Chris Ritter

How he joined the club: Signed as a Homegrown Player on Jan. 13, 2014

2015: Ritter had five starts and seven total appearances during the season. U.S. Open Cup: Ritter started against Louisville City FC on 6/16 and the Charlotte Independence on 6/30. 

2014: Made 10 appearances, starting eight matches in his rookie season. Made his professional debut when he started against the LA Galaxy on June 1, marking the first time in Fire history that two Homegrown Players started an MLS match. Made one appearance in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, entering in the second half of the semifinal match against the Seattle Sounders. Was selected for the inaugural Chipotle Homegrown Game, starting and playing the first 45 minutes at Providence Park on Aug. 4. MLS Reserve League: Appeared in a team-leading nine games, helping the Men in Red to the top of the Reserve League standings with a 6-1-2 record.  

COLLEGE (NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY)

2013: Granted fifth year of eligibility... Posted a score against Northern Illinois (10/9)... Registered an assist and a goal against Michigan State (10/6)... Tallied an assist against Bradley (10/2)... National Player of the Week by Top Drawer Soccer (9/24)... National Team of the Week by Top Drawer Soccer (9/24)... Big Ten Offensive Co-Player of the Week (9/23)... Scored a goal off of a penalty kick against Fairleigh Dickinson (9/22)... Tallied a goal in NU's 3-0 win over St. Mary's (9/20)... Registered an assist against Green Bay (9/13)... Senior CLASS Award Top 10 Finalist... MLSSoccer.com Top 10 Player to Watch for 2013... Big Ten Preseason Player to Watch... Named to College Soccer News 2013 Preseason All-America Third Team

2012: Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year ... First Team All-Big Ten honoree ... All-Great Lakes Second-Team honoree ... Helped guide Northwestern to its second-straight Big Ten regular-season title ... Started all 23 games in the NU midfield, logging 2,171 minutes ... 27 shots, including 13 on goal ... Finished the year with five goals (second on the team) and six assists (second on the team) for 16 points (second on the team) ... Scored equalizer off a penalty kick with nine seconds left in regulation in NU's 1-1 tie vs. Xavier in season-opener (8/25) ... MVP of NIU adidas Invite, scoring the game-winner in NU's 2-1 win vs. Drake in OT (9/7) ... Assisted on two goals in NU's 3-2 win over Rhode Island (9/9) to win the NIU adidas Invite ... Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week (9/10) following his MVP performance in DeKalb ... Also named College Sports Madness Men's Soccer Offensive Player of the Week (9/10) ... Had a three-point game vs. Michigan, assisting on NU's first goal and scoring the second in 2-0 win (9/23) ... Scored the equalizer against Michigan State (9/30) on a penalty kick in the 75th minute for his fourth goal of the year ... Assisted on a goal in NU's 2-1 upset of No. 7 Notre Dame at Lakeside Field (10/9) ... Had a goal, his fifth of the year, and an assist, also his fifth of the year, in NU's 2-0 shutout of Loyola (10/17) ... Named to 2012 Big Ten Players to Watch list ... Academic All-Big Ten.

2011: Appeared in 20 games, starting all 20 ... Tallied four goals and two assists on the season along with 23 shots ... Goals included game-winners against UC Davis (9/16) and Michigan (11/5) ... Also scored goals in NU's wins vs. Xavier (9/18) and at Ohio State (10/9) ... Named Tournament MVP at Northwestern's Lakeside Classic ... Most important goal of the season was the game winner in a 1-0 away match at Michigan that clinched the regular season Big Ten title for the 'Cats ... Named to Second-Team All-Big Ten team ... Won two Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week awards after earning Tournament MVP honors at the Lakeside Classic and after NU's 1-0 win over Michigan.

2010: Started first two matches of the season before being sidelined with a leg injury.

2009: Appeared in all 20 matches as a true freshman, including starts in the last 18 ... Scored first collegiate goal in a 3-2 victory over Western Illinois (10/14) ... Posted a shot in the final three matches of the season ... Recorded a shot on goal in both match-ups with Tulsa (9/13, 11/29) ... Named to Big Ten All-Freshman Team.

High School: Three-year letterwinner ... Team captain as a senior ... Member of state championship teams in 2006 and 2008, including scoring the game-winning goal for New Trier as a senior ... Chicago Tribune first-team All-State ... Three-time all-conference selection ... All-Sectional ... 2008 New Trier team MVP. Club/ODP: Eight-year member of Trevian Soccer Club/FC United but most recently played on Chicago Fire's Academy team ... Played for Illinois State Team for four years ... Region 2 Regional Pool Player ... Illinois State Scholar.

Personal: Born Christopher Jay Ritter ... Son of Jay and Leslie Buntain Ritter ... Chose Northwestern over Michigan, Wisconsin, and Colgate ... Has had numerous relatives attend Northwestern over the years, beginning as far back as the late 1800's ... Attended Northwestern One Day Prep Camp and College Soccer Training Center ... Major is communication studies with a minor in business institutions.