UIC alum Jay DeMerit featured in latest issue of <i>Sports Illustrated</i>

Oct. 13, 2006

Chicago, Ill. - Former UIC men's soccer standout Jay DeMerit continues to receive well-deserved international recognition for his play on English Premier League squad Watford, with a feature article on the former Flames defender appearing in the October 16th edition of Sports Illustrated.

The story, entitled "London Calling" and written by senior writer Grant Wahl, depicts DeMerit's rise to the world's grandest soccer stage and his life as an American player in the football hotbed of England.

The article also touched on DeMerit's chances at making the United States Men's National Team, with Watford manager Aidy Boothroyd predicting that the former UIC back will one day serve as the U.S. national team's captain.

In addition to the SI piece, ESPN Soccernet also published a feature on DeMerit this week. Kristian Dyer's story, "DeMerit making a name for himself in the Premiership," speculates that the Watford star may be "the most watched and followed American playing abroad."

DeMerit played for the Flames from 1998 through 2001, picking up first team All-League accolades and NSCAA/adidas All-Midwest honors three times. He helped UIC post 10 shutouts in 2000 en route to a Sweet 16 run in the NCAA Tournament that year.

Along with stories in Sports Illustrated and ESPN Soccernet, articles on DeMerit have appeared in The New York Times, USA Today, Chicago Tribune, and many other renowned national publications.

To read the Sports Illustrated article on DeMerit, pick up the October 16th print edition or go to www.si.com/soccer. For the Soccernet article, go to the US Soccer page at www.soccernet.com.

Story provided by UIC Office of Sports Information