Cameron, Taylor Named U-M Offensive, Defensive MVPs
1/31/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan men's soccer team, which ended the year ranked No. 7 in the nation, celebrated its 2003 season with their fourth annual postseason banquet Saturday afternoon (Jan. 31) at the Michigan League. Highlighting the individual award recipients were junior striker Knox Cameron (Bronx, N.Y./Cardinal Spellman HS) and senior defender Kevin Taylor (Miami, Fla./Gulliver Prep), who were named Michigan's Offensive and Defensive Most Valuable Players, respectively.
| | Cameron | | Taylor |
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Cameron missed the Wolverines' run to the quarterfinal round of the NCAA College Cup, as he was playing for the U.S. Under-20 Men's Soccer National Team in the 2003 FIFA World Youth Championships in the United Arab Emirates.
It marks the second consecutive year Taylor has earned U-M's Defensive MVP. A starter in all 23 games, Taylor anchored the Wolverines to a trip to the NCAA College Cup Elite Eight as the senior defender totaled a career-high 14 points on six penalty-kick goals and two assists. An NSCAA All-Great Lakes Region second team and All-Big Ten first team member, Taylor became the first Wolverine to be drafted in the Major League Soccer SuperDraft, as he was nabbed by the Colorado Rapids with the 25th pick overall.
Collecting the Most Improved Player was freshman Kevin Savitskie (Plymouth, Mich./Salem HS). A recruited walk-on, Savitskie played 15 games with 11 starts at defender and tallied four points with a goal and two assists.
Senior/junior Matt Niemeyer (St. Louis, Mo./John Burroughs HS) was the recipient of the Jebson Academic Achievement Award, giving to the Michigan's top student. A mechanical engineering major in the College of Engineering, Niemeyer played in 17 games (11 starts) and tallied three points on a goal and an assist.
The Team Player Award, donated by the Class of 2000 and awarded to the player who demonstrates a willingness to give everything of himself regardless of his role, was awarded to senior defender Joe Iding (Lansing, Mich./Catholic Central HS). A three-time team captain, Iding joined the Wolverines during the inaugural season of 2000 after transferring from the University of Detroit. Iding played in 53 games with 49 starts wearing the Maize and Blue.
Contact: Gene Skidmore (734) 763-4423
