Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern Men's Soccer Announces All-Decade Team
4/8/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
April 8, 2010
Complete Release in PDF Format
EVANSTON, Ill. - On the heels of the most successful decade in the history of Northwestern Men's Soccer, the program has announced its All-Decade Team. After starting the 2000s at the bottom of the Big Ten standings, the Wildcats finished up the stretch with five NCAA tournament appearances in the last six years.
Be sure to scroll down to the bottom of the page to vote for the top Northwestern player of the decade and watch the candidate video.
Gerardo Alvarez - ACM/F - 2003-06
Career: 28 Goals (9 GWG), 24 Assists, and 80 Points in 77 Games
Three-year captain... Tied for first all-time with 80 career points ... Had the second-best single-season performance in school history with 33 points his sophomore year ... Big Ten Co-Freshman of the Year, two-time Big Ten All-Tournament Team and two-time second-team All-Big Ten ... Third-team Freshman All-American and First-team All-Region ... Led team to its first-ever NCAA appearance in 2004 and its NCAA Elite Eight run in 2006 ... Finished career with four goals and two assists in six NCAA tournament games, including two game-winning goals in 2006.
Season Ranks:
Goals - tied for 3rd with 12 (2004) and tied for 9th with 9 (2003)
Assists - tied for 2nd with 9 (2004) and tied for 8th with 7 (2003)
Points - 2nd with 33 (2004) and tied for 10th with 25 (2003)
Career Ranks:
Goals - tied for 3rd with 28
Assists - tied for 2nd with 24
Points - tied for 1st with 80
Currently: Working for Chase Bank in Woodridge, Ill.
Coach Lenahan says: "No player in the Big Ten had more of an impact on his team than Gerardo Alvarez did on Northwestern. His sophomore year, when he led the Big Ten in scoring, was as good of a season as I have been a part of as a coach. Gerardo's talent willed the team to success. Without the injuries his junior and senior years, we would be talking about scoring numbers that would be difficult to reach."
Mark Blades - LB - 2006-09
Career: 7 Goals (2 GWG), 8 Assists, and 22 Points in 85 Games
Two-year captain ... Holds school record for most consecutive starts with 85 career starts ... Led defense to 37 shutouts over his career ... Member of the winningest class in school history with 52 victories ... First player in school history to twice be named All-America (Third Team in 2008 and Second Team in 2009) ... Big Ten All-Tournament Team, two-time second-team All-Big Ten, first-team All-Big Ten and 2009 Big Ten Co-Defensive Player of the Year ... Third-team Freshman All-American, third-team All-Region and two-time first-team All-Region ... 2009 Hermann Trophy Watch List selection ... Led team to four NCAA tournament appearances, including two trips to the NCAA Elite Eight in 2006 and 2008 ... Finished career helping the defense to four shutouts in 11 NCAA tournament games.
Career Ranks:
Starts - 1st with 85
Currently: Finishing his senior year at Northwestern and training with the Chicago Fire of Major League Soccer.
Coach Lenahan says: "An absolute pit bull who played in every game in his career despite his size and how physically he played. A tough and tenacious defender, he is best known for his ability to get forward from the left back position. The first two-time All-American and first Defensive Player of the Year in Northwestern history."
Jeremy Cook - RB - 2000-03
Career: 1 Goal, 3 Assists and 5 Points in 60 Games
Team captain... Started 57 consecutive matches in final three seasons ... Helped lead team to its first non-losing season in 15 years as a senior ... Named to 2003 Big Ten All-Tournament Team after leading team to historic victory over No. 23 Michigan in Big Ten first round match ... Two-time CoSIDA First-Team Academic All-American ... Recipient of NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship Award.
Currently: In medical residency at the University of Minnesota.
Coach Lenahan says: "A tremendous achiever in everything that he did. A 3.99 student, Jeremy was a great bridge to lead a young group of players to the first .500 season in 15 years. He had great balance and leg strength and no player was more fit than Jeremy Cook. An outstanding right back who really left his mark on this program."
Matt Eliason - F - 2007-present
Career: 30 Goals (16 GWG), 10 Assists and 70 Points in 63 Games
Finishing his junior year ... Tied for first all-time with 30 career goals ... Had the fourth-best single-season performance in school history with 29 points his junior year ... Tallied the third hat-trick in school history with against Xavier as a sophomore ... Named Top Drawer Soccer National Player of the Week with four-goal weekend as a junior ... Second-team All-American in 2008 ... Big Ten All-Tournament Team and two-time first-team All-Big Ten ... Second-team All-Region and first-team All-Region ... ESPN the Magazine second-team Academic All-American ... Led team to three straight NCAA tournaments, including 2008 NCAA Elite Eight ... Ranks fourth on the all-time Big Ten list with 16 game-winning goals.
