PROVIDENCE, R.I. The Seton Hall women’s soccer team was picked to finish sixth in the National Division in the BIG EAST Women’s Soccer Preseason Coaches Poll released by the conference office. Defending champions West Virginia finished first in the American Division with 114 points, while runner-up Notre Dame received 120 points to earn first place in the National Division.
Despite being chosen sixth, one place shy of competing in the conference tournament, the Pirates, who finished sixth in 2007, return three of their top five players from a year ago including All-BIG EAST Third Team Defender Megan Mills (Sykesville, Md.) and Anne Anders (Berlin, Germany). Together the duo combined to hold opponents to a program record 0.80 goals against average. Nicki Gross (Emerson, N.J.) also returns after finishing her freshman campaign with four goals and nine points.
Notre Dame’s senior midfielder Brittany Brock was named BIG EAST Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, while Villanova’s junior defender Kelly Eagan was named BIG EAST Defender of the Year. Stephanie Labbe, a senior from Cincinnati, was named BIG EAST Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year.
2008 BIG EAST PRESEASON AWARD WINNERS
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
Brittany Bock, Sr., M/F, Notre Dame
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Kelly Eagan, Jr., D, Villanova
Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year
Stephanie Labbe, Sr., Connecticut
2008 ALL-BIG EAST PRESEASON TEAM^
Greer Barnes, Sr., M, West Virginia
Carolyn Blank, Jr., M, West Virginia
*Brittany Bock, Sr., M/F, Notre Dame
Amanda Cicchini, Sr., M, West Virginia
Gina DeMaio, Jr., M, Rutgers
Kelly Eagan, Jr., D, Villanova
Elizabeth Eng, Sr., F, Connecticut
Deana Everrett, Sr., F, West Virginia
Sara Jordan, Sr., M, Georgetown
*Kerri Hanks, Sr., F, Notre Dame
Katie Kelly, Sr., D, Marquette
Stephanie Labbe, Sr., GK, Connecticut
Shannon Smyth, Sr., F, Louisville
2008 BIG EAST WOMEN’S SOCCER POLL PRESEASON COACHES’ POLL
2007 2007 BIG EAST Finish
American Points Overall BIG EAST Regular Season
1. West Virginia (9) 114 18-5-2 9-1-1 1st
2. Connecticut (7) 111 14-6-2 8-2-1 2nd
3. Marquette 90 12-4-4 5-3-3 3rd
4. St. John’s 77 11-5-3 6-5-0 4th
5. USF 65 4-10-3 3-6-2 5th
6. Providence 38 3-14-1 2-9-0 7th
6. Syracuse 38 7-8-4 3-6-2 6th
8. Pittsburgh 35 6-10-2 1-8-2 8th
2007 2007 BIG EAST Finish
National Points Overall BIG EAST Regular Season
1. Notre Dame (15) 120 19-5-2 11-0-0 1st
2. Louisville (1) 96 13-6-2 7-3-1 2nd
3. Georgetown 87 14-8-0 6-5-0 3rd
4. Rutgers 86 9-9-3 4-5-2 5th
5. Villanova 69 11-4-6 4-3-4 4th
6. Seton Hall 48 8-8-2 4-6-1 6th
7. Cincinnati 36 6-10-2 3-7-1 7th
8. DePaul 26 5-13-1 2-9-0 8th
