Russolillo

January 20, 2006 Southern Connecticut All-America defender Jordan Russolillo (Middletown, Conn.), the 2005 Northeast-10 Conference men's soccer Defensive Player of the Year, was selected by the Chicago Fire of Major League Soccer (MLS) in the third round of the MLS SuperDraft on Friday.

The 5-11, 165-pound senior was the 34th overall pick in the SuperDraft. The Fire kicks off its preseason on Feb. 4 in Bradenton, Fla.

Russolillo, a senior and four-year starter who has consistently anchored Southern's defense, scored two goals and added two assists as the Owls finished the season with a 10-4-4 won-lost-tied record. He was also named to the Northeast-10 All-Conference first team for three straight seasons.

A member of the All-America second team in 2005 and a third team pick in 2003 and 2004, Russolillo is only the second player in Southern history to earn All-America recognition in three seasons. Forward Ron Basile, the Owls' all-time point-scoring leader with 143, was a first team selection in 1981, 1982 and 1983.

He earned all-league, all-state and all-New England in high school at Middletown High.