Season Ranks:
Goals - 2nd with 13 (2009) and tied for 3rd with 12 (2008)
Points - 4th with 29 (2009) and tied for 10th with 25 (2008)
Career Ranks:
Goals - tied for 1st with 30
Points - tied for 3rd with 70
Currently: Finishing his junior year at Northwestern.
Coach Lenahan says: "Just a natural striker who is lethal with either foot or in the air. To be honest, I thought that Matt would take time to adjust to college soccer, but it became clear that he would have an impact right away and has been scoring goals ever since. With a year to play, I expect him to set a standard that will be hard to match."
Brad Napper - CB - 2002-05
Career: 13 Goals (1 GWG), 3 Assists and 29 Points in 78 Games
Two-year captain ... Started 57 consecutive matches in his final three seasons ... Led defense to 22 career shutouts, including historic victory over Indiana junior year ... Recorded seven goals and one assist from his defensive position as a junior ... Finished his career as the all-time Big Ten leader in goals scored by a defender with 13 ... First player in school history to be named two-time first-team All-Big Ten ... Led team to first NCAA tournament appearance in 2004 ... First player in school history to be drafted into MLS, taken by FC Dallas in 2006 Supplemental Draft.
Currently: Is a corporate account executive for the Dallas Mavericks of the NBA.
Coach Lenahan says: "An absolute warrior in the back, Brad set the standard for great center backs at Northwestern that has continued throughout the decade. He was absolutely amazing on set pieces and is the all-time leading goal scorer for defenders. A great leader, he was a key component in our historic run to become one of soccer's elite teams."
Brad North - F - 2003-06
Career: 28 Goals (10 GWG), 8 Assists and 64 Points in 78 Games
Team captain ... Tied for third all-time with 28 career goals ... Had breakout sophomore year with nine goals, five assists and 23 points ... Also notched five game-winning goals that year, including the only goal in Northwestern's historic victory at Indiana ... Two-time first-team All-Big Ten ... Third-team All-Region and second-team All-Region ... Led team to its first ever NCAA appearance in 2004 and its NCAA Elite Eight run in 2006 ... Finished career with four goals in six NCAA Tournament games, including two game-winning goals ... First player in school history to be taken in the MLS SuperDraft, going to DC United in the second round of 2007 Draft.
Season Ranks:
Goals - tied for 10th with 9 (2004 and 2006)
Career Ranks:
Goals - tied for 3rd with 28
Points - 5th with 64
Currently: Owns and operates West Campus Books in Austin, Texas.
Coach Lenahan says: "A classic central striker who used his great athleticism to become one of the Big Ten's top goal scorers. Brad also had a knack for scoring big goals with three Big Ten tournament goals and four NCAA tournament goals. His emergence really shifted our program to another gear as he partnered with Gerardo Alvarez to give us a great one-two punch."
Carl Pett - CM - 2005-08
Career: 7 Goals (2 GWG), 13 Assists, and 27 Points in 58 Games
Three-year performer who played in 58 games despite battling numerous injuries ... His sophomore year performance has him tied for second with nine assists in a season ... Named Soccer America National Player of the Week for his performance junior year notching two goals and an assist against Ohio State in Big Ten season opener ... Second-team All-Big Ten and first-team All-Big Ten ... Third-team All-Region ... 2008 ESPN the Magazine Second-Team Academic All-American ... Led team to three NCAA tournament appearances, including the Elite Eight in both 2006 and 2008 ... Assisted on Brad North's game-tying goal against UCSB in 2006 Elite Eight.
Season Ranks:
Assists - tied for 2nd with 9 (2006)
Career Ranks:
Assists - 8th with 13
Currently: In his first year of service for AmeriCorps, based out of Denver, Colo.
Coach Lenahan says: "No one covered more ground in his career than Carl Pett. He was absolutely one of the best defensive attacking players that we have had. He had great instincts for making plays. He came back from three serious injuries throughout his career and was the engine of two NCAA Elite Eight teams."
