The Saint Louis University men’s soccer team has seen its share
of great players: Players who step up and are willing to lead the
team by setting a good example on and off the field. Senior
defensive back Nick Gannon fills the role of leader, helping the
younger players on and off the field.

“I try to bring a good attitude to each practice and to keep
focused, and with a lot of younger players, I try to keep them out
of trouble,” said Gannon.

Gannon is playing his fourth season as a Billiken and has had
some good memories throughout the years. His favorite memory at SLU
so far was a couple of years ago on senior night.

“It was Bobby O’Connell’s first game to start in after playing
for four years. While he was in, he scored his first goal of his
career. The crowd went wild, everyone was cheering so loud and
Bobby was so excited. Bobby was a walk-on and he didn’t get to play
a lot. And he was one of the greatest, he really deserved that,”
Gannon said.

The Bills played their last home game Sunday and for Gannon it
was a memorable experience. “It felt weird because it seems like it
wasn’t long ago that we just started playing here. Wickart scored
his first goal of the season and my mom was able to come to the
game,” Gannon said. Since he is from Texas, having his mom at his
last home game was a treat.

Gannon thinks this season’s team has improved over the course of
the year. “We won some really big games in the beginning, but after
that we weren’t bringing as high intensity as we needed to win
every game, and we lost a few,” Gannon said. “However, we have
regained the intensity and are looking forward to the
tournament.”

The Bills play their last regular season game this Sunday, and
after that the conference tournament begins. Gannon isn’t looking
too far ahead though.

“I am not focused on this being our last regular season game.
For me, every game is a big game and that is how I like to look at
it, just take one game at a time,” Gannon said.

His goals for the rest of the season are to give 110 percent and
win the league championship.

Gannon is already thinking of what he will miss when his final
season at SLU is over. “Home games are always fun, with the fans
getting so involved with the games. I will also miss playing with
Kevin [Wickart] and Andy[Pusateri]. You become really close with
the guys on the team, especially the seniors,” Gannon said.

Gannon won the award for C-USA Defensive Player of the Week,
ending Oct. 12, and in true leadership form said, “I feel like the
whole defense deserved the award more than me.”

He was also selected first-team preseason All-Conference by
C-USA coaches. Last year he was named C-USA first-team
All-Conference.