Sacha Kljestan has gone from the pitch in South Orange to the international stage.
The SHU men’s soccer alum and New York Red Bulls player was recently named to the United States Men’s National Team qualifying roster for the World Cup. He has been on the team in the past, but in this stint, Kljestan played on the national team in international friendlies against St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad and Tobago.
In the first match, where the USMNT won 6-0, Kljestan was substituted in the 66th minute. That did not alter his impact, though, as the Pirate alum recorded a goal and two assists in his first 12 minutes.
In the second game against Trinidad and Tobago, and following his strong play from the previous game, Kljestan was promoted to the starting lineup. In his 73 minutes of action, the Pirate scored the opening goal in the 44th minute in a 4-0 U.S. win.
Kljestan got his Pirate start in 2003, spending three seasons of his career in South Orange. In his time at Seton Hall, the men’s soccer team made the NCAA Tournament all three years, and was runner-up in the 2004 Big East Championship.
Before becoming a Red Bull, Kljestan put his name in the Pirate record books, setting a single-season record with 15 assists in 2005. That year, he earned Big East Offensive Player of the Year and was named to the NCAA Division I Third-Team All-America. In 2004, he was named to the first team.
Now, in-between appearances as a member of the Red Bulls, he is getting chances to play on the national and international level. He may be cut from the USMNT roster once other players become healthy, but for now is taking advantage of his opportunity.
Elizabeth Swinton can be reached at elizabeth.swinton@student.shu.edu or on Twitter @eswint22.
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