Drew Ratner - CB - 2004-08
Career: 5 Goals (2 GWG), 3 Assists and 13 Points in 69 Games
Two-year captain ... Deferred medical school to return as a fifth-year senior for 2008 season ... Led defense to 30 shutouts over his three seasons as a starter, including a record 13 his final season ... Second-team All-Big Ten ...2008 ESPN the Magazine Second-Team Academic All-American... recipient of the Big Ten Conference Wayne Duke Postgraduate Scholarship... led team to 3 NCAA appearances, including both the 2006 and 2008 Elite Eight ... was also a member of 2004 squad that made first ever NCAA Tournament appearance ... finished career leading the defense to 4 shutouts in 9 NCAA Tournament games.
Currently: In his first year of medical school at Texas Tech University.
Coach Lenahan says: "If ever a young player wants to learn how to play center back he should watch Drew Ratner. He made himself a great player by concentrating on the things he could do well like reading angles to defend, dominating the air and leading his team. It is no surprise that he was the defensive leader of a team that made two Elite Eight appearances in the NCAA tournament."
Misha Rosenthal - GK - 2005-09
Career: 29 Shutouts and 0.75 Goals Against Average in 62 Games
Four-year performer who played in net for 62 games while battling numerous injuries ... First in school recordbooks with 29 career shutouts and a career goals-against average of 0.75 ... Named National Player of the Week by both College Soccer News and Top Drawer Soccer for separate performances junior year ... Maintained a span of 805 consecutive scoreless minutes and seven consecutive shutouts ... Finished junior year fourth in entire Division I with 0.48 goals-against average ... Two-time second-team All-Big Ten ... Second-team All-Region ... Led Wildcat defense to three straight NCAA Tournament appearances, including 2008 Elite Eight ... Was also a member of 2006 Elite Eight team.
Season Ranks:
Shutouts - 1st with 13 (2008), tied for 2nd with 7 (2007), tied for 4th with 6 (2009)
GAA - 1st with 0.48 (2008), 2nd with 0.63 (2007), 6th with 0.95 (2009), tied for 10th with 1.24 (2005)
Career Ranks:
Shutouts - 1st with 29
GAA - 1st with 0.75
Currently: Is graduated from Northwestern and back home in Miami, Fla.
Coach Lenahan says: "Just a great goalkeeper who never got his due in the Big Ten. His frame was so long and he had such great reactions that the goal seemed very small with him in net. He had the knack for making great saves and his performance against Notre Dame in the second round of the 2009 NCAA Tournament was brilliant."
David Roth - LM - 2004-07
Career: 19 Goals (7 GWG), 32 Assists, and 70 Points in 83 Games
Team captain ... First in school record books with 14 assists in a season and 32 career assists ... His 14-assist performance as a freshmen is tied for the Big Ten record for most in a season ... Second-team All-American honor as a senior is the first in school history ... Named to Soccer America Men's College MVP team as a junior ... Big Ten All-Tournament Team, second-team All-Big Ten, and two-time first-team All-Big Ten ... Two-time first-team All-Region and second-team freshman All-American ... Led team to its first-ever NCAA appearance in 2004, its NCAA Elite Eight run in 2006, and its first-ever NCAA tournament seed in 2007 ... Finished career with three goals and two assists in seven NCAA tournament games, including one game-winning goal ... Second player in school history to be taken in the MLS SuperDraft, going to NY Red Bulls in the fourth round of 2008 Draft.
Season Ranks:
Assists - 1st with 14 (2004), tied for 8th with 7 (2007)
Points - tied for 8th with 26 (2004)
Career Ranks:
Goals - tied for 9th with 19
Assists - 1st with 32
Points - tied for 3rd with 70
Currently: Serves as Director of Soccer for Sports Made Personal, based out of Skokie, Ill.
Coach Lenahan says: "Just a great personality and player that had a huge impact on our program. There was no more productive flank player in the last decade in the Big Ten and very few nationwide. His joy to play soccer and ability to perform in the clutch--three Big Ten goals and three NCAA goals showed a competitive side that belied his easy-going nature."
Brian Usinger - DCM - 2005-08
Career: 5 Goals (2 GWG), 5 Assists and 15 Points in 69 Games
Three-year starter, taking over the defensive center mid position for good in 2006 ... Notched five goals and five assists despite playing a defensive-minded position ... Helped anchor defense to 30 shutouts over his final three seasons ... Big Ten All-Tournament Team ... Led team to three straight NCAA tournament appearances, including both the 2006 and 2008 Elite Eight ... Finished career with one goal and two assists in nine NCAA tournament games ... Scored decisive PK in 2008 against Loyola to put team through to the NCAA second round ... Followed up with both assists in come-from-behind victory at Notre Dame to advance team to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen ... Finished career helping the defense to four shutouts in nine NCAA tournament games.
Currently: Is a trader for Endeavor Trading in Chicago, Ill.
