Benjamin Murray

Classroom

Even with the rigors of being a Division I college athlete, Murray maintains a 3.7 GPA with a double major in business economics and finance. In 2008 he earned a spot on the Flyer All-Academic Team which is comprised of the University of Dayton student-athletes who have earned the highest cumulative grade point average on their respective teams. He was also named to the prestigious 2008 NSCAA/adidas University Scholar All-East Region third team. Murray has been a member of the University of Dayton Dean’s List and Atlantic 10 Commissioner’s Honor Roll five of six possible semesters during his academic career.

Character

Prior to the 2008 season, Murray had to undergo athroscopic knee surgery. He worked hard to rehabilitate the injury and came back to enjoy his most successful season as an individual and as a team. His teammates took note of his hard work and nominated him a co-captain for the 2008 season, an honor he was voted for the 2009 season as well. Murray was named Most Valuable Player for the Flyer men’s soccer team that posted a school best record, won the 2008 Atlantic 10 Men’s Soccer Championship and advanced to its first-ever NCAA Tournament. After starting a combined 22 games in his freshman and sophomore seasons, Murray started in all 21 games this season.

Community

Murray is a member of the UD Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) Finance Team. He has volunteered every year as a University of Dayton Soccer Academy camp counselor (2006-2009). He is also an annual volunteer for UD Christmas on Campus program, which involves “adopting a child” to give them a better holiday. He also works with TOPS Soccer (The Outreach Program for Soccer), which is a national soccer program created to train young people with disabilities in a caring coaching environment. By providing a community-based training and team placement program for young people with disabilities, any boy or girl, age five and up who has a mental or physical disability, will have the opportunity to learn and play soccer. Murray joined the men’s soccer team to also volunteer his time at the Thomas J. Memorial 5K and for Drive 75, a canned food drive initiative to help support local food banks. Another team activity Murray is proud to help with is the Inner City soccer clinic the Flyers hold for free for underprivileged children. He also has served as a student tutor.

Competition

Murray had a breakout year in 2008. He was chosen to the Atlantic 10 Championship All-Tournament team for gritty performances, playing all three games - all 277 minutes - in four days to lead the Flyers to the A-10 title. That title led to an automatic berth in the NCAA Men’s Soccer Championship, a first in the history of the UD men’s soccer program. He was named MVP of the Flyers with Coach Dennis Currier saying, “Without Ben on the pitch we are an entirely different team. He is our unsung hero and does so many things that make this a better team.” Ben was also named to the Dayton Flyer Courtyard by Marriott Classic All-Tournament team after notching the game-winning assist against Marshall and also had an assist against Robert Morris. He finished the season with a career-high four assists. He has appeared in 52 games in three years, recording 2 goals and 7 assists.