Liberty men's soccer player Joshua Boateng has been invited to participate in the 2009 adidas Major League Soccer (MLS) Combine.

Boateng, who just completed his Liberty career this fall, becomes the first Flame ever to receive an invitation to the combine.

"I feel this is a well-deserved honor for Joshua," stated Liberty head coach Jeff Alder. "He has proven over his time at Liberty that he is a great player and a greater human being.

"I think he would be the first to say that this is also a team honor as he is more concerned about winning games than winning individual honors, and his teammates were integral in his success. I'm so proud of him and blessed that I had a chance to be a part of his life during the last three years."

The annual player combine will be held at Lockhart Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Jan. 9-13. The 2009 MLS SuperDraft will take place Jan. 15 at the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) convention in St. Louis, Mo. 65 college seniors from 45 Division I schools have been invited to the combine.

During Boateng's three years at Liberty, the Flames posted a 32-16-5 record, and last season, won the Big South Championship. For his play during Liberty's first-ever conference title run, the Accra, Ghana native was named the Big South Tournament MVP.

This past fall, the forward/midfielder was a first-team All-South Atlantic and All-Big South performer in his final season at Liberty. Boateng compiled 32 points on 13 goals and six assists during the year, tying him for fifth on the program's single-season points list. His 13 goals also tie him for sixth on the Liberty single-season goal list. The Hermann Trophy candidate ranked 12th in the nation in points per game (1.78) and 13th in goals per game (0.72). Boateng led the Big South in points per game, goals per game and was tied for first in game-winning goals with five.