University of Houston Athletics
Hawkins Named a 2003 Pre-Season All-Conference USA Selection
8/11/2003 12:00:00 AM | Soccer
Aug. 11, 2003
Junior midfielder Nikki Hawkins, who lead The University of Houston women's soccer team in goals and total points last season, has been named a 2003 Pre-Season All-Conference USA selection as voted by the league's 14 head coaches.
In addition, the Cougars were picked to finish sixth among the field of 14 C-USA teams, behind Cincinnati, Charlotte, Marquette, Saint Louis and East Carolina.
Hawkins, named to the Second Team All-Conference in 2002, is the most accomplished Cougar entering the 2003 campaign, and according to Houston head coach Bill Solberg, is the best player on the field and most deserving of the distinction for her hard work and ethic. She has started every match since her tenure at Houston began and is once again expected to lead this year's squad in scoring and assists.
Houston closed out the 2002 season in sixth place in the league, rounding out the year with an 8-8-3 overall mark including 4-3-3 against conference opponents and advanced to the C-USA Tournament for the fifth-straight year. This year they welcome back seven starters from last season, including All-Freshman selection Kelly Golden, who lead the team in total shots, goalie Erin Ferguson, who was third in the league in saves, as well as mainstays Emily Allwardt, Nicole Aubuchon and Anne Gasser.
Cincinnati, which has won the last two Conference USA Tournament title and has made consecutive trips to the NCAA Championship, has been selected to win 2003 C-USA regular-season title by the league's head coaches.
The top eight finishers in the regular season earn a spot in the Conference USA Tournament, held November 5-8 in Charlotte, N.C.
The Cougars kick off their sixth season of competition at the Baylor Tournament in Waco, Texas, with their first match set for Friday, August 29, at 4:30 p.m. against North Texas.
2003 C-USA PRESEASON AWARDS
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Courtney Crandell, So., F, Charlotte
ALL-CONFERENCE
Courtney Crandell, So., F, Charlotte
Kim Moore, Sr., D, Charlotte
Tasha Wagner, Sr., MF, Cincinnati
Julianne Sitch, So., MF/F, DePaul
Penny Perrott, Sr. D, East Carolina
Nikki Hawkins, Jr., MF, Houston
Alison Sinclair, Sr., D, Houston
Kristen Jensen, Sr. MF, Marquette
Anne Ioder, Sr., MF, Marquette
Christie Cigno, So., F/MF, Saint Louis
Jamie Perry, Jr., F, Saint Louis
Tara Kidwell, Jr., F, UAB
Breck Bankester, Jr., GK, USF
2003 C-USA PRESEASON POLL
(as selected by C-USA coaches) 1. Cincinnati
2. Charlotte
3. Marquette
4. Saint Louis
5. East Carolina
6. Houston
7. Memphis
8. UAB
9. DePaul
10. USF
11. Tulane
12. TCU
13. Southern Miss
14. Louisville
