Pedro Lopes (soccer)
Encyclopedia
Pedro Lopes is a retired American soccer player who coaches the NJIT Highlanders men's soccer team. He played professionally in the USISL.
where he was a 1989 NSCAA High School All American soccer player. He then attended Rutgers University
, playing on the men's soccer team from 1990 to 1994, starting all eighty-six games during his collegiate career. In 1990, Rutgers finished runner-up to the UCLA Bruins
in the NCAA Men's Division I Soccer Championship. He was a 1993 First Team
and 1994 Second Team All American. He was the 1994 Atlantic 10 Player of the Year. In 2004, Rutgers inducted Lopes into the school's Athletic Hall of Fame.
In 1996 and 1997, Lopes played professionally with the North Jersey Imperials
of the USISL.
hired Lopes as head coach of the men's soccer team.
Player
Lopes graduated from Saint Benedict's Preparatory SchoolSaint Benedict's Preparatory School
Saint Benedict's Preparatory School is a college preparatory school in Newark, New Jersey, United States. It is an all-boys, secondary school located on a urban campus serving students in the seventh through twelfth grades...
where he was a 1989 NSCAA High School All American soccer player. He then attended Rutgers University
Rutgers University
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey , is the largest institution for higher education in New Jersey, United States. It was originally chartered as Queen's College in 1766. It is the eighth-oldest college in the United States and one of the nine Colonial colleges founded before the American...
, playing on the men's soccer team from 1990 to 1994, starting all eighty-six games during his collegiate career. In 1990, Rutgers finished runner-up to the UCLA Bruins
UCLA Bruins
The UCLA Bruins are the sports teams for University of California, Los Angeles . The Bruin men's and women's teams participate in NCAA Division I as part of the Pacific-12 Conference and the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation . For football, they are in the Football Bowl Subdivision of Division I...
in the NCAA Men's Division I Soccer Championship. He was a 1993 First Team
Division I First-Team All-American (soccer)
The Division I First-Team All-Americans are the best eleven U.S. college soccer players as selected by the NCAA.-1970–1983:From 1970 to 1983 the NCAA only named defenders and forwards in addition to one goalkeeper.-1983–present:...
and 1994 Second Team All American. He was the 1994 Atlantic 10 Player of the Year. In 2004, Rutgers inducted Lopes into the school's Athletic Hall of Fame.
In 1996 and 1997, Lopes played professionally with the North Jersey Imperials
North Jersey Imperials
The North Jersey Imperials were a soccer club based in Paramus, New Jersey. They played in the United Soccer Leagues between 1994 and 2001. The Imperials were the first pro team of US national team goalkeeper Tim Howard....
of the USISL.
Coach
Lopes began coaching as a volunteer assistant at Rutgers in 1995. In August 1996, he became an assistant with the Centenary College men's team before returning to the Scarlet Knights as a full-time assistant coach. In 1996, Lopes joined the Jersey Knights Soccer Club, becoming the club's Director of Coaching in 2000. In 2003, the New Jersey Institute of TechnologyNew Jersey Institute of Technology
New Jersey Institute of Technology is a public research university in Newark, New Jersey. It is often also referred to as Newark College of Engineering ....
hired Lopes as head coach of the men's soccer team.