– 2 0 0 5 , ▁and ▁an ▁Academ ic ▁All ▁Big - T en ▁award ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 3 . ▁ ▁Plot kin ▁played ▁club ▁s occer ▁for ▁the ▁Chicago ▁So ck ers ▁from ▁the ▁U 1 2 ▁to ▁U 1 9 ▁levels ▁and ▁was ▁a ▁member ▁of ▁their ▁U 1 6 ▁National ▁Championship ▁team ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 1 . ▁He ▁was ▁also ▁named ▁a ▁Par ade ▁All - American ▁and ▁played ▁at ▁various ▁times ▁for ▁US ▁Youth ▁National ▁Teams ▁at ▁the ▁U 1 4 , ▁U 1 6 , ▁U 1 7 ▁and ▁U 2 0 ▁levels . ▁ ▁Professional ▁ ▁Plot kin ▁was ▁selected ▁in ▁the ▁second ▁round ▁ 2 0 th ▁overall ▁by ▁the ▁Chicago ▁Fire ▁in ▁the ▁ 2 0 0 6 ▁M LS ▁Super D raft . ▁During ▁his ▁time ▁with ▁the ▁Chicago ▁Fire , ▁Plot kin ▁won ▁the ▁ 2 0 0 6 ▁US ▁Open ▁Cup ▁and ▁ 2 0 0 6 ▁Chicago ▁Fire ▁educ ator ▁of ▁the ▁Year . ▁He ▁featured ▁in ▁ 2 3 ▁first ▁team ▁and ▁ 1 4 ▁reserve ▁team ▁games ▁in ▁his ▁three ▁seasons ▁with ▁the ▁Fire . ▁Columb us ▁C rew ▁then ▁signed ▁him ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 8 ▁and ▁was ▁a ▁member ▁of ▁the ▁ 2 0 0 8 ▁M LS ▁Cup ▁Championship ▁Team . ▁ ▁In ▁January ▁ 2 0 0 9 , ▁Plot kin ▁joined ▁the ▁Carolina ▁Rail H aw ks ▁of ▁the ▁US L ▁First ▁Division . ▁ ▁In ▁May ▁