Para Hills midfielder Alex Mullen targets Major League Soccer

PARA Hills midfielder Alex Mullen is targeting a professional Major League Soccer contract after an eye-catching four years in the US college system.

22/12/2014 ic today near the Para Hils Soccer club is Para Hills soccer player Alex Mullen has just returned from the US where he completed his final year of a college scholarship at Mars Hill University, winning several awards along the way. NB Ed NoteClub and oval fenced and lockedso had to shoot on nearby oval ...PHOTO DAVE CRONIN

ALEX Mullen is targeting a professional Major League Soccer contract after an eye-catching four years plying his trade in the US college system.

The Para Hills Soccer Club midfielder returned home last month following his final season playing for North Carolina university Mars Hill in division II of the NCAA.

The nephew of former Socceroo Joe Mullen led the Lions to second place in the South Atlantic Conference with seven goals and was selected for the All-Southeast Region, All-State and All-Tournament teams.

Mullen, who was Mars Hill’s first All-American in 2012, was also awarded the conference Scholar-Athlete of the Year for his sporting and academic performances.

“It made me feel over the moon and really proud,” Mullen says of his final college year.

“It’s one thing to do well for your team but then to be appreciated on a personal level really makes you happy.

Mullen will travel back to the US this month to complete the final semester of a Bachelor of Science degree.

He hopes to secure a spot on an MLS roster, four years after he was overlooked for a youth team contract with A-League club Adelaide United.

“I’m just happy I made that leap to go over there.

“I was really keen on getting the education and covering my back if my football didn’t work out.

“It was a really big jump coming from club football in Adelaide and it took me a while to get used to the professionalism.”

Mullen, the younger brother of Adelaide City defender Matt Mullen and cousin of Western Sydney Wanderers fullback Daniel Mullen, returned to his hometown each college break to play for the Knights in the SA Premier League.

Next for the Wynn Vale resident is a four-month off-season training program in the US.

He hopes the brutal “bootcamp” environment will help him follow several of his college teammates into the professional ranks.

“I’m keeping my options open right now,” Mullen says.

“Football has always been number one for me and I’m just trying to get into a professional setup where I can get the best out of myself.

“There’s some great players (in the US) and it’s been a really good opportunity to be involved with these type of guys.”