Cal State LA Athletics

2014: Had another sensational season for the Golden Eagles to conclude an outstanding four-year playing career. Appeared and started in 17 games and played a total of 1,538 minutes. Had two goals and four points. Earned first-team All-West Region honors from the National Soccer Coaches Association of American and second-team All-Region honors from Daktronics. Earned first-team All-California Collegiate Athletic Association honors and was named to the CCAA All-Tournament Team. Earned second-team CoSIDA Academic All-America honors. Also received CoSIDA Academic All-District 8 honors for a third straight year. Scored the game-winning goal in overtime of a 1-0 victory over Sonoma State on Oct. 17. Scored his second goal of the season in the next game, also a game-winner, in a 3-1 win over Humboldt State on Oct. 19. Named Cal State L.A.'s Exceptional Student-Athlete of the Year (male) for 2014-15, winning the award for a second straight year. For his career, appeared in 72 games and started 71 times. Played a total of 6,493 minutes. Had three goals and six points.

2013: Was outstanding on defense for the Golden Eagles in his third year with the program. Earned Daktronics All-America honorable mention after starting all 21 games for one of the top defenses in the country. Played a total of 1,980 minutes. Earned Daktronics first-team All-West Region and NSCAA second-team All-West Region honors. Earned second-team All-California Collegiate Athletic Association honors. Was third on the team in minutes played with 1,980. Was instrumental in a defensive effort that helped the Golden Eagles set a new program record for fewest goals allowed in a season, tie a mark for most shutouts and rank fifth nationally in goals against average. Scored his first career goal when he headed in a cross for the game-winner in the 57^th minute of a 2-1 win over Cal State San Bernardino on Sept. 29. Earned Capital One/CoSIDA Academic All-District 8 honors for a second straight year.. Was named to the CCAA Championships All-Tournament Team after helping the Golden Eagles beat Sonoma State and UC San Diego to win the conference title. Named Cal State L.A.'s Exceptional Student-Athlete of the Year (male) for 2013-14.

2012: Had a second impressive season for the Golden Eagles and was one of the team’s top defenders. Appeared in 14 games and started 13 times. Played a total of 1,065 minutes. Returned in time from injury to play every minute of Cal State L.A.’s two NCAA playoff games. Had a successful shootout try to send the Golden Eagles past Seattle Pacific in a first-round NCAA playoff game after the contest ended in a 1-1 tie. Earned Capital One/CoSIDA Academic All-District 8 honors and also earned a CCAA All-Academic Award.

2011: Had an outstanding season for the Golden Eagles. Appeared and started in 20 games for Cal State L.A. and solidified a defense that was one of the best in the nation. Played a total of 1,910 minutes. Made his debut as a starter in a 6-0 win against Saint Martin’s on Sept. 1. Missed three games because of injury, but returned in a 3-0 win against San Francisco State on Oct. 21 and started the final nine games of the season. Earned a CCAA All-Academic Award.

2010: Earned a CCAA All-Academic Award.

At Brighton High School: Was a three-year letterman in soccer in high school. Team won a pair of state championships. Was named to the Deseret News All-State first team and the Salt Lake Tribune first team as a senior. Received the AP Scholar Award and was on the school’s honor roll.

Personal: Son of Gene Nielsen and Billie Crocker. Majoring in biochemistry. Enjoys music, longboarding, hiking, the beach, sports and camping. Lists winning the CCAA and NCAA Division II West Region championships as a freshman at Cal State L.A. as his most exciting experiences in sports. Is a co-Vice President of Cal State L.A.’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.