutes…Scored four goals and added eight assists while in Rochester…Played in 25 games in 2008 and registered two goals for the second straight season…In 2007, started all 28 games in played in and recorded a career-high eight points with two goals and four assists…Named to the USL-1 Team of the Week in Weeks 3 and 4…Scored first professional regular season goal on 5/4 vs. Vancouver…Finished the 2006 season, appearing in 28 games with 27 starts…Tallied three assists on the year…Named to the USL-1 Team of the Week for Weeks 6, 8, 10 and 18…Recorded his first point/assist of the season on 5/19 at Portland…Was named Rhinos Rookie of the Year in 2005…Played in 23 games with 17 starts and registered one assist…Named to the USL Team of the Week for Week 3 after his solid play against Puerto Rico on 5/7…Picked up his first professional point when he assisted on Doug Miller's goal against Puerto Rico on 5/7…Made his professional soccer debut on 4/30 at Vancouver…Scored Rhinos' first goal in their 3-1 win against the NY/NJ MetroStars in the Fourth Round of the 2005 U.S. Open Cup on 8/3…Was the Rhinos' second round selection (21st overall) in the 2005 USL-1 Collegiate Draft…Played his summer collegiate soccer for the Cape Cod Crusaders of the PDL from 2002-2004…He won back-to-back national championships in 2002 and 2003 and tallied the game-winning assist in the 2002 contest.

 

COLLEGE
A four-year starter for the Big Red…Appeared in 64 games, starting all but one of them and is the only player from the Ivy League to be drafted into the USL First Division…Finished his collegiate career with seven goals and three assists…Was an honorable mention All-Ivy selection as a freshman in 1002 and second team All-Ivy League after his senior year in 2004 in which he served as a tri-captain…As a junior, tied for the team lead in goals with three, two of which were game winners…Majored in hotel administration.

 

PERSONAL
Enjoys surfing, kayaking, people watching, and playing ping pong and basketball in his spare time…Favorite Movie: Without Limits…Favorite Music: The Foo Fighters…Favorite Food: Vodka Penne w/ Chicken…Favorite TV Show: Friends…Favorite Sports Team: Duke Basketball…Person He'd Most Like to Meet: Lance Armstrong

 

Earned a school-record 11 varsity letters at Monsignor Donovan HS (four in soccer and track, three in basketball)…As a senior, Palguta was a first-team all-state, all-parochial, All-Shore, all-county, and all-conference selection…The captain and most valuable player, he earned the Shore Soccer Official's Senior Excellence Award for sportsmanship, athletic success and academic excellence…He set a school record with 11 points (5+1) in one game…His athletic achievements were recognized on October 3, 2008 when he was inducted into the Monsignor Donovan High School Hall of Fame…Palguta also was a member of the Region 1 Olympic Development Program…Played club soccer for the Mercer United Warriors from 1997-2001.

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