STANFORD, Calif. – Stanford goalkeeper Nico Corti has signed a professional contract with Rio Grande Valley FC, the USL affiliate of the Houston Dynamo.
"I cannot thank my coaches and teammates at Stanford enough for everything they have done for me over the past five years," Corti said. "It has been an honor to represent this university. The lessons I've learned and the relationships I've forged will stay with me for the rest of my life. I am extremely excited to start my professional career in Texas with RGV FC and look forward to proving myself at the next level."
Corti is the third member of the Cardinal's celebrated senior class to secure a professional deal. Corey Baird signed a Homegrown Player contract with Real Salt Lake on Jan. 5 and Tomas Hilliard-Arce inked a senior deal with MLS earlier this month as well.
"Nico exemplifies the Stanford soccer player that we hope everyone aspires to be," head coach Jeremy Gunn said. "He dealt with initial setbacks, but always took on whatever role he had and strived to become the best student-athlete and teammate that he could. The resulting performances were there for everyone to see and appreciate. It was quite fitting that he graduated with an NCAA record that can never be broken. He's a young man that we'll champion forever."
Corti just completed the best statistical season for a goalkeeper in Stanford men's soccer history in anchoring the Cardinal to its third consecutive national championship. He finished second in the country with a school and Pac-12 record 0.386 goals against average and posted 14 solo shutouts, another conference record and the second-highest total in the nation this year.
Corti didn't allow a goal in five postseason matches, becoming the sixth keeper in NCAA history to not allow a goal in the tournament, and also became the NCAA's career postseason goals against average leader (0.00) in the process. He ended his season not conceding a goal in his final 674 minutes and Stanford upped its NCAA-record postseason shutout streak to 1,214:20.
A political science major with a 3.53 GPA and Stanford's nominee for Pac-12 Scholar-Athlete of the Year, Corti was a Pac-12 All-Academic second team selection and United Soccer Coaches Scholar All-West Region honoree this season. On the field he earned spots on the College Cup All-Tournament team, the United Soccer Coaches All-Far West Region third team and the All-Pac-12 honorable mention squad.
