2019 Men's Soccer Roster
Nico Benalcazar
- Position:
- Defender
- Height:
- 5-11
- Weight:
- 165
- Class:
- Freshman
- Hometown:
- Wilton, Conn.
- High School:
- Wilton HS
Signed a Homegrown Contract with New York City FC on Jan. 18, 2022
Career Awards
- 2021 All-ACC Academic Team Selection
- 2021 United Soccer Coaches Third-Team All-South Region
- 2021 All-ACC Third-Team Selection
- 2020 All-ACC Second-Team Selection
- 2020 All-ACC Academic Team Selection
- 2020-21 TopDrawerSoccer Best XI Second-Team Selection
- ACC Defensive Player of the Week (Nov. 2, 2020)
2021 (Junior)
Appeared in 20 matches with 19 starts as the anchor of the backline once again … Earned Third-Team All-ACC honors … Helped the Deacs keep seven clean sheets … Scored one goal and provided a career-high three assists … Netted his fourth career goal against Duke (Nov. 7) in the quarterfinals of the ACC Tournament … Provided one assist three times against William & Mary (Oct. 5), Virginia Tech (Oct. 16), and Loyola Maryland (Oct. 19) … Played 90 or more minutes in 14 matches, totaling 1,699 minutes of action.
2020-21 (Sophomore)
Was one of two players to appear and start all 18 matches during the season ... Played a team-high1,649 minutes ... Played every minute of the spring portion of the season ... Was the anchor of a backline that allowed just 0.94 goals against per match ... Demon Deacons logged seven clean sheets ... Scored the game-winning goal vs. No. 3 Clemson in a 2-0 victory on Oct. 30 … Was named ACC Defensive Player of the Week for the first time in his career for his efforts in scoring the goal and holding the Tigers scoreless ... Was named a 2020 All-ACC Third-Team selection.
Saw action in 16 contests, starting 12...scored 2 goals including the game winner over Davidson...recorded 3 shots on goal and led the team in shots on goal percentage
Background
Rated as the No. 38 recruit in the nation by TopDrawerSoccer, including the No. 8 defender and No. 3 recruit from New York region ... Was an inaugural member of the New York City FC Academy, joining in 2015, where he played in 100 games and made 96 starts over four years, scoring nine goals from the back line ... Named the NYCFC 2018 Academy Player of the Year and served a team captain on the U-14, U-16 and U-19 teams ... Participated with the U.S. U-18 National Team, traveling to the Czech Republic where the team finished undefeated ... Member of the U.S. U-16 National Team for the Val-de-Marne Tournament in France in 2016 ... Earned United Soccer Coaches All-America honors in 2016-17 ... Picked Wake Forest over Duke, North Carolina, Harvard and Georgetown.
Personal
Born on June 6, 2001 ... Son of Juan and Heidi Banalcazar ... Was a finalist for Wilton High School's Best Citizen Award ... Member of the honor roll every year of high school ... Major is undeclared.
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