Temple University Athletics
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Pierre Cayet Named American Preseason Defensive Player of the Year; Men’s Soccer Ties for Fourth in Conference in Preseason Poll.
1.25.21 | Men's Soccer
PHILADELPHIA- The Temple Men's Soccer team has tied for fourth in the American Athletic Conference 2020-21 men's soccer preseason poll, as voted on by league coaches. Senior defender Pierre Cayet highlights the individual awards, as the French native has been named the AAC preseason Defensive Player of Year. He is the first-ever Temple player to earn the honor.
Cayet enters the final season of his Temple career following a stellar junior year. The defender played every minute of the 2019 season leading an Owl backline that allowed the second least goals in the conference (22). Cayet shared the team lead in goals with three and added an assist for a total of seven points on the year. The Frenchman ended the season with numerous accolades, including Second Team All-AAC, Third Team All-Region, and became the first Temple men's soccer player to receive All-AAC tournament honors.
Forward Sean Karani also earned preseason honors as a member of the All-Conference team. The sophomore will look to build on a strong rookie campaign that saw him start all 17 games and tie for the team lead in goals (3). The Wichita, Ks. native also was second in both points (9) and assists (3). Karani was awarded All-Rookie honors at the conclusion of last season by both the AAC and the Philadelphia Soccer Six.
SMU was voted as the favorite to win the conference crown, earning five out a possible six first place votes following the Mustangs deep NCAA tournament run last year. UCF finished second with 21 total points with the Knights also having five unanimous selections on the all-conference team.
USF took the third spot as the Bulls earned 17 points. The Owls finished tied for fourth in the poll with 10 points, the same total as Memphis. Tulsa rounded out the group in sixth (seven points).
Temple will open its 2020-21 season in Tampa on February 6 as they take on the USF Bulls.
2020 American Athletic Conference
Men's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll
Team, first place votes, points
1. SMU (5), 25
2. UCF (1), 21
3. USF, 17
4. Memphis, 10
Temple, 10
6. Tulsa, 7
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
Gabriel Costa, Jr., M, SMU
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Pierre Cayet, Sr., D, Temple
Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year
Yannik Oettl, Sr., UCF*
Preseason All-Conference Team
Yanis Leerman, Jr., D, UCF*
Yannik Oettl, Sr., GK, UCF*
Louis Perez, Sr., M, UCF*
Yoni Sorokin, Sr., M, UCF*
Gino Vivi, So., F, UCF*
Peter Chang, R-So., F, Memphis
Gurman Sangha, Jr., F, Memphis
Gabriel Costa, Jr., M, SMU*
Knut Ahlander, Jr., M, SMU*
Avionne Flanagan, Sr., D, USF*
Pierre Cayet, Sr., D, Temple
Sean Karani, So., F, Temple
Mitchell Cashion, Jr., D, Tulsa*
*denotes unanimous selection
Cayet enters the final season of his Temple career following a stellar junior year. The defender played every minute of the 2019 season leading an Owl backline that allowed the second least goals in the conference (22). Cayet shared the team lead in goals with three and added an assist for a total of seven points on the year. The Frenchman ended the season with numerous accolades, including Second Team All-AAC, Third Team All-Region, and became the first Temple men's soccer player to receive All-AAC tournament honors.
Forward Sean Karani also earned preseason honors as a member of the All-Conference team. The sophomore will look to build on a strong rookie campaign that saw him start all 17 games and tie for the team lead in goals (3). The Wichita, Ks. native also was second in both points (9) and assists (3). Karani was awarded All-Rookie honors at the conclusion of last season by both the AAC and the Philadelphia Soccer Six.
SMU was voted as the favorite to win the conference crown, earning five out a possible six first place votes following the Mustangs deep NCAA tournament run last year. UCF finished second with 21 total points with the Knights also having five unanimous selections on the all-conference team.
USF took the third spot as the Bulls earned 17 points. The Owls finished tied for fourth in the poll with 10 points, the same total as Memphis. Tulsa rounded out the group in sixth (seven points).
Temple will open its 2020-21 season in Tampa on February 6 as they take on the USF Bulls.
2020 American Athletic Conference
Men's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll
Team, first place votes, points
1. SMU (5), 25
2. UCF (1), 21
3. USF, 17
4. Memphis, 10
Temple, 10
6. Tulsa, 7
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
Gabriel Costa, Jr., M, SMU
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Pierre Cayet, Sr., D, Temple
Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year
Yannik Oettl, Sr., UCF*
Preseason All-Conference Team
Yanis Leerman, Jr., D, UCF*
Yannik Oettl, Sr., GK, UCF*
Louis Perez, Sr., M, UCF*
Yoni Sorokin, Sr., M, UCF*
Gino Vivi, So., F, UCF*
Peter Chang, R-So., F, Memphis
Gurman Sangha, Jr., F, Memphis
Gabriel Costa, Jr., M, SMU*
Knut Ahlander, Jr., M, SMU*
Avionne Flanagan, Sr., D, USF*
Pierre Cayet, Sr., D, Temple
Sean Karani, So., F, Temple
Mitchell Cashion, Jr., D, Tulsa*
*denotes unanimous selection
Players Mentioned
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