Nov. 8, 2007
EVANSTON, Ill. -
Northwestern's men's soccer team was recognized for its outstanding season to date by having a school-record five individuals named to the All-Big Ten teams announced Thursday. All teams were selected by the conference's head coaches.
Previously, the record most Wildcat players to earn All-Big Ten honors in a season was three (1999, 2005, 2006).
Senior David Roth (St. Louis, Mo./Chaminade) and sophomore Carl Pett (Northbrook, Ill./Glenbrook North) were both named to the first team, while sophomores Mark Blades (Lakewood, Ohio/St. Ignatius) and Misha Rosenthal (Miami, Fla./Gulliver Prep) and freshman Piero Bellizzi (Rye, N.Y./Rye) were named to the second team. Bellizzi was also a unanimous selection to the All-Freshman Team and was honored as the conference's Freshman of the Year.
Roth was one of five individuals to unanimously be named to the first team. Including his two goals in Thursday's Big Ten tournament win over Wisconsin, he leads the team with six goals and 19 points and is second with seven assists this season. He ranks third in school history with 70 career points and is NU's all-time leader with 32 assists. Roth also earned first-team All-Big Ten honors last season and was a second-team pick in 2005.
Pett earned the honor despite missing four matches during the middle portion of the season due to injury. The versatile midfielder ranks tied for third on the team with four goals and is fourth with 10 points. He was named the Big Ten Player of the Week and Soccer America National Player of the Week after posting two goals and an assist in a win over No. 19 Ohio State Sept. 23. He was named to the All-Freshman Team last season.
Bellizzi has had a huge impact in his freshman season as he ranks second among all nation's freshmen with eight assists, a total that leads the Wildcats. He is third on the squad with four goals and is second with 16 points. Bellizzi's top performance came in a Sept. 23 win at No. 19 Ohio State when he scored two goals and had an assist. He also had the game-winning goal in a victory over No. 16 Michigan State Oct. 28. Bellizzi is the second Northwestern player to be named Freshman of the Year, joining Gerardo Alvarez in 2003.
Blades has been a steadying force for a Northwestern defense that has set a school single-season record with nine shutouts so far. Through his contributions, the Wildcats entered the week ranked fifth in the country with a 0.56 goals-against average. Blades has also chipped in on the offensive end, tallying three goals while dishing out two assists. He was an All-Freshman Team pick a year ago.
Rosenthal earned a second-team nod even though he hasn't played the past four weeks due to injury. When healthy, he has proven to be one of the top goalkeepers in the country by virtue of his 0.51 goals-against average which ranks sixth nationally. He has posted a 9-2-1 record this year and is tied for the school single-season record for shutouts by an individual with seven.
In addition, senior defender Matt Witt (Wheaton, Ill./Warrenville South) was recognized as Northwestern's recipient of the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award. The student-athletes chosen are individuals who have distinguished themselves through sportsmanship and ethical behavior.In addition, the student-athletes must be in good academic standing and have demonstrated good citizenship outside of the sports-competition setting.
Northwestern carries a 12-3-3 record and a No. 14 national ranking into its Big Ten tournament semifinal round contest against Ohio State Friday morning.