July 28, 2010
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - One of the newest members of the UCF men's soccer team, A. Jay Nelson was recently named the boys soccer player of the decade by The St. Augustine Record. Nelson played for four seasons with Allen D. Nease High School before graduating in 2009.
Nelson enrolled at UCF in the spring after playing his freshman season at UNC Greensboro. He tallied four goals and four assists while starting 16 games in 2009 and was named to the Southern Conference All-Freshman Team before deciding to continue his collegiate career in his home state.
During his high school career at Nease, Nelson helped the Panthers win back-to-back state championships in 2007 and 2008, the first in school history. As a senior, Nelson had 19 goals and 28 assists and compiled 55 goals and 63 assists during his four-year career.
After joining the Knights this spring, Nelson was able to play during the spring season and get accustomed to his new teammates. By UCF's finale, Nelson was able to find the back of the net and score against the U.S. U-17 National Team.