Alumni Profile: Luke Pavone, '18

April 23, 2019

Luke Pavone, ’18, is fulfilling his lifelong dream of playing professional soccer. Pavone signed a two-year contract last summer to play for Hapoel Petah Tikva FC in the 16-team Liga Leumit, the second division league in Israel.

A Churchville, New York, native who transferred to Buffalo State from Division I University of Massachusetts-Amherst, Pavone posted a stellar two-year career with the Bengals soccer team. In 38 games, the midfielder produced 19 goals and nine assists for 47 career points. He was a two-time All-SUNYAC and All-Region selection and was named second team All-America during his senior campaign.

He received an invitation to try out for a team in the Israel Football League while he and Buffalo State teammate Barak Ben Yehuda were traveling in Israel with Taglit-Birthright Israel, a nonprofit organization that coordinates heritage trips for young adults. Although that team did not have a roster spot for Pavone, word of his impressive tryout spread, and Hapoel Petah Tikva followed through with a contract offer. The team is based about 30 minutes east of Tel Aviv.