Neil Shaffer (born February 14, 1989, in

Aliquippa, Pennsylvania Aliquippa is a city in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, United States, along the Ohio River. The population was 9,238 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. It is located northwest of Pittsburgh and is part of the Pittsburgh metropolitan ar ...

) is a retired American

soccer Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a team sport played between two teams of 11 Football player, players who almost exclusively use their feet to propel a Ball (association football), ball around a rectangular f ...

player. Shaffer currently plays for amateur Pittsburgh side Tartan Devils Oak Avalon.

Career

College and amateur

Shaffer attended

Beaver High School Beaver Area School District is a suburban, public school district in Beaver County, Pennsylvania. The district encompasses approximately serving the Boroughs of Beaver and Bridgewater and Brighton Township and Vanport Township in Beaver Co ...

and played four years of

college soccer College soccer, called college football in some countries, is played by teams composed of soccer players who are enrolled in colleges and universities. While it is most widespread in the United States, it is also prominent in Japan, South Kore ...

at the

Robert Morris University Robert Morris University (RMU) is a private university in Moon Township, Pennsylvania, United States. It was founded in 1921 and is named after Robert Morris (financier), Robert Morris, known as the "financier of the American Revolution". It enr ...

. Following his senior season, Shaffer was named to the NSCAA Men's Division I All-North Atlantic Region Third Team and to the All-Northeast Conference Second Team. He finished his college career with 13 goals and nine assists for 35 career points. During his college years, Shaffer also played for

Erie Admirals Erie is a city on the south shore of Lake Erie and the county seat of Erie County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is the fifth-most populous city in Pennsylvania and the most populous in Northwestern Pennsylvania with a population of 94,831 a ...

in the

National Premier Soccer League The National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) is an American men's association football, soccer league. The league is officially affiliated to the United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA) and has automatic qualification for the U.S. Open Cup. ...

Professional

Undrafted out of college, Shaffer turned professional in 2011 when he signed for the

Pittsburgh Riverhounds Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC is an American professional soccer team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1998 and beginning play in 1999, the club plays in the Eastern Conference of the USL Championship, the second tier of the American ...

of the

USL Professional Division The USL Championship (USLC) is a men's professional association football, soccer league in the second tier of the United States soccer league system#Men's leagues, United States league system. It is organized by the United Soccer League (USL) a ...

. He made his professional debut on May 21, 2011, in a game against

F.C. New York F.C. New York was an American professional soccer team based first in Queens, New York City, and then Long Island, New York. The team played two seasons, starting in 2011 in the National Division of the USL Professional Division, the third tier ...

Kitsap Pumas

In 2013 Shaffer scored 5 goals in 14 appearances for the USL PDL side.

Harrisburg City Islanders

After a productive 2013 season Shaffer signed with the USL side and helped the team make it to the USL-PRO Championship Game. During his time in Harrisburg Neil made large strides toward helping the local humane society. In fact, he donated his entire salary to science in effort to research k9 behavior and cognitive abilities. He currently owns two guinea pigs Sam and Jackson. Neil was a fan favorite during his time at City Island. His technical ability was so fantastic that fans never knew whether he was left footed or right footed. I do not think any still knows to this day......

Indy Eleven

On December 23, 2015, Shaffer signed with the NASL side, Indy Eleven On 6 May 2016, Shaffer was loaned back to

Harrisburg City Islanders Harrisburg City Islanders, known as Penn FC in their final season, were an American professional soccer team based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 2003, the team most recently played in the USL Pro, the second tier of the ...

for their weekend series of games against

FC Cincinnati Football Club Cincinnati is an American professional soccer club based in Cincinnati. The club competes in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the Eastern Conference. The team was first announced on August 12, 2015 as a United Soccer Leag ...

and

Charleston Battery The Charleston Battery are an American professional association football, soccer club based in Charleston, South Carolina, and member of the USL Championship. Founded in 1993, the Battery are the oldest continuously operating professional socc ...

on 7th and 9 May.

References

External links

RMU bio
1989 births Living people American men's soccer players Robert Morris Colonials men's soccer players Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC players Kitsap Pumas players Penn FC players Indy Eleven players Soccer players from Pennsylvania USL Championship players USL League Two players Men's association football midfielders National Premier Soccer League players {{US-footy-midfielder-1980s-stub