A rare sixth year of eligibility for Husky forward Abdul Aman

The Washington Huskies are surprised but very pleased to be getting Abdul Aman back for a final, sixth college soccer season.

So how does a guy drafted by the Sounders of MLS get a chance to return to college?

A GoHuskies.com feature reports: Aman’s goal was always to graduate from the University of Washington, and his love was to play the game of soccer. After sitting down with Clark, they agreed to petition for a difficult, uncharacteristic sixth year. “Actually I was talking with Jamie and just as a joke it happened,” said Aman. “After I got drafted and everyone was excited. Especially the Seattle Sounders. They wanted to send me to Charleston to build me up and then send me to the majors. Then I talked to Jamie because I wanted to finish my education and I thought it was a better idea to stay at UW to help myself and play better and workout with the team from the beginning of the season. I came back for the education.”

With the help of the coaching staff, Aman petitioned and was granted his sixth year. He sustained an injury while playing for Clarke University in 2009 and provided the league with many documents from Africa to obtain his sixth year.

“Getting a sixth year of eligibility was incredible for Abdul,” said head coach Jamie Clark. “After last season he had a lot of pro scouts interested in him, but he still had over a full year of school left to complete. Without the pull of playing one final season at UW, the lure of pro soccer may have pulled him away from school. When the NCAA granted him this extra year it meant he could complete his degree while also playing his final collegiate season. I’m delighted he chose to return to finish his degree and think that he is going to have an incredible senior year.”

Read the entire article at GoHuskies.com.

goalWA.net will preview the 2012 Washington Men on the next installment of our 2012 College Preview series.

Worth checking out: This 2011 UW Daily feature on Aman.