2003 BIG EAST Men’s Soccer Awards Offensive Player of the Year: Josh Gros, Rutgers, Sr., Forward (Mechanicsburg, Pa.) Defensive Player of the Year: Chris Wingert, St. John’s, Sr., Back (Babylon, N.Y.) Midfielder of the Year: Matia Damiani, St. John’s, Sr., Midfielder (Foggia, Italy) Goalkeeper of the Year: Chris Sawyer, Notre Dame, Jr. (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) Rookie of the Year: Ben Nason, Virginia Tech, Fr., F (Stafford, Va.) Coaching Staff of the Year: Virginia Tech - Oliver Weiss (head coach); Kevin Korondi, John Sexton (assistant coaches) All-BIG EAST First Team Chris Corcoran, St. John’s, Jr., M Matia Damiani, St. John’s, Sr., M *Justin Detter, Notre Dame, Sr., F Matt Groenwald, St. John’s, Jr., M Josh Gros, Rutgers, Sr., F Guy Melamed, Boston College, Jr., B Simone Salinno, St. John’s, Sr., M Chris Sawyer, Notre Dame, Jr., GK Jack Stewart, Notre Dame, Jr., B Luke Vercollone, Seton Hall, Sr., M *Chris Wingert, St. John’s, Sr., B # - unanimous All-BIG EAST Second Team Bill Arnault, Boston College, Jr., M Jeff Curtin, Georgetown, So., B Bill Gaudette, St. John’s, Sr., GK Kevin Goldthwaite, Notre Dame, Jr., B Chris Karcz, Rutgers, Jr., M Ryan McGowan, Seton Hall, Sr., M Lasse Mertins, Virginia Tech, Sr., B Lindon Pecorelli, Connecticut, Sr., F Chad Riley, Notre Dame, Sr., M Steve Sealy, Connecticut, Fr., F Keeyan Young, Pittsburgh, So., F All-BIG EAST Third Team Chris Aloisi, Sryacuse, Sr., B Ricardo Arenas, Rutgers, Jr., F Dan Gargan, Georgetown, Jr., B Sacha Kljestan, Seton Hall, Fr., M Greg Martin, Notre Dame, Sr., M Mpho Moloi, Connecticut, So., M Ben Nason, Virginia Tech, Fr., F Dave O’Donnell, Villanova, Sr., B Devon Prescod, Notre Dame, Sr., F Kevin Richards, Notre Dame, Sr., B Peer Rogge, Virginia Tech, So., F And, it takes Oliver all of two years to be Coach of the Year. Some of us aren't surprised at all. Greg Martin - there's a name I haven't heard in a while. When they got to Bradenton, he was more highly regarded than Oguchi Onyewu. Nice to see him getting some recognition in college ball. Also of note, to show how much of a joke the Hermann "finalists" are, Cesar "El Gordo" Cuellar, who is one of the MAC's nominees, doesn't even make third-team all conference.
But Cuellar did make the First Team selection for Best Customer at Krispy Kreme!!!! To say he had a disappointing year is an understatement.
Big East awards Do you think the MAC remembers who they selected? Combining the Hermann award and the "Player of the year" award last year has only eliminated a benchmark that may have kept the MAC honest and diligent.