2009: Pearson played in 15 games and started 12 times, including all nine Valley contests… also opened and closed the season as a starter… scored EIU’s second goal in the win at Missouri State… with a goal in each of his four seasons, becoming only the sixth Panther in the MVC years to accomplish the feat… went the distance eight times, including a season-high 110 minutes in the draws with Mercer and Creighton… averaged 86 minutes per game as a starter… helped EIU post seven shutouts, one shy of the program record in the Valley era, and a 356 consecutive scoreless minutes streak at Lakeside Field… Eastern was 3-1-1 when he scored during his career.
2008: NIU Invitational All-Tournament Team… Pearson started all 17 games he played in… scored the game-tying goal in the draw against Northern Illinois to represent the Panthers on the NIU Invitational All-Tournament Team… it was his third career goal in a tournament game… ranked fourth on the team in minutes (1,501)… went the distance on 12 occasions, including the first six games of the year – playing 560 consecutive minutes during that stretch… also played 448 of the possible 456 minutes of the Valley season… played a season-high 110 minutes in the draw at NIU.
2007: Bradley City Centre Classic All-Tournament Team… MVC Defensive Player of the Week (Sept. 4)… Pearson played in 17 games and started 16 times, including the first 10 games of the year and both MVC Tournament contests… scored EIU’s first goal of the season, his second career goal in neutral-site action at Bradley’s Shea Stadium… that game-tying goal against Belmont and All-Tournament Team honors at the City Centre Classic led to MVC Defensive Player of the Week honors… also scored in the home finale against Bradley, his first goal at Lakeside Field… registered a shot in six of the first seven games of the season… went the distance eight times, including both MVC Tournament contests… played a season-high 110 minutes in the draw at Loyola… helped EIU post a shutout streak of 436 minutes early in the season and eight shutouts total, a new program record in the Valley era.
2006: He played in seven games and started four, including both MVC Tournament contests… scored EIU’s first goal just five minutes into the MVC Tourney win over Missouri State… sidelined early with an injury, returned during league play to give EIU a shot in the arm.
HIGH SCHOOL: His high school did not offer soccer but he was still an accomplished rugby player and all-around athlete… as a club soccer player for Redheugh BC he was voted Player of the Year for the U-17 squad… Redheugh won consecutive Durham County Lomax Enterprises League championships… two-time Eden Youth Cup winners… Redheugh was national semifinalist after winning the Northern Counties League Cup… three-time (U-13–U-15) rugby Player of the Year at Emmanuel… U-16 County Recognition… U18 School First Team… was a teammate of Alex Harrison’s at Gateshead, winning three Northern County Cups and the 2005-06 ECFA national championship... Victor Ladorum competition winner, which consists of 100 and 800 meters and the triple jump… Endeavour honors in mathematics.
PERSONAL: No. 1 sports highlight was captaining the U-16 county team in the national semifinals… his father has been a major influence on his sports career because “he encouraged me to play football from a young age and helped me maintain my motivation, focus and belief in my ability”… most admires Gateshead coach Paul Bryson because “he helped me develop massively as a player and gave me the belief to achieve”… son of David and Roberta Pearson… MAJOR: Kinesiology and Sports Studies.
