Ben Zilka is a notable alumni from the State University of New York at New Paltz. After spending two years on the pitch for the Hawks men's soccer team and graduating in Spring 2018, Zilka has taken his leadership skills overseas to pursue a teaching career.
 
Post graduation, Zilka traveled to Prague, Czech Republic, for the teaching abroad program. In September of 2018, Zilka received a certification to teach English in Prague. While he initially taught English to employees at various companies, Zilka now instructs third, fourth, and fifth grade students at a bilingual school. Zilka loves the scenery of Prague, and appreciates how inexpensive it is to live there.
 
Although he is no longer an active player on the Hawks, Zilka has managed a way to keep playing by joining a club team known as the Prague Raptors.
 
"Playing for this club has been amazing, I've met a lot of cool people and played against clubs in friendlies all over Europe," Zilka explained. "To play soccer competitively again has been a lot of fun because since I graduated from New Paltz I never thought I would play 11 a side again."
 
After transferring from Morrisville State, Zilka joined the men's soccer team as a Hawk in 2016. From the very beginning, Zilka fit in with SUNY New Paltz and played a key role in the team's success.
 
"Transferring from Morrisville State to SUNY New Paltz was an easy transition for me," said Zilka. "Luckily, I knew two players on the team before I transferred to New Paltz, so them along with the rest of the team were very welcoming."
 
SUNY New Paltz Men's Soccer Coach Kyle Clancy had the opportunity to coach Zilka as a player, and expressed nothing but admiration for the former captain.
 
"He was also a true competitor and a tireless worker and someone you could count on to bring it every day," Clancy said. "All these qualities are what made Ben an excellent player and captain for our program."

Zilka was a valuable team player for both seasons with the Hawks, and still recalls his fondest memories with the team. For example, one of the best moments of Zilka's Hawks career came during his first season when the team defeated No. 7 nationally ranked SUNY Oneonta. The big win was followed by a crucial victory the next week against Fredonia State and Buffalo State to clinch a playoff spot for the first time since 2012.

"This was a very special moment for me because it was my first season as a Hawk and we went through a lot of growing pains under a new coach, but we were a very close team that worked hard and to see our hard work pay off was priceless," Zilka said.