At LMU...
Briefly…
For his career he made 59 starts, appeared in 70 total matches and logged 5,720 minutes… Lions win two West Coast Conference titles during his career (2010, 2013)… finished with 11 goals, including four game-winners, and four assists for 26 points… two-time NSCAA/Continental Tire All-Far West Region Second Team selection… three-time All-WCC selection, including a first-team honoree in 2013 and 2014… three-time WCC All-Academic Honorable Mention selection… three-time team captain … selected by the Vancouver Whitecaps FC as the 72nd overall pick in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft, becoming the seventh all-time Lion men's soccer player to be drafted by a Major League Soccer club… was the third player in LMU men’s soccer history named to the MAC Hermann watch list… member of the Portland Timbers U23 squad in the summer of 2013...
2014…
2014 NSCAA/Continental Tire NCAA DI Men's Soccer All-Far West Region Second Team selection… 2014 First Team All-West Coast Conference selection… 2014 WCC All-Academic Honorable Mention selection… John Rennie/Nike Invitational All-Tournament Team selection… 2014 MAC Hermann Trophy watch list… College Sports Madness WCC Defender of the Year and Fourth-Team All-American… started 17 games and logged 1,616 minutes… anchored the LMU back line to nine shutouts and a 0.68 GAA, both all-time LMU records… scored five goals and added one assist for 11 points… ranked second on the team in points… scored goals in three consecutive games including one in a 4-0 shutout of Grand Canyon (Sept. 26), the game-tying goal in a 1-1 draw against Santa Clara (Oct. 3) and the game-winner in a 3-1 victory at San Francisco (Oct. 5)… also scored twice in a 4-0 shutout of UC Santa Barbara (Oct. 14)… was a perfect 3-for-3 in penalty kick attempts… named to the CollegeSoccerNews.com and College Sports Madness National Teams of the Week for Oct. 5... was among 55 NCAA Division I college seniors invited to participate in the 2015 adidas MLS Player Combine Jan. 8-13 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., the second Lion to earn the honor… team awards included Goal of the Year, Most Inspirational Player and Most Valuable Player…
2013...
NSCAA/Continental Tire NCAA Division I All-Far West Region Second Team selection... All-WCC First Team... Started and appeared in 16 total matches... logged 1,531 minutes of action... scored twice and added one assist for five points... anchor of the LMU defensive line that posted seven shutouts and an 0.85 GAA... scored on a penalty kick in a 4-0 win over Santa Clara (Oct. 6)... also scored the game-winner in a 1-0 final against San Francisco (Oct. 20)... took 18 total shots, including seven on frame...
2012...
All-WCC Honorable Mention... WCC All-Academic Honorable Mention... a key member of the LMU back line, Nitti earned 17 starts and appeared in 18 total matches... logged 1,593 minutes, which was second most on the team... took 16 shots, including 10 on frame... tallied three goals and two assists for eight points... scored on a set piece in the season opener versus No. 4 UC Santa Barbara (Aug. 26)... headed in the game-winner in a 2-1 victory at Stanford (Sept. 21)... third goal was a PK in the season finale versus Saint Mary's (Nov. 11)... dished assists versus San Diego (Oct. 10) and versus Saint Mary's (Nov. 11)...
2011...Appeared in 19 matches, earning nine starts... logged 980 minutes... took 11 shots, including three on frame... his first collegiate goal doubled as a game-winner as his header 36 seconds into overtime at San Francisco (Oct. 30) broke a scoreless tie and gave LMU the 1-0 victory... National Scholar-Athlete...
2010...
Redshirt season... National Scholar-Athlete...
High School...
Three-year letterwinner at Crespi Carmelite High School in Encino, Calif., for Coach Rob Kodama... named NSCAA/adidas High School Boys All-Region VIII, first team All-CIF, first team All-San Fernando Valley and first team All-Mission League as a senior in 2009... led CCHS to back-to-back CIF playoff appearances... Mission League Defensive Player of the Year... voted team MVP and Most Valuable Defensive Player... team captain... was a defender/midfielder for Real SoCal of the US Soccer Development Academy... ...Real SoCal finished third at the 2010 National Championships... member of the Dean's List in six semesters and Principal's List twice...
Personal...
Craig Alexander Nitti was born on January 19, 1992 in Van Nuys, Calif.... his father, Gary, ran cross country and track at UCLA... his mother, Wendi, was a graduate of Cal State Northridge who swam in the 1976 Olympic Trials as a member of the Santa Barbara Swim Club... middle of three sons with older brother Christopher and younger brother Connor... chose LMU over Santa Clara, UC Davis, American University, Brown, Cal State Bakersfield, and UC San Diego because of LMU's excellent academic reputation and its soccer coaches... business management...
