Scott Cannon
Encyclopedia
Scott Cannon was a U.S. soccer defender
who played three seasons in Major League Soccer
, two in the American Professional Soccer League
, three in the National Professional Soccer League and at least four in the USISL and USL
. He was the 1999 USL Defender of the Year and a two time USL All Star.
, attending Reitz Memorial High School
where he was a 1985 and 1986 NSCAA High School All-American soccer player. He then went on to attend University of Evansville
, playing on the men’s soccer team from 1986 to 1990. In 1990, he was named a first team All-American
and was inducted into the Evansville Athletic Hall of Fame in 2003
of the American Professional Soccer League
(APSL). The Capitals made it to the finals of the APSL but lost in penalty kicks. In the summer of 1991, he also played for the U.S. at the World University Games
. That fall, he signed with the Harrisburg Heat
of the National Professional Soccer League (NPSL) for the 1991-1992 season, despite being selected first (third overall) by the Cleveland Crunch
in the first round of the Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL)
draft. He later signed with the Detroit Rockers
at some point during the 1994-1995 NPSL season, playing only ten games with them. In the summer of 1995, Cannon spent one season with the expansion Albany Alleycats
of USISL. That fall, he signed with the Cincinnati Silverbacks
of NPSL.
In February 1996, the Colorado Rapids
of Major League Soccer
selected Cannon in the sixth round (52nd overall) of the Inaugural Player Draft
. Cannon delayed reporting to the Rapids as the Silverbacks went to the NPSL championship series. When he arrived in the Colorado training camp, he reported injured with a bone spur in his ankle. Despite that, he played twenty-one games, starting sixteen, with the Rapids. The Rapids released Cannon at the end of the season and he played for the Richmond Kickers
(USISL) in 1997. In March 1998, the Columbus Crew
picked Cannon in the second round (21st overall) of the 1998 MLS Supplemental Draft
. He spent the 1998 season in Columbus, where the team made it to the finals of the US Open Cup
and the semi-finals of the MLS Cup
. He was waived by the Crew on November 2, 1998. In May 2000, Cannon rejoined the Kickers for the 2000 USL season. He was the USL Defender of the Year and a first team All Star. In 2001, he moved to the USL Charleston Battery
, playing five games before being called back to MLS by the Tampa Bay Mutiny
on May 5. Two days later, the Mutiny signed Cannon for the remainder of the season. Cannon played nine games with the Mutiny, despite being injured for a long stretch of the season. The Mutiny waived Cannon in November 2001.
Defender (football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
who played three seasons in Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
, two in the American Professional Soccer League
American Professional Soccer League
The American Professional Soccer League is a former professional men's soccer league which featured teams from both the United States and Canada. It was the first outdoor soccer league to feature teams from throughout the United States since the demise of the original North American Soccer League...
, three in the National Professional Soccer League and at least four in the USISL and USL
United Soccer League
The United Soccer League was a professional soccer league in the United States in the mid-1980s.After the demise of the second incarnation of the American Soccer League in 1983, four ASL teams founded the USL...
. He was the 1999 USL Defender of the Year and a two time USL All Star.
High school and college
Cannon grew up in Evansville, IndianaEvansville, Indiana
Evansville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Indiana and the largest city in Southern Indiana. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 117,429. It is the county seat of Vanderburgh County and the regional hub for both Southwestern Indiana and the...
, attending Reitz Memorial High School
Reitz Memorial High School
Reitz Memorial High School or Evansville Memorial High School outside of Evansville or simply Memorial High School inside Evansville, is a diocesan interparochial Catholic High school in Evansville, Indiana. It sits on a tract of land off Lincoln Avenue that was donated by Francis Joseph Reitz in...
where he was a 1985 and 1986 NSCAA High School All-American soccer player. He then went on to attend University of Evansville
University of Evansville
The University of Evansville is a small, private university with approximately 3,050 students located in Evansville, Indiana. Founded in 1854 as Moores Hill College, it is located near the interchange of the Lloyd Expressway and U.S. Route 41. It is affiliated with the United Methodist Church...
, playing on the men’s soccer team from 1986 to 1990. In 1990, he was named a first team All-American
Division I First-Team All-American (soccer)
The Division I First-Team All-Americans are the best eleven U.S. college soccer players as selected by the NCAA.-1970–1983:From 1970 to 1983 the NCAA only named defenders and forwards in addition to one goalkeeper.-1983–present:...
and was inducted into the Evansville Athletic Hall of Fame in 2003
Professional
In the spring of 1991, during his final semester of college, Cannon started his professional career with the Albany CapitalsAlbany Capitals
The Albany Capitals joined the third incarnation of the American Soccer League in 1989. The team joined the American Professional Soccer League in 1990 when the ASL merged with the Western Soccer League...
of the American Professional Soccer League
American Professional Soccer League
The American Professional Soccer League is a former professional men's soccer league which featured teams from both the United States and Canada. It was the first outdoor soccer league to feature teams from throughout the United States since the demise of the original North American Soccer League...
(APSL). The Capitals made it to the finals of the APSL but lost in penalty kicks. In the summer of 1991, he also played for the U.S. at the World University Games
1991 Summer Universiade
The 1991 Summer Universiade, also known as the XVI Summer Universiade, took place in Sheffield, England. In the host country it was generally referred to as the World Student Games....
