Northwestern University Athletics
Joey Calistri Signs Homegrown Contract with Chicago Fire
12/17/2015 2:25:00 PM | Men's Soccer
Calistri is Northwestern's second all-time leading scorer with 30 career goals.
Evanston, Ill. — Northwestern men's soccer senior Joey Calistri has signed a homegrown contract with Major League Soccer's Chicago Fire Soccer Club, the organization announced Thursday.
Calistri becomes the seventh Homegrown Player in club history. He was a standout for the Fire youth system, scoring 19 goals in 29 games for the Fire Academy's U-18's from 2010 to 2012, and also had 11 goals and five assists in 22 games for CHicago's U-23 PDL squad from 2012 to 2015.
This marks the third-straight year in which a Northwestern soccer player has signed a MLS contract. Chris Ritter signed also signed a homegrown contract with the Fire in 2013 while goalkeeper Tyler Miller was drafted by the Seattle Sounders in the second round of the 2014 MLS SuperDraft.
"We're very excited to have Drew [Conner] and Joey with us," Fire head coach Veljko Paunovic said in a press release on Chicago-Fire.com. "I like their personality on the field and their overall chracter. They have a great desire to learn, improve and give their best. They share the same values and passion as our community and we can't wait to start working together. We welcome them to the Chicago Fire Family."
"Coming up through the Fire youth system, the dream has always been to play for the first team," Calistri said in the press release. "It's an incredible honor to play for my hometown club. With the new technical staff in place, this is a fresh start not only for me but for the club, and I can't wait to get going with this new team and see what the future holds."
Calistri was a four-year starter for the Wildcats finished as the program's second leading scorer all time with 30 career goals while also dishing out 14 assists. He was the first four-time All-Big Ten selection in program history and was the unanimous selection for the 2012 Big Ten Freshman of the Year Award. He was also a three-time NSCAA All-Great Lakes Team selection, earning first-team honors in 2013 and a third-team nod in 2012 and 2015.
The Deerfield, Illinois, native also excelled in the classroom, graduating two quarters early and finishing with a 4.0 grade point average in his final quarter. He was named a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar in 2014, earned a pair of Academic All-Big Ten honors and most recently was named to the NSCAA Scholar All-North/Central Region First Team.
"Joey's whole career has been a testament to hard work," Northwestern head coach Tim Lenahan said. "He leaves Northwestern as one of the best players we have ever had here and as a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar and NSCAA Scholar All-Region selection. That same work ethic that has helped Joey have such success at Northwestern will no doubt serve him well at the professional level. To get to play for our hometown Chicago Fire is surely a dream come true. We here at Northwestern are extremely proud of him"
Northwestern in Major League Soccer
J.D. Martin - 2003 MLS Draft, goalkeeper
Brad Napper – 2006 Supplemental Draft (FC Dallas, 2nd Round)
Brad North – 2007 SuperDraft (DC United, 2nd Round)
Dave Roth – 2008 Super Draft (New York Red Bulls, 4th Round)
Mark Blades – 2010 Preseason Camp Invitee (Chicago Fire)
Matt Eliason – 2011 MLS Combine Invitee
Oliver Kupe – 2012 Supplemental Draft (Real Salt Lake, 2nd Round)
Matt Eliason – 2013 New York Red Bulls Reserve League
Chris Ritter – 2013 Homegrown Player (Chicago Fire)
Tyler Miller — 2014 MLS SuperDraft (Seattle Sounders, 2nd Round)
Joey Calistri — 2015 Homegrown Player (Chicago Fire)
