Mike Banner

After gaining valuable experience off the bench in Fire first team games, Mike Banner continued to work for a spot on the starting line in 2009. Banner showed just how dangerous he can be on the left using his speed and ability on the ball to score two goals for the Fire last year. The left-footed midfielder will again be looked to for a spark off the bench as he works toward a regular starting position for the Fire in 2010.

MLS Experience
2009: Started 8 games played in 22…made his 2009 MLS debut in 1-1 draw at SJ on 4/11 coming off the bench in the 81rd minute…made his first start of 2009 on 7/18 in 2-0 win vs. SJ…started and played full 90 on 8/29 vs. DC in 1-0 loss… scored his first goal 8/16 @ KC in a 2-0 win…SUPERLIGA; Appeared in 3 games started 1…scored game-winning goal 2/23 vs. CHV…played full game 9/26 vs. CLB… Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup - Started and played 90 min. in 1-0 loss to WLM in USOC 3rd round…International Exhibitions - Played 90 min. vs. Club America at TOYOTA PARK

2008: Started 2 games played in 11…made his 2008 MLS debut in 2-1 win vs. TFC on 7/12 coming off the bench in the 83rd minute…made his first start of 2008 on 9/6 in 1-0 win vs. NY…started and played full 90 on 9/21 vs. DAL in 4-2 loss… has yet to score in MLS league play…MLS Cup Playoffs: Appeared in 2 playoff games …came off the bench in 85' @ NE…a 79' sub @ CLB in the final… Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup - Started and played 72 min. in 2-1 overtime loss to DC in USOC quarterfinal…Played 90 min. and scored two goals in 4-1 win vs. Cleveland City Stars in U.S. Open Cup 3rd round game...International Exhibitions - played 64 min. in 0-0 draw vs. Wisla Krakow on 5/21…played 45 minutes off the bench vs. Everton on 7/30 in 2-0 win…MLS Reserve Division - Scored 5 goals through 11 appearances (11 starts).

2007: Made MLS debut on 6-09 vs. Chivas USA … Played in three league matches in a substitute role for a total of 56 min. … Played the full 90 min. in the Fire 1-0 loss to Cruz Azul on Oct. 10 in an international friendly … Signed on 4-21-07 to developmental roster … MLS Reserve Division: Appeared in 10 Fire Reserve Division matches, starting nine … Scored one goal in 829 min. played.

College
Spent one season at Georgetown University before finishing his collegiate career at SIU-Edwardsville … Played in 56 games across three seasons for SIU-Edwardsville, scoring 18 times and adding 15 assists … 2006: Appeared in 21 of Cougars' 22 games during senior season, scoring four goals and adding eight assists, the latter placing second best on a squad that finished 15-4-3 … Earned first team All- Great Lakes Valley Conference honors ... Also received All-Great Lakes Region first-team honors from the NSCAA/adidas NCAA Division II and Daktronics … 2005: Named an NSCAA All-American, All-Great Lakes Region and All-Great Lakes Valley Conference first-team selection ... Led the team with eight goals and 71 shots while adding three assists ... Scored unassisted goal in the 1-0 NCAA Quarterfinal victory over Carson Newman ... 2004: All-Great Lakes Region and All-Great Lakes Valley Conference second team selection after scoring six goals across 16 starts in his sophomore season ... Scored a goal in the national semifinal win over UNC-Pembroke ... Netted a goal in his first game as a Cougar against Indianapolis on 9-24 ... Led the GLVC in shots (66) and shots per game (4.17) ... 2002: Played in all 18 games for Georgetown in his freshman season, starting 13 of them … During his only season with the Hoyas, he played alongside former Fire teammate Jeff Curtin.

Club/Prep
Attended Gonzaga College High School in Washington, D.C. … won the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference league championship twice.

Personal
Was a business major at SIU-Edwardsville.