Cameron Knowles (2016) - Hall of Fame - University of Akron Athletics

Cameron Knowles

Induction:
2016
Class:
2005

2001-04
Defender

A four-year starter and four-time All-Mid-American Conference selection, Cameron Knowles proved to be one of UA’s and the MAC’s top defenders during his four seasons (2001-04). A native of Auckland, New Zealand, Knowles was a member of his country’s Under-17 World Cup team and then its Under-19 team, as well, before helping lead Akron to three MAC titles in 2002-04 and four consecutive NCAA tournament appearances.

Knowles made an immediate impact as a freshman starting in 14 of the 15 games under the guidance of head coach Ken Lolla. As the Zips were compiling a 10-6-1 regular-season record and finishing second in the MAC, Knowles earned a spot on the College Soccer News All-Freshman team, as well as second-team All-MAC honors and the team’s Newcomer of the Year.

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In 2002, Knowles again earned second-team All-MAC honors when he was part of a defense that helped secure four shutouts during the team’s 10-7-2 season in which UA captured its first MAC tournament title since 1998. With it came another NCAA Tournament berth. Knowles finally scored his first career goal in the 4-1 victory over Bowling Green in the MAC Championship game. He also made the MAC Academic Honor Roll.

In 2003, Knowles’ play was part of a defense that allowed only 13 goals and finished fourth in the nation in goals-against-average and fourth in shutout percentage. A starter in all 21 games, he contributed with three goals and two assists in addition to his defensive prowess. UA captured both the MAC regular-season title and MAC Tournament Championship. Knowles’ effort earned him MAC All-Tournament honors. The international business major was named to the 11-member All-MAC Academic team.

Akron then became the first MAC team to earn a seeding in the NCAA Tournament to earn a bye into the second round. The Zips hosted and defeated Rutgers, 3-2, thanks partly to Knowles who headed UA’s second goal off a free kick. More honors followed Knowles at the season’s end when he was selected first-team on the All-MAC, the All-Ohio, and the All-Great Lakes teams.

Voted captain his senior year, Knowles anchored an Akron defense that allowed only three goals in league play and recorded 13 shutouts in 2004 as the Zips compiled a 13-4-3 record that included winning the MAC Tournament title. Knowles started in 73 of 75 games during his career at Akron. He was selected to the All-MAC Tournament, became a two-time All-MAC and All-Great Lakes first-team selection, and was named to the All-MAC Academic team.

Selected by Real Salt Lake of Major League Soccer (MLS) in the fourth round of the 2005 MLS Supplemental Draft, Knowles became the first Akron Zip to be drafted by a MLS team and the first Zip to play in MLS. He made his professional debut in June 2007 against the Los Angeles Galaxy. Knowles played two seasons in MLS before joining the Portland Timbers where he was a three-time USL First Division All-League selection and played a key role in the Timbers’ USL First Division record-setting, 24-game unbeaten streak in 2009. Knowles moved into an assistant coaching role for the Timbers, working on the coaching staff that won the 2015 MLS Cup title.