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Sports Release                                                                                                                                      April 30, 2008

Pizarro Signs With Kansas City Wizards 

HARROGATE, TN – For the first time in the history of the Lincoln Memorial University men’s soccer program, one of its alumni has signed a contract to play for a Major League Soccer organization.

On Wednesday morning, the Kansas City Wizards officially announced former LMU men’s soccer standout Nelson Pizarro (Pembroke Pines, Florida) as one of two new additions to the their organization.

Pizarro, a 5’10” midfield/forward, carries a great deal of collegiate accolades with him to the Wizards program.  During his freshman season with the Railsplitters, Pizarro was named LMU Rookie of the Year, before earning the Most Improved award in 2005.  In 2006 he was recognized as a member of the All-Appalachian Region Tournament Team and was named Co-MVP of the Railsplitter squad that year.

In last season’s run at the NCAA Division II National Championship, Pizarro's talents really began to shine.  After the Railsplitters won the 2007 South Atlantic Conference Regular Season Championship, Pizarro earned Second Team All-SAC honors and week later earned Most Valuable Player of the SAC Tournament, while leading the Railsplitters to their first SAC Tournament title. 

In the Appalachian Region Tournament, Pizarro terrorized opponents by scoring the equalizer against the Bulldogs in the region semifinals, and then scoring the game-winning-goal against arch rival Carson-Newman College to capture the 2007 Appalachian Region Championship. 

Pizarro's play was rewarded when he was named Offensive MVP of the Appalachian Region Tournament, automatically putting him on the ballot as a candidate for Daktronics All-American.  The four-year letterman quickly lived up to the hype when he led LMU to a second consecutive NCAA Elite-Eight win over Northern Kentucky University by scoring both goals in the match to defeat the Norse 2-1.

Eventually, the Railsplitters traveled to Orange Beach, Alabama where they took on former Gulf South Conference rival Montevallo in the NCAA Division II Semifinals.  While Pizarro didn’t score the game-winner, his presence and play on the field were instrumental in the Railsplitters coming away with a 1-0 double overtime win against the Falcons.

In the NCAA Division II National Championship loss to Franklin Pierce (1-0), Pizarro was again asked to carry the offensive load with a semifinal round injury to teammate Leandro Pereira (Brasilia, Brazil).  While Pizarro was able to generate five shots in the match, only one of them was on-goal and it was swallowed up by FPU All-American goalkeeper James Thorpe, ending LMU’s run at the 2007 National Championship.

Pizarro was eventually named Second Team NSCAA All-Appalachian Region and Daktronics First Team All-American, as well as LMU Soccer’s Co-MVP for the 2007 season.  While these honors came after the season was over, they solidified his status as one of the best ever to wear an LMU soccer uniform.

Throughout his four seasons with Lincoln Memorial University, Pizarro earned two regular season conference titles, two conference tournament titles, two NCAA Appalachian Region Championships, two Elite-Eight wins, one NCAA Division II Semifinal round victory, and Lincoln Memorial University’s first appearance ever by any sport in a national championship game.

It is safe to say that Nelson Pizarro has had quite a ride with the game of soccer since signing to play for the Railsplitters.  Now it appears that ride will move to the highest level of the game as he makes the move to Kansas City.  Regardless of where the game takes him, the legacy Pizarro leaves the Railsplitter program is one that is much appreciated, and one that will be talked about for years to come.      

-LMU-  

For additional comments please contact,
Head Coach:  Helio D'Anna
Phone:  (423) 869-6245