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Matthew Nelson (soccer)
Encyclopedia
Matthew Nelson is a goalkeeper most recently on the books of USL Second Division
side Harrisburg City Islanders
.
, and South Jersey Barons of the USL Premier Development League
. In 2003 he signed for the Virginia Beach Mariners
where he was a key performer for the club, playing their until 2006. During his four seasons in Virginia Beach, he recorded a 32-38-18 record and 23 shutouts.
In 2007 he signed with Harrisburg City Islanders
of the USL Second Division
, where he enjoyed a very successful regular season with Harrisburg. Recording a league-leading 10 shutouts and a 10-4-4 record, and also recorded the league’s second best goals-against-average at 0.611 and was selected to the USL-2 All-League Second Team. And helped Harrisburg win the USL Second Division
Championship
.
On July 27, 2007 the Vancouver Whitecaps acquired him on loan for the remainder of the season, where he played the final three games for Vancouver. The Whitecaps had talks with Nelson in regards to the 2008 season, but Nelson chose not to return to Vancouver.
Nelson signed for Crystal Palace Baltimore in the USL Second Division
on April 7, 2008. In the second round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
Nelson saved three penalties in a penalty shoot out against his former team, the Islanders, to send Palace through to the next round against MLS
side New York Red Bulls. Against the Red Bulls Nelson kept a clean sheet and made seven saves which helped send Palace through to the quarter finals of the competition against the New England Revolution
. Palace released Nelson from his contract on July 18, 2008 and he was reacquired by the Harrisburg City Islanders
for the remainder of the 2008 season.
USL Second Division
The United Soccer Leagues Second Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, part of the United Soccer Leagues league pyramid...
side Harrisburg City Islanders
Harrisburg City Islanders
Harrisburg City Islanders is an American professional soccer team based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 2004, the team plays in the National Division of the new USL Professional Division, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid....
.
Playing career
He started off playing with Cape Cod CrusadersCape Cod Crusaders
Cape Cod Crusaders were an American soccer team based in Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts, United States. Founded in 1994, the team played in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2008, when the franchise folded and the team left the league.The team...
, and South Jersey Barons of the USL Premier Development League
USL Premier Development League
The USL Premier Development League is the amateur league of the United Soccer Leagues in the United States, Canada, and Bermuda, forming part of the American Soccer Pyramid...
. In 2003 he signed for the Virginia Beach Mariners
Virginia Beach Mariners
The Virginia Beach Mariners were an American soccer club, who formerly played in the USL First Division of the United Soccer Leagues, the second division in the US Soccer hierarchy behind Major League Soccer...
where he was a key performer for the club, playing their until 2006. During his four seasons in Virginia Beach, he recorded a 32-38-18 record and 23 shutouts.
In 2007 he signed with Harrisburg City Islanders
Harrisburg City Islanders
Harrisburg City Islanders is an American professional soccer team based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 2004, the team plays in the National Division of the new USL Professional Division, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid....
of the USL Second Division
USL Second Division
The United Soccer Leagues Second Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, part of the United Soccer Leagues league pyramid...
, where he enjoyed a very successful regular season with Harrisburg. Recording a league-leading 10 shutouts and a 10-4-4 record, and also recorded the league’s second best goals-against-average at 0.611 and was selected to the USL-2 All-League Second Team. And helped Harrisburg win the USL Second Division
USL Second Division
The United Soccer Leagues Second Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, part of the United Soccer Leagues league pyramid...
Championship
Championship
Championship is a term used in sport to refer to various forms of competition in which the aim is to decide which individual or team is the champion.- Title match system :...
.
On July 27, 2007 the Vancouver Whitecaps acquired him on loan for the remainder of the season, where he played the final three games for Vancouver. The Whitecaps had talks with Nelson in regards to the 2008 season, but Nelson chose not to return to Vancouver.
Nelson signed for Crystal Palace Baltimore in the USL Second Division
USL Second Division
The United Soccer Leagues Second Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, part of the United Soccer Leagues league pyramid...
on April 7, 2008. In the second round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is a knockout tournament in American soccer. The tournament is the oldest ongoing American soccer competition and is presently open to all United States Soccer Federation affiliated teams, from amateur adult club teams to the professional clubs of Major League...
Nelson saved three penalties in a penalty shoot out against his former team, the Islanders, to send Palace through to the next round against MLS
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...
side New York Red Bulls. Against the Red Bulls Nelson kept a clean sheet and made seven saves which helped send Palace through to the quarter finals of the competition against the New England Revolution
New England Revolution
The New England Revolution is an American professional association football club based in Foxborough, Massachusetts which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada...
. Palace released Nelson from his contract on July 18, 2008 and he was reacquired by the Harrisburg City Islanders
Harrisburg City Islanders
Harrisburg City Islanders is an American professional soccer team based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 2004, the team plays in the National Division of the new USL Professional Division, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid....
for the remainder of the 2008 season.