Wilmington Hammerheads News Release -- www.wilmingtonhammerheads.com
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
WILMINGTON, N.C. – The Wilmington Hammerheads are pleased to announce English midfielder Paul Nicholson as the latest player to sign with the team.
Nicholson played for The University of Rio Grande between 2005 and 2008. He was selected as an NAIA First Team All-American in 2008 and First Team All-American Midwest Conference. Nicholson was named in the All-Tournament team for the 2008 NAIA Tournament and was tabbed the tournament’s Most Valuable Defensive Player. He was honorable mention All-AMC in 2007 and was on the second team in 2006.
Nicholson scored 17 goals and registered seven assists (41 points) in 83 career games. He was the only NAIA player to make the Major League Soccer (MLS) Combine List for 2009 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Nicholson, a native of Whitehaven, England, is the second player in Rio Grande history to make this illustrious list.
Nicholson played in the PDL in 2009 for the West Virginia Chaos and in 2010 for MPS Portland Phoenix where he played every minute and was named the club’s Player’s Player of the Year.