2010: Appeared in 17 matches, including making 16 starts ... Tied for second on the team with three goals ... Scored in victories over Cleveland State (9/10) and Gonzaga (9/17) ... Booted the dramatic game-winning goal from 70 yards out in a 4-3 overtime win over Wisconsin (10/23) ... Named to Lakeside Classic all-tournament team ... Team's recipient of the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award.
2009: Started all 20 matches after acting as one of the first substitutes last season ... Second on the team with three game-winning goals ... Scored the match's lone goal in back-to-back wins over SIU Edwardsville (9/27) and No. 15 Ohio State (10/4) ... Tallied the opening two goals in a 3-1 victory over Notre Dame in the second round of the NCAA tournament (11/22) ... Named to College Soccer News National Team of the Week for the performance.
2008: Appeared in 18 matches, including making a start at Indiana (11/7) ... One of the team's first defensive substitutes ... Assisted on the match's lone goal in a victory fifth-seeded Akron (11/30) in the third round of the NCAA tournament ... Recorded a shot on goal in the NCAA quarterfinal round match at North Carolina (12/6) ... Member of a defense that posted a school-record 13 shutouts.
2007: Assisted on Matt Witt's game-winning goal as time expired in a win over DePaul Oct. 10 ... Played 79 minutes in the win in place of an injured Drew Ratner ... Made eight appearances ... Made first career start against Indiana Oct. 14, playing all 90 minutes.
High School: Was a three-year varsity starter for Benet Academy ... Captained his 21-2-2 team to the super sectionals and a season-high No. 9 NSCAA national ranking his senior year ... Twice was named to the ESCC all-conference team and was named the Conference's Most Valuable Player his junior year ... Twice named all-sectional and Daily Herald all-Area. Club/ODP: Played club soccer for the Chicago Magic, along with fellow signees Cody Stanley and Jason Drews, winning three state championships from 2004 through 2006 ... Advanced to regional finals each year and was National Runner-up in 2004 ... Also won two U.S. Club National Championships and two Super Y League National Championships ... In 2005, was a member of the first U.S. team to win the U-16 Dallas Cup in five years.
Personal: Born John Matthew Hillgard ... Son of Linda and Matt Hillgard ... Also considered Princeton, West Virginia, Lehigh and Lafayette ... Major is economics with a minor in business institutions.