James Nealis (born August 5, 1991) is an American soccer player who most recently played professionally for the New York Cosmos in the North American Soccer League. As of October 2023, Nealis plays for New York Pancyprian-Freedoms.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | James Nealis | ||
| Date of birth | August 5, 1991 | ||
| Place of birth | Massapequa, New York, United States | ||
| Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Defender | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | New York Pancyprian-Freedoms | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2001–2009 | Massapequa SC | ||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2009–2012 | Georgetown Hoyas | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2010–2011 | Long Island Rough Riders | 26 | (0) |
| 2013–2014 | New York Cosmos | 3 | (0) |
| 2015–2016 | Long Island Rough Riders | 2 | (0) |
| 2017 | New York Greek American | ||
| 2022– | New York Pancyprian-Freedoms | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of October 25, 2023 | |||
Career
editCollege and amateur
editNealis spent his entire collegiate career at Georgetown University. In 2009, he made a total of 19 appearances for the Hoyas and tallied two goals and two assists. In his sophomore year in 2010, Nealis was part of Georgetown's defense that recorded nine shutouts as he started all 20 games for the Hoyas and recorded four assists and led the club to a Big East Blue Division title during the regular season.[1] He went on to be named NSCAA Third Team All-Northeast Region that year.[2] In 2011, Nealis went on to be named Third Team All-BIG EAST as he started all 18 games he appeared in and helped the Hoyas defense to seven shutouts.[3] In his senior year in 2012, Nealis started all 26 games and led the Hoyas to the 2012 College Cup final where they eventually fall to Indiana 1–0.[4] He was also named NSCAA Second Team All-Northeast Region.[5]
During his time in College, Nealis also played for Long Island Rough Riders in the USL Premier Development League.[6][7]
Professional
editOn January 17, 2013, Nealis was drafted in the second round (37th overall) of the 2013 MLS SuperDraft by the Houston Dynamo.[8][9] However, he was cut from preseason camp a month later.[10]
On October 25, Nealis signed with NASL club New York Cosmos for the remainder of the 2013 season.[11] He made his professional debut a week later in a 1–0 victory over Atlanta Silverbacks in the final game of the 2013 NASL Fall Season.[12]
Nealis made his first appearance of the 2014 season on May 31, 2014, earning the start at left back and contributing to a 3–0 shutout road victory over the Fort Lauderdale Strikers.[13]
Nealis saw 180 minutes of action in two starts and two appearances during the 2014 season.[14]
Nealis was released following the end of the 2014 season.[15]
In 2017, Nealis featured for Greek American AA of the Cosmopolitan Soccer League.[16]
Nealis helped New York Pancyprian-Freedoms to the 2022 Eastern Premier Soccer League Metropolitan Division title.[17] He also appeared for the club during their 2024 U.S. Open Cup qualifiers.[18]
Nealis played in the inaugural edition of The Soccer Tournament for Charlotte FC.[19]
References
edit- ^ "Men's Soccer Wins BIG EAST Blue Division Title; Defeats No. 6/6 Connecticut, 1-0". GUHoyas.com. Georgetown University. 28 October 2010. Retrieved 4 November 2013.
- ^ "Hoyas Garner Postseason Awards with Christianson Named an All-American". GUHoyas.com. Georgetown University. 15 December 2010. Retrieved 4 November 2013.
- ^ "Neumann Named First Team All-BIG EAST". GUHoyas.com. Georgetown University. 10 November 2011. Retrieved 4 November 2013.
- ^ "Georgetown's Magical Run Ends in College Cup Championship". GUHoyas.com. Georgetown University. 9 December 2012. Retrieved 4 November 2013.
- ^ "Neumann and Christianson Named NSCAA All-American". GUHoyas.com. Georgetown Hoyas. 14 December 2012. Retrieved 4 November 2013.
- ^ "Long Island Rough Riders 2010 stats". USLsoccer.com. United Soccer Leagues. Archived from the original on 28 July 2013. Retrieved 4 November 2013.
- ^ "Long Island Rough Riders 2011 stats". USLsoccer.com. United Soccer Leagues. Archived from the original on 19 October 2014. Retrieved 4 November 2013.
- ^ "Dynamo select Jason Johnson and Jimmy Nealis in 2013 MLS SuperDraft". Houston Dynamo. Houston Dynamo Communications. 17 January 2013. Retrieved 4 November 2013.
- ^ "Three Hoyas Selected in MLS SuperDraft". GUHoyas.com. Georgetown University. 17 January 2013. Retrieved 4 November 2013.
- ^ Ortiz, Jose de Jesus (25 February 2013). "Negotiations continue on Ching's contract with Dynamo". Chron. Retrieved 4 November 2013.
- ^ "Cosmos Sign Defender Jimmy Nealis". New York Cosmos. 25 October 2013. Retrieved 4 November 2013.
- ^ "Atlanta Silverbacks 0 New York Cosmos 1". NASL.com. North American Soccer League. 2 November 2013. Retrieved 4 November 2013.
- ^ "Home | New York Cosmos".
- ^ "Home | New York Cosmos".
- ^ Dave Martinez (November 26, 2014). "New York Cosmos decline options on Jemal Johnson, Jimmy Nealis, Steven Diaz". empireofsoccer.com. Empire of Soccer. Retrieved May 3, 2018.
- ^ "DIVISION 1: NY Greek Americans swept past @cprangers 6-0 last night". Twitter.com. Cosmopolitan Soccer League. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
- ^ "Congratulations to Charlie LeDula, Jimmy Nealis and the entire @NYpancyprian club". Twitter.com. New York Cosmos Supporters Collective. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
- ^ Battista, Michael. "US Open Cup qualifier abandoned after player threatens to stab ref". HudsonRiverBlue.com. Hudson River Blue. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
- ^ "Jimmy Nealis TST stats". TST-Stats.com. The Soccer Tournament. Retrieved 25 October 2023.