UConn Picked to Win Division

Huskies Top Big East Coaches' Preseason Poll

August 14, 2008

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The University of Connecticut and the University of South Florida have been chosen to capture the 2008 BIG EAST men’s soccer regular-season divisional titles.

For the fourth straight year, the Huskies were picked to claim the Blue Division title, and for the second time in three years, USF was voted atop the Red Division. The votes were cast by the league’s 16 head coaches, who were not permitted to vote for their own teams.

Connecticut earned 14 first-place votes and 112 total points in the 2008 preseason poll. In 2007, the Huskies compiled a record of 20-3-1 overall, and tied Notre Dame for first place with 25 points and an 8-2-1 BIG EAST mark. UConn captured the 2007 BIG EAST Championship title after securing the No. 1 seed in the tournament by virtue of the regular-season tie-breaking policies. Connecticut went on to advance to its 11th consecutive NCAA Championship, earning the No. 3 seed. The Huskies advanced to the national quarterfinals before losing to Virginia Tech 1-0.

Leading Connecticut will be BIG EAST Preseason Offensive Player of the Year O’Brian White. The 2007 M.A.C. Hermann Trophy winner, White led the nation in points (2.21) and goals (0.96) per game. In conference action, the senior forward scored eight goals and three assists for a league-leading 19 points. White was the only member on the 2008 All-BIG EAST Preseason Team to be a unanimous selection. Joining White on the preseason team are senior midfielder Akeem Priestley and junior midfielder Toni Stahl. Priestley was a 2007 All-BIG EAST Second Team member, while Stahl earned first team accolades.

Providence was picked third in the Blue Division preseason poll with 70 total points. The Friars completed 2007 with a 9-8-2 record and a fourth-place finish in the league standings, holding a 5-4-2 mark. PC received its school-record third consecutive NCAA Championship berth, but fell at Old Dominion 1-0 in a first-round game. Leading the way for the Friars is All-BIG EAST Preseason Team selection senior Ryan Maduro. The midfielder returns for his fifth year after the leading the team in scoring a year ago with 16 points on five goals and six assists.

Also named to the All-BIG EAST Preseason Team is junior forward Hansen Woodruff of Syracuse. Woodruff was an All-BIG EAST Second Team selection in 2007 and the team leader in points with 24, including 10 goals and four assists.

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
Connecticut (14)
Notre Dame (2)
Providence
West Virginia
Seton Hall
Georgetown
Marquette
Pittsburgh

Red Division
USF (7)
Louisville (4)
St. John’s (3)
DePaul (2)
Rutgers
Cincinnati
Villanova
Syracuse