Coach Lenahan says: "The most underrated player on our list, and maybe in the Big Ten, over the past decade. A big guy who possessed a great touch, great vision and great rhythm for the game, he also stepped up in the big games. His first career goal was a clutch PK as a sophomore vs. UNC Greensboro and he scored the clinching PK in an NCAA win vs. Loyola. He was never better than his performance against Notre Dame in the second round game in 2008, as two pinpoint assists to Oliver Kupe secured a come-from-behind victory."
All-Decade Team Honorable Mention
Piero Bellizzi - CM/F - 2007-present - 2007 Big Ten Freshman of the Year
Eric Brin - CM - 2002-05 - 6 Goals, 11 Assists, and 23 Points
Daniel Chille - F/M - 2003-06 - 6 Goals, 7 Assists, and 19 Points
Pat Coleman - B - 2006-09 - 36 Shutouts in 82 Starts
Kevin Earnest - M - 2002-05 - 11 Goals, 6 Assists, and 28 Points
Steve Jedlinski - B - 1999-02 - 11 Assists and 11 Points
Jun Kim - F - 1997-2000 - 2000 2nd Team All- Big Ten
J.D. Martin - GK - 2002 - 2002 2nd Team All-Big Ten
Will Nicholas - CM - 2003-06 - 7 Goals, 3 Assists, and 17 Points
Justin Pines - GK - 2003-07 - 19-6-3 Record in 45 Games
Jaro Pylypczak - B - 2002-05 - 5 Goals, 7 Assists, and 17 Points
Sammy Semwangu - B - 2002-05 - 2003 & 2004 All-Big Ten Tournament Team
Adam Sirois - M/B - 2002-05 - 5 Goals, 8 Assists, and 18 Points
Matt Witt - CB - 2004-07 - 17 Shutouts in 42 Starts
Scoreline of the Decade: 2004 at Michigan
A 5-0 victory over Michigan at Michigan in the Big Ten Tournament. Five shots on goal. Five goals. And payback for a 5-0 home drubbing vs. Michigan two years earlier.
Game of the Decade: 2004 at Indiana
An upset over the defending and eventual national champions Indiana in Bloomington. The 1-0 victory marked Northwestern's first-ever win against IU, snapping a 50-game Big Ten winning streak by IU, a 31-game home winning streak, 27-game Big Ten winless streak by Northwestern and a 21-game losing streak vs. Indiana. All ended on a beautiful fall day in Bloomington.
Comeback of the Decade: 2008 at Notre Dame
A come-from-behind victory over Notre Dame in the second round of the NCAA tournament. Down 1-0 with 20 minutes left in South Bend, the Wildcats knocked off Notre Dame with a stunning 2-1 victory.
Heartbreak of the Decade: 2004 vs. Penn State
Up two goals with less than a minute to go, the Nittany Lions create two goals out of nothing to tie the game, 2-2. The win would have been the first Big Ten win in 26 games for Northwestern. All was not lost, however, as the Wildcats would defend the lead in the next game to beat Indiana for its first win.
Student-Athlete of the Decade: Jeremy Cook
A 3.99 student who was first-team Academic All-American and is now in residency at University of Minnesota Medical Center.
Performance of the Decade: Carl Pett vs. Ohio State, 2007
Two goals and an assist against what would be the national runner-ups in a 4-0 road win. No one knew who Carl Pett was before that day, but after this performance on the first-ever Big Ten game on the Big Ten Network, no one would forget him.
GK Performance of the Decade: Misha Rosenthal vs. Notre Dame, 2009
Eleven saves, many of them absolutely spectacular, helped Northwestern to their second consecutive NCAA second-round win over the Fighting Irish.
Goal of the Decade: Gerardo Alvarez vs. UCSB, 2006
One word: Ridiculous! A 30-yard, left-footed laser in the upper ninety in front of 9,000 people in the NCAA quarterfinals.
Team of the Decade: 2008 Wildcats (15-5-3)
Fifteen wins, a 13-game unbeaten streak to start the season and a No. 2 national ranking. Upset wins over Notre Dame and Akron in the NCAA tournament and an Elite Eight appearance. Add in 13 shutouts and a 0.48 GAA average and you have an exceptional team.
Class of the Decade: 2002-05
The Class of 2006 put Northwestern on the map. They came here with blind faith to build a program and their mission was accomplished with a top-20 ranking, Big Ten championship appearance and first-ever NCAA tournament appearance. Other classes have come and built on their success, but this was truly Northwestern's first great class.
Vote for the Northwestern Player of the Decade!
