Men's Soccer Picked Fifth in BIG EAST Preseason Poll

PROVIDENCE, R.I. The Seton Hall men’s soccer team was picked fifth in the Blue Division in the BIG EAST Men’s Soccer Preseason Coaches’ Poll, released today by the conference office.  Defending league champion Connecticut earned 14 first-place votes and the top spot in the poll, while USF earned seven first-place votes as the team to beat in the Red Division.

The Pirates, who finished the 2007 season in sixth place, earned 61 points to claim the fifth position.  Notre Dame came in second with 99 points and two first-place votes, while Providence was third with 70 points and West Virginia fourth with 66.  Georgetown came in sixth with 59 points, followed by Marquette with 26 and Pittsburgh with 19.

Connecticut’s O’Brian White, the 2007 M.A.C. Hermann Trophy winner, was named the BIG EAST Preseason Offensive Player of the Year.  The senior forward led the nation in points (2.21) and goals (0.96) per game in 2007.

Yohance Marshall of USF earned the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year Award.  A senior defender, he guided a Bulls’ defense that allowed just 1.00 goals per game in 2007.

DePaul’s Brian Visser was voted the Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year after earning the equivalent honor in last season’s postseason awards.

2008 BIG EAST Men’s Soccer Preseason Awards & Coaches’ Poll

BIG EAST Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
O’Brian White, Connecticut, Sr., F

BIG EAST Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Yohance Marshall, USF, Sr., D

BIG EAST Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year
Brian Visser, DePaul, Sr., GK

All-BIG EAST Preseason Team
Matt Besler, Notre Dame, Sr., D
Ryan Maduro, Providence, Sr., MF
Yohance Marshall, USF, Sr., D
Kevon Neaves, USF, Sr., MF
Akeem Priestley, Connecticut, Sr., MF
Jordan Seabrook, USF, Sr., F
Ryan Soroka, St. John’s, Jr., F
Toni Stahl, Connecticut, Jr., MF
Brian Visser, DePaul, Sr., GK
*O’Brian White, Connecticut, Sr., F
Hansen Woodruff, Syracuse, Jr., F
* - unanimous selection

BIG EAST Men's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll

Blue Division	Points	BIG EAST Record	Overall Record	BIG EAST Finish
Connecticut (4)	112	8-2-1	20-3-1	T1st
Notre Dame (2)	99	7-0-4	14-5-5	T1st
Providence	70	5-4-2	9-8-2	4th
West Virginia	66	7-3-1	14-6-2	3rd
Seton Hall	61	3-8-0	7-11-1	6th
Georgetown	59	5-5-1	7-11-1	5th
Marquette	26	1-9-1	3-12-4	T7th
Pittsburgh	19	1-9-1	3-13-2	T7th

Red Division	Points	BIG EAST Record	Overall Record	BIG EAST Finish
USF (7)	99	6-4-1	14-6-2	4th
Louisville (4)	97	6-3-2	11-7-4	T2nd
St. John's (3)	92	6-3-2	9-7-5	T2nd
DePaul (2)	63	7-4-0	12-8-0	1st
Rutgers	56	4-7-0	7-11-1	7th
Cincinnati	44	5-5-1	9-10-1	T5th
Villanova	34	5-5-1	10-9-1	T5th
Syracuse	27	3-8-2	6-8-4	8th

(-) - Indicated first-place votes

Scoreboard

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