After up-and-down 2018 season, Ben Mines hits restart with New York Red Bulls

Ben Mines scored his first professional goal on March 10, 2018 in a 4-0 win over the Portland Timbers. (New York Red Bulls)

As a Homegrown Player for the New York Red Bulls, Ben Mines now calls New Jersey home.

But he also has northern roots, with focus turned to Super Bowl LIII between the New England Patriots and Los Angeles Rams.

"I'm a huge Patriots fan, buzzing we're in the Super Bowl," Mines, 18, said to New England Soccer Journal. "My mom grew up an hour outside of Boston, and my grandparents live up there now."

Mines, a Ridgefield, Conn., native, has strong ties to the region. As a youth player, the midfielder developed at Beachside SC and Oakwood SC, Development Academy clubs in Connecticut, where he was coached by Mark Alves and Rick DeRella. Then, as a U-14 player, Mines joined the NYRB Academy.