June 25, 2008

NORTHRIDGE, Calif. -

Former Cal State Northridge men's soccer player Scott Piri is currently serving as an athletic trainer for the Turkish National Football Team during its play in the 2008 European Championships. One of the Cinderella stories of the tournament, the Turkish side faces Germany Wednesday for a chance to advance to its first European Championships Final.

A four-year letterwinner from 1988-1991 and teammate of Matador head coach Terry Davila, Piri has seen his football experience carry him to extraordinary levels in international football. He served on the German staff during the 2006 World Cup and has received praise from international media outlets for his work with the Turks in Euro 2008.

"The Cal State Northridge family is very proud of the work that Scott is doing," said Davila. "Scott was always one of the best conditioned athletes on our squad, serving as a role model for the rest of the team for his work ethic, and now he is taking that skill and fitness to an international level. It is an amazing accomplishment."

So far, Piri has watched as the Turks have performed memorably at the Championships. In the group stage, Turkey registered an impressive performance, rallying to defeat the Czech Republic, 3-2, on three second-half goals. In its quarterfinal match against Croatia, Turkey scored the tying goal in the 121st minute of action, two minutes after the Croats had scored to take what seemed to be an insurmountable lead. Turkey then advanced on penalty kicks to set up the semifinal match against Germany on Wednesay, June 25.

While at Northridge, Piri was a member of the 1988 squad that narrowly fell in the NCAA Division II National Championship match, 3-2, to Florida Institute of Technology. In that season, he was one of six Matadors to play in 25 of the team's 26 matches, a mark that still stands as a single-season school record, and he led the team with 31 points, including a team-high 12 goals.

To read articles highlighting Piri's work with the Turkish side, click here and here.