#8 • Heather Nelson
DEF • 5-7 • Sr
Yorba Linda, CA
Briefly: Heather Nelson begins her fourth year at LMU...a two-time
All-WCC player suffered a torn ACL in May...recovering from surgery,
and might look at a redshirt season to return in 2001...helped lead
LMU's defense to the ranks of the nation's best the past two
seasons...a member of Gryphon Circle (campus service
organization)...represented Southern California on the women's state
team in 1999...a player with high expectations and demands, which is
pushing her to return early from surgery...has proven to be one of the
best defensive players in the conference...dangerous on the attack and
worked to get forward more in the 1999 season, which included a goal,
the second of her career.
At LMU: Nelson enters her senior season in the Lions' program...
1999:...for
the second consecutive year started all 19 games for the Lions... for
the second year in a row, Nelson made an All-WCC team, this season as
an honorable mention...scored second goal of her career in a 2-0 win
over Santa Barbara on Oct. 29... added two assists on the season, one
on the game winner against Cal State Northridge to start the 1999
season and one in a 6-0 win over San Francisco on Oct. 10...finished
the season with eight shots, four on net...
1998:...started in all 19
games...honored as an All-WCC second-team selection...completed the
season ranked second on the team with four assists...an anchor of the
Lion's defense with her aggressive style and excellent marking...ranked
second on the team with a .727 on-goal shooting percentage...had two
shots on goal and an assist in the win over Long Beach State on
September 1...
1997:...saw playing time in 18 games during the season,
starting in four...scored the winning goal against Arizona on October 5
in sudden-death overtime...tallied seven shots on goal for the season,
including three against Texas-El Paso.
High School: Nelson is a 1997 graduate of Esperanza High School in
Anaheim, CA...a four-year soccer letterwinner...led her team to a 18-5-5
record and a second-place finish in league her senior season...garnered
first-team All-Sunset League honors three times, and All-Orange
County accolades as a junior and senior...named a first-team All-CIF
Division I selection as a freshman and senior...a first-team all-county
selection by the Los Angeles Times and Orange County Register in
1997...voted Defensive Most Valuable Player for the Excaliber
Tournament...regional Olympic Development Team member...honored by her
teammates as MVP, Top Defensive Player, and Inspirational Team
Leader...a prep teammate of fellow Lion Tracy Sharp...prep coach was
Phyllis Scarborough and Barrie Calhoun.
Personal: Heather Alise Nelson (Nels) was born on January 30, 1979 in
Anaheim, CA...the daughter of Linda Nelson...has two brothers, Heath and
Travis...lists water skiing as one of her hobbies and enjoys reading
medical books in her spare time...also recruited by Cal State
Fullerton, Minnesota and San Diego State...a natural science major with
a minor in psychology who aspires to enter the medical field.
Career Statistics
|
GP-GS |
C-E |
Sh |
G |
A |
Pts |
| 1997 |
18-4 |
2-0 |
7 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
| 1998 |
19-19 |
0-0 |
11 |
0 |
4 |
4 |
| 1999 |
19-19 |
1-0 |
8 |
1 |
2 |
4 |
| Total |
56-42 |
3-0 |
26 |
2 |
6 |
10 |