. That fall, he signed with the Harrisburg Heat
Harrisburg Heat
The Harrisburg Heat was a professional indoor soccer team based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The team was part of the National Professional Soccer League, which later became the Major Indoor Soccer League, and has been defunct since 2003. The Harrisburg Heat was first formed during the 1991-92...
of the National Professional Soccer League (NPSL) for the 1991-1992 season, despite being selected first (third overall) by the Cleveland Crunch
Cleveland Crunch
The Cleveland Crunch was formed in 1989 as an expansion team in the Major Soccer League to replace the Cleveland Force, which had folded on July 22, 1988. Akron businessmen George S. Hoffman and Stuart Lichter formed an ownership group, named Al Miller general manager and former Force star Kai...
in the first round of the Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL)
Major Soccer League
The Major Indoor Soccer League, known in its final two seasons as the Major Soccer League, was an indoor soccer league in the USA from 1978 to 1992. After the folding of the North American Soccer League in 1984, the MISL was the Division I soccer league for the United States...
draft. He later signed with the Detroit Rockers
Detroit Rockers
The Detroit Rockers were an indoor soccer team in the National Professional Soccer League from 1990 to 2001. They played in Joe Louis Arena and Cobo Arena in downtown Detroit, Michigan as well as The Palace of Auburn Hills and Compuware Sports Arena in the suburbs...
at some point during the 1994-1995 NPSL season, playing only ten games with them. In the summer of 1995, Cannon spent one season with the expansion Albany Alleycats
Albany Alleycats
The Albany Alleycats was a soccer club in Albany, New York that competed in the United Soccer Leagues from 1995 to 1999. The club became the New York Capital District Alleycats in 1997...
of USISL. That fall, he signed with the Cincinnati Silverbacks
Cincinnati Silverbacks
The Cincinnati Silverbacks was an indoor soccer club based in Cincinnati, Ohio that competed in the National Professional Soccer League. They performed under the leadership of All-Star goalkeeper, Carlos Pena. Other star players included Gino DiFlorio , Franklin McIntosh, and Dennis Brose...
of NPSL.
In February 1996, the Colorado Rapids
Colorado Rapids
The Colorado Rapids are an American professional soccer club based in the Denver suburb of Commerce City, Colorado which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, having competed in the league...
of Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
selected Cannon in the sixth round (52nd overall) of the Inaugural Player Draft
1996 MLS Inaugural Player Draft
The MLS Inaugural Player Draft, held before Major League Soccer's initial 1996 season, distributed players who had already graduated from college to the league's ten inaugural teams. The draft occurred on February 6 and 7, 1996...
. Cannon delayed reporting to the Rapids as the Silverbacks went to the NPSL championship series. When he arrived in the Colorado training camp, he reported injured with a bone spur in his ankle. Despite that, he played twenty-one games, starting sixteen, with the Rapids. The Rapids released Cannon at the end of the season and he played for the Richmond Kickers
Richmond Kickers
The Richmond Kickers are an American professional soccer club based in Richmond, Virginia, United States. Founded in 1993, the team plays in the American Division of the USL Professional Division, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid...
(USISL) in 1997. In March 1998, the Columbus Crew
Columbus Crew
The Columbus Crew is an American professional soccer club based in Columbus, Ohio which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada...
picked Cannon in the second round (21st overall) of the 1998 MLS Supplemental Draft
1998 MLS Supplemental Draft
The three-round 1998 Major League Soccer Supplemental Draft was held on February 1, 1998 at the Airport Hilton in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.-Format:Major League Soccer held a professional player combine in Fort Lauderdale the last week of January 1998. On Saturday, January 31, 1998, the league held...
. He spent the 1998 season in Columbus, where the team made it to the finals of the US Open Cup
Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is a knockout tournament in American soccer. The tournament is the oldest ongoing American soccer competition and is presently open to all United States Soccer Federation affiliated teams, from amateur adult club teams to the professional clubs of Major League...
and the semi-finals of the MLS Cup
MLS Cup
The MLS Cup is the championship match of Major League Soccer, the highest tier of professional soccer in the United States and Canada. As the final match of the MLS Cup playoffs, the winner is crowned the season champion in the same manner as other North American sports leagues...
. He was waived by the Crew on November 2, 1998. In May 2000, Cannon rejoined the Kickers for the 2000 USL season. He was the USL Defender of the Year and a first team All Star. In 2001, he moved to the USL Charleston Battery
Charleston Battery
Charleston Battery is an American professional soccer team based in Charleston, South Carolina, United States. Founded in 1993, the team plays in the American Division of the new USL Professional Division, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid....
, playing five games before being called back to MLS by the Tampa Bay Mutiny
Tampa Bay Mutiny
The Tampa Bay Mutiny was a charter franchise of Major League Soccer active from 1996 - 2001. They initially played in Tampa Stadium and were immediately successful, winning the first MLS Supporters' Shield behind MLS MVP Carlos Valderrama and high-scoring forward Roy Lassiter, whose 27 goals in...
on May 5. Two days later, the Mutiny signed Cannon for the remainder of the season. Cannon played nine games with the Mutiny, despite being injured for a long stretch of the season. The Mutiny waived Cannon in November 2001.