Coach Tim Lenahan had freshman forward Piero Bellizzi in Northwestern’s soccer camp while the forward was still in high school. Bellizzi had not decided what college he was going to attend or what he was going to do his first year away from high school.
But after the camp and a year out of the United States, Lenahan recruited the forward from Rye, N.Y., and brought him to school last winter, hoping he would bond with his teammates during the two extra quarters on campus before his freshman year of eligibility.
The freshman not only bonded with his teammates quickly, but also has produced on the field.
He led NU with four goals during its spring season and then came out of the gates quickly to start his freshman year. He has three goals and seven assists this season coming into No. 9 NU’s (9-2-2) game against Northern Illinois (4-6-4) today in DeKalb, Ill.
“He certainly has grown since he got here in January, really understanding our team culture and what we’re all about,” Lenahan said. “I think those were the important things to understand that the team comes first here. (Other freshmen are) going through their adjustment period. He had that adjustment period when he first got here.”
Bellizzi led his club team to a state championship his junior year.
But he did not take the typical route to college.
He spent his senior year of high school training with Udinese, a professional team in Italy’s Serie A professional league. Bellizzi played for the ‘primavera’ team, the first reserve team below the professional team.
“I became a lot better soccer player because I played every day for three hours a day, ” Bellizzi said. “Plus I got to see the atmosphere of soccer in Europe, where it’s even more a part of your life than in college.”
Bellizzi said playing in Italy completely immersed him in soccer. He got the chance to live away from home for the first time and experience a different culture.
He also got a chance to train with a professional team and live to play soccer. Instead of school being his primary focus, he was expected to perform on the soccer field.
“Most kids who are playing, they get paid,” Bellizzi said. “It’s not just a game. They go to work every day, they practice and play a game. For me, to see how dedicated these kids are and how determined they are to make it. It really broadened my horizons on soccer.”
Bellizzi said he learned how to position himself in the right spot on the field and gained more soccer awareness. He came back to the United States a better player.
But when he returned to Italy for his second season, he was all of the sudden not able to train. Udinese had signed more professional players, bumping him out of the training rotation.
He and his family decided he would return to the United States.
With starting forwards Brad North and Gerardo Alvarez graduating, the Wildcats had an opening at forward entering the 2007 season. Bellizzi began integrating with the team when he arrived in the winter.
He took the things he learned in Italy and quickly made an impact at NU.
“I started off a little shaky,” Bellizzi said. “It took me a while to break the ice and get my first goal. Because I have been watching the game for so long and I understand how serious it is, the adjustment for some may take a little longer, but if you are a good enough player, you will make the adjustment and eventually you will do well.”
Reach Philip Rossman-Reich at
