Big East Women's Poll

UConn Represented with Two Big East First-Teamers

August 14, 2008

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – UConn Senior goalkeeper Stephanie Labbe and senior forward Liz Eng were picked to the Big East All-Preseason Team.

Labbe was also selected as the Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year. As one of three BIG EAST teams to advance to the Elite Eight (quarterfinals) of the 2007 NCAA Championship, the Huskies (14-6-2, 8-2-1 BIG EAST) finished the year ranked No. 9 in the NSCAA/adidas Poll following three positive results away from home. Returning senior Liz Eng saw action in all 22 matches last season and was named to the All-BIG EAST Preseason Team. UConn, which earned seven first-place votes in the preseason polls, has been to every NCAA Women’s Soccer Championship since the tournament’s inception in 1982.

Providence, meanwhile, was picked to finish sixth in the American division.

Notre Dame and West Virginia were tabbed as favorites in the 2008 BIG EAST preseason women’s soccer poll. Both programs have won their respective division titles the last three years. The votes were cast by the league’s 16 head coaches, who were not permitted to vote for their own teams.

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

American
1. West Virginia (9)
2. Connecticut (7)
3. Marquette
4. St. John’s
5. USF
6. Providence
6. Syracuse
8. Pittsburgh

National
1. Notre Dame (15)
2. Louisville (1)
3. Georgetown
4. Rutgers
5. Villanova
6. Seton Hall
7. Cincinnati
8. DePaul