Mark Lisi
Encyclopedia
Mark Lisi is a former American soccer player who played midfielder
for New York Red Bulls of Major League Soccer
until his retirement due to debilitating injuries at the finish of the 2006 season.
Lisi played college soccer
at Clemson University
from 1997 to 2000. As a freshman, Lisi recorded three goals and six assists, despite starting only four games for the Tigers. As a sophomore, he was named second-team All-American and first-team All-ACC, after scoring 10 goals and 17 assists for the team. His junior season was not as impressive, as he finished with only 5 goals and 6 assists, but he was named first-team All-ACC nevertheless. In his senior season, he scored 14 goals and 8 assists, and was named a first-team All-American
. He finished his career at Clemson with 33 goals and 37 assists.
Upon graduating, Lisi was selected third overall in the 2001 MLS SuperDraft
by D.C. United
. He immediately earned a starting role with a mediocre D.C. team, and finished the year with four goals and five assists in 25 games. However, shortly into the 2002 season, Lisi was traded along with Craig Ziadie
to the MetroStars
in exchange for Petter Villegas
and Orlando Perez
. Lisi played mostly as a reserve for the Metros, and finished the year with two goals and an assist in a combined 23 games played. The next year, Lisi saw an enlarged role with the Metros, starting 20 games and finished the year second in the league with 11 assists, along with one goal. However, Lisi lost his starting role in 2004, as Eddie Gaven
emerged as a certain starter, and the team acquired Joselito Vaca
. He only started eight games, missed a lot of time due to various injuries, yet finished the season with four assists. In 2005, Lisi played in 28 league games, and totalled five assists. In 2006, Lisi saw only nine games for the team, missing almost the entire season due to knee injury, and retired at the end of the season. At the time of his retirement, he was the team's longest-serving player.
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
for New York Red Bulls of Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
until his retirement due to debilitating injuries at the finish of the 2006 season.
Lisi played college soccer
College soccer
College soccer is a term used to describe association football played by teams who are operated by colleges and universities as opposed to a professional league operated for exclusively financial purposes...
at Clemson University
Clemson University
Clemson University is an American public, coeducational, land-grant, sea-grant, research university located in Clemson, South Carolina, United States....
from 1997 to 2000. As a freshman, Lisi recorded three goals and six assists, despite starting only four games for the Tigers. As a sophomore, he was named second-team All-American and first-team All-ACC, after scoring 10 goals and 17 assists for the team. His junior season was not as impressive, as he finished with only 5 goals and 6 assists, but he was named first-team All-ACC nevertheless. In his senior season, he scored 14 goals and 8 assists, and was named a first-team All-American
Division I First-Team All-American (soccer)
The Division I First-Team All-Americans are the best eleven U.S. college soccer players as selected by the NCAA.-1970–1983:From 1970 to 1983 the NCAA only named defenders and forwards in addition to one goalkeeper.-1983–present:...
. He finished his career at Clemson with 33 goals and 37 assists.
Upon graduating, Lisi was selected third overall in the 2001 MLS SuperDraft
2001 MLS SuperDraft
-Round 1:-Round 2:-Round 3:-Round 4:-Round 5:-Round 6:-External links:*...
by D.C. United
D.C. United
D.C. United is an American professional soccer club based in Washington, D.C. which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, having competed in the league since its inception, in 1996.Over the...
. He immediately earned a starting role with a mediocre D.C. team, and finished the year with four goals and five assists in 25 games. However, shortly into the 2002 season, Lisi was traded along with Craig Ziadie
Craig Ziadie
Craig Ziadie is a Jamaican-American soccer player, who last played right back for the MetroStars of Major League Soccer.- Youth and College :...
to the MetroStars
Metrostars
Metrostar may refer to:*New York Red Bulls, formerly called the "MetroStars", a soccer team from New York*Manila Metro Rail Transit System, popularly called "The Metrostar Express", a part of the metropolitan rail system in Manila...
in exchange for Petter Villegas
Petter Villegas
Petter Villegas is a Ecuadorian-born Puerto Rican footballer currently playing for Puerto Rico Islanders in the North American Soccer League.-Youth and college:...
and Orlando Perez
Orlando Perez
Orlando Perez is an American soccer defender, who is currently without a club, having been waived by Chivas USA of Major League Soccer....
. Lisi played mostly as a reserve for the Metros, and finished the year with two goals and an assist in a combined 23 games played. The next year, Lisi saw an enlarged role with the Metros, starting 20 games and finished the year second in the league with 11 assists, along with one goal. However, Lisi lost his starting role in 2004, as Eddie Gaven
Eddie Gaven
Eddie Gaven is an American soccer player who currently plays for Columbus Crew in Major League Soccer.-Youth:Gaven attended Steinert High School in New Jersey but did not play college soccer...
emerged as a certain starter, and the team acquired Joselito Vaca
Joselito Vaca
Joselito Vaca Velasco is a Bolivian footballer. He currently plays as an attacking midfielder for Oriente Petrolero in the Liga de Fútbol Profesional Boliviano.-Club career:...
. He only started eight games, missed a lot of time due to various injuries, yet finished the season with four assists. In 2005, Lisi played in 28 league games, and totalled five assists. In 2006, Lisi saw only nine games for the team, missing almost the entire season due to knee injury, and retired at the end of the season. At the time of his retirement, he was the team's longest-serving player.