Former Bentonville midfielder Eric Martin signed a letter of intent recently to play soccer at Missouri State University.
Martin was a two-year starter for the Tigers in 2007 and 2008 before finishing his high school career at Shattuck-St. Mary’s School in Faribault, Minn.
Shattuck-St. Mary’s features one of the top youth soccer programs in the country, competing against other club teams in the fall and spring seasons. Martin played for the U18 program that went 21-12-8 and advanced to the semifinals of Minnesota’s state cup. While at Bentonville, the 6-foot-1 midfielder was one of the more talented players in the area. As a junior, he scored 12 goals for the Tigers and was called “the pick of the bunch” by BHS head coach Mike Devaney. “When Eric is really, truly in the mood to play, he will be a real handful for other teams,” Devaney said before the 2008 season. Martin scored four goals as a sophomore in 2007. Martin also played club soccer for the Arkansas Comets for several years. Martin is a part of a seven-man signing class at Missouri State ready to compete next fall. The Bears were 7-10-5 last season.
