Scott Vallow (2009) - Hall of Fame - Bowling Green State University Athletics

Scott Vallow

Induction:
2009
Class:
2002

(men’s soccer; 1995-98)

Scott Vallow, a native of Naperville, Ill., was a four-year starter and two-time All-American at goalkeeper for head coach Mel Mahler’s Falcons, and still holds several Mid-American Conference goalkeeping records. He had at least 10 shutouts in each of his four seasons, and a career goals-against average of just 0.74. Most importantly, Vallow led the Falcons to three consecutive NCAA Championships appearances (1995-97), with trips to the Sweet 16 in the latter two years.

Vallow burst onto the scene as a freshman in 1995, with a 15-3-2 record and a GAA of 0.52. His GAA not only led the MAC, but ranked second in the nation (tops among all freshmen). He had a scoreless-minutes streak of nearly 550 minutes, spanning parts of six matches. That streak included both of the Falcons’ MAC Tournament wins, as Vallow led the Falcons to the MAC regular-season and tournament titles for the first of three consecutive years.

As a sophomore in 1996, Vallow saw action in all but 44:40 of the team’s total minutes, finishing the regular season ranked second in the region and ninth in the nation in GAA. He ended the year with a school-record 18 wins, and had 10 complete-game shutouts, playing in the bulk of two other shutout wins. Three of his four losses that year came to teams ranked 15th in the nation or higher. Vallow led the MAC in wins, GAA, minutes and shutouts. For the second year in a row, he did not receive All-MAC honors. In ’96, this was due to the fact that he was not nominated (the MAC had a policy of limiting teams to five nominees). Vallow did, however, earn All-MAC Tournament honors as BG won the tourney crown once again. He blanked Detroit in the NCAA Tournament at Cochrane Field, his fourth-straight complete-game shutout. Vallow was named to the All-Mideast and All-Ohio first teams.

In 1997, Vallow tied the school record with 12 shutouts en route to 16 overall wins. He was selected as the Ohio Collegiate Soccer Association Player of the Year, and also earned NSCAA All-America Third-Team honors for the first of two consecutive seasons. Vallow had 16 wins, a GAA of 0.85 and 100 saves, and also earned Soccer News All-America honorable mention. He was a first-team All-Mideast Region, All-Ohio and All-MAC selection, and again was named to the MAC’s All-Tournament Team as the Falcons won a third consecutive title. In the NCAA Tournament, Vallow recorded shutouts in both the Falcons’ play-in game vs. Colgate and BGSU’s first-round win at Marquette.

As a senior, Vallow was an All-MAC First-Team choice, and was the runner up in the coaches voting the MAC Player of the Year. He recorded 10 shutouts for his fourth-straight double-digit season in that category, and had a GAA of 0.87. For the second year in a row, Vallow was selected to the All-Mideast Region and All-Ohio first teams and was an NSCAA All-America Third-Team choice.

Vallow ended his career with the school records for wins (59), shutouts (42) and GAA, and all of those records still stand. In fact, Vallow still holds the MAC records in wins and GAA, and is second in conference history in victories and saves (320).

Vallow has gone on to a lengthy, 11 year professional career that continues today. Currently, he is goalkeeper and team captain of the Rochester Rhinos of the United Soccer League, Division 1 (formerly the A-League). Vallow helped the Rhinos win A-League Championships in both 2000 and 2001. A multiple all-league selection, Vallow was named the A-League’s Goalkeeper of the Year in 2000. Additionally, Vallow attended the USL1 All Star Game and was voted Rhinos Team MVP in 2006. Vallow, the Rhinos’ all-time leader in goalkeeper wins, shutouts and saves, also played with the Dallas Burn (‘99, ‘02) and Colorado Rapids (‘03, ‘04) of Major League Soccer.

In addition to his playing career, Vallow has served as an assistant coach on the women’s soccer staff at Niagara University and is currently involved in youth soccer as the Director of Coaching and Player Development for the Cobras FC (33 teams). He also owns a goalkeeper development company called Train Like a Champion, started his own clothing line called Rockstar Soccer and has his own website, www.ScottVallow.com. Scott is married to Lindsay, his BGSU sweetheart, and the couple has two sons, Brayden and Mason.