Northeastern University Athletics

Bjorn Hansen has been elected to the Northeastern Hall of Fame for excellence in the sport of soccer.

Hansen, Class of '97, was enjoying a year abroad after graduating from high school in Torring, Denmark when the NU coach Turi Lonero discovered him playing soccer in an indoor winter league. The rest is Northeastern soccer history as Hansen totally rewrote the NU record book.

After a freshman year in which he scored 16 points, Hansen became a star as a sophomore, setting Husky season records for goals (13), assists (six), and points (32). Midway through the season, he was appointed team captain. As a junior in 1995, Hansen again was captain and led the team to an 11-6 record. That year he scored 12 goals and added 13 assists for 37 points, breaking the NU records for scoring and assists he set in 1994. He led America East in scoring and was fourth in New England.

Hansen's heroics had gained attention and he was selected All New England, America East All Conference, and America East Player of the Year. Carrying a 3.83 GPA as an International Business major, he also was voted second team District I Academic All America.

Hansen was elected captain again as a senior and paced the Huskies to the best season in NU soccer history. They finished with a 12-5-2 overall record and were 6-1-2 in the league. For the first time ever, NU made the America East playoffs, defeating Delaware 2-0 in the semifinals before bowing 2-1 to Boston University in the championship game. Hansen scored 11 goals and five assists for 27 points in his final campaign.

Hansen's career totals of 42 goals, 28 assists and 112 points all set NU records that remain intact today. The awards poured in: All New England, America East All-Conference, America East All-Tournament, and first team District I Academic All America. The final award was NU's most prestigious: the Herb Gallagher Award as the outstanding male scholar-athlete. He graduated summa cum laude with a 3.90 GPA.