Phoenix Rising FC signed defender Pape Mar Boye on January 9, 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Boye, who turned 20 on December 30, helped lead Clemson to its fourth NCAA championship by defeating Norte Dame, 2-1, on December 11. The freshman started that match at center back and was named the College Cup Defensive MVP following the win.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAs a freshman,\u201d Boye said. \u201cI was the last man back in a three-man system, which made a lot of people nervous. Luckily, I\u2019m not a player that worries too much. I just went out and played my game and listened to my coach. We played as the coach dictated and it all worked out. The team really came together well at the right time. We were there for each other.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Drawing a lot of parallels to Phoenix Rising\u2019s championship run in 2023, Boye\u2019s story began in Dakar, Senegal, home of fellow Rising defender Mo Traore, who recently re-signed with the team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI grew up playing soccer in Senegal and joined Galaxy Football Academy in Dakar when I was 12 years old,\u201d said Boye. \u201cThrough Galaxy, I had the opportunity to come to the U.S.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Boye played his junior and senior seasons at Montverde Academy, near Orlando, Florida before being spotted by Clemson University during a college showcase.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cClemson picked me and brought me in to play for them on scholarship, giving me the opportunity to play college soccer,\u201d said Boye. \u201cAdjusting to college life as a freshman at Clemson was difficult at the beginning. I didn\u2019t know too many other players. We lost our first game. We travelled a lot. It was a tough moment for me but thankfully we were able to stick together as a team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Being a freshman, I made some mistakes but there was always a teammate there to help me and get me back on track quickly. I gained a lot of experience as the season went on and the players that had been at Clemson for a few seasons were true leaders. They really helped me to succeed. They taught me to keep working hard and stay together. All that paid off and we had a lot of success at the end of the season.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Clemson only allowed three goals in its final seven games to secure the NCAA Championship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Boye was in line to be a top pick in the 2024 Major League Soccer SuperDraft, but instead chose to join the defending USL Champions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe offer to come to Phoenix means a lot to me because it will be my first contract as a professional,\u201d said Boye. \u201cI\u2019m excited to get to work and help the team continue to make their fans happy. My goal is to help the team win another championship. I\u2019ll do anything I can to help the team. I am ready to get to work.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Name: Pape Mar Boye
Pronunciation: Pop-Marr BOY
Number: 4
DOB: December 30, 2003 (20)
Height: 6-1
Weight: 200
Position: Defender
Born: Dakar, Senegal
Last Club: Clemson University<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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