Cann Earns Preseason Honors
August 05, 2003 | Men's Soccer
Aug. 5, 2003
Louisville, Ky. - Senior defender Adrian Cann was tabbed preseason Conference USA Player of the Year by the league's 10 head coaches. The Thornhill, Ontario native is a three-time first team All-Conference USA honoree and earned Co-Defensive Player of the Year honors last season. He will anchor the Cardinal backfield this season when they begin play on Aug. 23 against former Louisville Alumni.
Louisville along with Cincinnati and USF have all been picked to finish in a three-way tie for third place in 2003. The Cards closed out the 2002 season with seven consecutive wins to finish third in the league standings. Louisville's win streak came to a close in the semifinals of the C-USA Tournament against eventual champion Saint Louis.
In addition to Cann, the coaches have selected Simon Bird for preseason all-conference honors. Bird helped spark the Cards' late season run after returning for the final eight games after sustaining a broken collarbone in the season opener. Cann was a first team all-conference pick, while Bird took second team honors last season.
Louisville will open up the 2003 season against Belmont on Aug. 29 at 7:00 p.m. in Cardinal Park.
2003 C-USA PRESEASON AWARDS PLAYER OF THE YEAR Adrian Cann, Jr., B, Louisville
ALL-CONFERENCE
Mira Mupier, Jr., F, Charlotte
Tim Brown, Sr., MF, Cincinnati
Josh Gardner, Jr., MF, Cincinnati
Simon Bird, Sr., F, Louisville
Adrian Cann, Jr., B, Louisville
Nick Gannon, Sr., B, Saint Louis
Martin Hutton, Jr., GK, Saint Louis
Kevin Wickart, Sr., MF/B, Saint Louis
Derek Gutierrez, Sr., F/MF, Marquette
Marin Pusek, Sr., MF, UAB
Hunter West, So., MF/F, USF
Jared Vock, Jr., D, USF
2003 C-USA PRESEASON POLL
(as selected by C-USA coaches)
1. Saint Louis
2. UAB
3. Cincinnati
3. Louisville
3. USF
6. Marquette
7. Charlotte
8. DePaul
9. Memphis
10. East Carolina
