BALTIMORE—Former UMBC men's soccer standout Billy Nelson '01 was inducted into the Baltimore Blast Hall of Fame on Saturday, March 30, before the Blasts' match against Utica City FC.

"Billy was outstanding at the youth, college, and professional levels," said UMBC Head Men's Soccer Coach Anthony Adams. "This honor is well deserved, and I couldn't be happier for him."

Nelson played 292 games for the Blast during his outstanding career in the Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL). A native of Abingdon, Maryland, Nelson scored 48 goals and added 41 assists over his 11-year tenure.

Nelson, who anchored UMBC's defensive unit from 1997 through 2000, was a captain on the Retrievers' 1999 NCAA Tournament squad that finished a program-record 19-1-2 and won the Northeast Conference trophy. 

The Bel Air High School graduate, who also served as a captain in 2000, is third all-time at UMBC with 80 games played. He was named to the Northeast Conference Second Team after the Dawgs went 15-5-0 during his senior season. He was also selected as the squad's Unsung Hero in 1999 and 2000.

Nelson played for the SC Baltimore Stars for Adams at the club level before he donned the Black & Gold for former UMBC Hall of Fame Head Coach Pete Caringi. He played alongside future Retriever standouts PJ Wakefield '01, Matt Joseph '00, and Tom Wunk '01.

UMBC will honor the 1999 team at a home contest next fall on their 25th anniversary. Details will be announced this summer.