Women's Soccer Picked Seventh In BIG EAST Preseason Poll
8/11/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. - The Seton Hall women's soccer team was picked to finish seventh in the National Division of the BIG EAST Women's Soccer Preseason Coaches Poll released by the conference office. Defending conference champions and NCAA finalist Notre Dame finished first in the National Division with 120 points, while conference championship runner-up West Virginia received 118 points to earn first place in the American Division.
Despite being chosen seventh, two places shy of competing in the conference tournament, the Pirates, return 10 starters from a year ago including All-BIG EAST Third Team Defender Megan Mills (Sykesville, Md.), scoring leader and senior co-captain Katie Andreski (Wilkesboro, N.C.), and junior co-captain Nicki Gross (Emerson, N.J.) who is coming off her second consecutive year second on the team in goals and points.
Notre Dame's sophomore forward Melissa Henderson was named BIG EAST Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, while Connecticut's fifth year senior defender Brittany Taylor was named BIG EAST Defender of the Year. Erin Guthrie, a senior from Rutgers, was named BIG EAST Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year.
2009 BIG EAST PRESEASON AWARD WINNERS
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
Melissa Henderson, So., F, Notre Dame
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Brittany Taylor, R-Sr., D/F/M, Connecticut
Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year
Erin Guthrie, Sr., Rutgers
2009 ALL-BIG EAST PRESEASON TEAM^
Courtney Barg, So., F/M, Notre Dame
*Carolyn Blank, Sr., M, West Virginia
*Gina DeMaio, Sr., M, Rutgers
Kelly Eagan, Sr., D, Villanova
Lauren Fowlkes, Jr., D/M, Notre Dame
Erin Guthrie, Sr., GK, Rutgers
*Melissa Henderson, So., F, Notre Dame
Megan Mischler, Jr., F, West Virginia
Kacey Richards, Jr., M, Connecticut
Courtney Rosen, Sr., F/M, Notre Dame
Brittany Taylor, R-Sr., D/F/M, Connecticut
*Ingrid Wells, R-So., M, Georgetown
Annie Yi, Sr., M, Connecticut
* - unanimous selection
^ - Due to a tie in voting, two extra members have been added to the BIG EAST Preseason All-Conference Team
2009 BIG EAST WOMEN'S SOCCER PRESEASON POLL
| | | 2008 | 2008 | BIG EAST |
| American | Points | Overall | BIG EAST | Regular Season Finish |
| West Virginia (13) | 118 | 14-3-6 | 7-1-3 | 1st |
| Connecticut (3) | 104 | 7-9-6 | 4-3-4 | 3rd |
| Marquette | 95 | 11-8-3 | 6-3-2 | 2nd |
| St. John's | 74 | 8-6-5 | 4-4-3 | 4th |
| USF | 57 | 7-8-3 | 3-7-1 | 6th |
| Pittsburgh | 49 | 7-12-1 | 4-6-1 | 5th |
| Syracuse | 46 | 5-11-2 | 2-8-1 | 7th |
| Providence | 24 | 6-8-3 | 1-7-3 | 8th |
| | | | | |
| | | 2008 | 2008 | BIG EAST |
| National | Points | Overall | BIG EAST | Regular Season Finish |
| Notre Dame (15) | 120 | 26-1-0 | 11-0-0 | 1st |
| Rutgers (1) | 101 | 13-7-2 | 7-3-1 | 3rd |
| Georgetown | 91 | 13-4-2 | 8-3-0 | 2nd |
| Louisville | 79 | 9-7-3 | 6-3-2 | 4th |
| Villanova | 62 | 11-7-1 | 4-6-1 | 6th |
| Cincinnati | 56 | 10-7-3 | 5-3-3 | 5th |
| Seton Hall | 36 | 5-11-2 | 1-9-1 | 8th |
| DePaul | 23 | 4-15-0 | 2-9-0 | 7th |
