A three-time all-Pac-10 Conference selection, Cardenas tallied a career-high four assists while leading the team in minutes played (1,646) last season.

July 3, 2009

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SAN DIEGO -- San Diego State's Nick Cardenas (Thornton, Colo./Horizon HS) has been named a preseason All-American by College Soccer News. A senior, Cardenas was picked as a third-team selection by the website after being a third-team member in 2007 as well.

A defender, Cardenas has anchored a backline which has posted 18 shutouts over his three-year career. Last season, Cardenas tallied a career-high four assists while leading the team in minutes played (1,646).

A member of the 2008 preseason M.A.C. Hermann Award Watch List, Cardenas became the first Aztec to be named to three straight NSCAA/adidas all-Far West teams since Kyle Whittemore (1985-88) when he was picked as a second-team selection in December. He also garnered all-Pac-10 Conference accolades for the third consecutive year.

A 2006 U.S. U-20 National Team Camp call-up, Cardenas has twice been named a national player of the week (Sept. 17, 2007 by Top Drawer Soccer and Nov. 1, 2006 by NSCAA/adidas). In 2006, Cardenas was picked as the Pac-10 Freshman of the Year, as well as a College Soccer News All-Freshman and a Top Drawer Soccer All-Rookie first-team selection.

SDSU returns eight of its 11 starters and 97 percent of the program's scoring from a year ago, while bringing in a recruiting class that features an under-17, 18 and 20 U.S. national team starter, numerous high school All-Americans, another adidas ESP participant, multiple starters on regional ODP teams, a nationally-ranked goalkeeper and one of the top defenders from the state of Texas. The Aztecs' 18-match schedule, which includes four former national champions and seven games against 2008 NCAA tournament teams, begins Sept. 1 at home against Loyola Marymount (4 p.m. PT).