Men's Soccer Picked to Repeat, Sparrow Named Preseason Goalkeeper
8/18/2015 10:40:00 AM | Men's Soccer
New York, N.Y. - Entering the season ranked sixth nationally, the Creighton men's soccer team was picked to defend its BIG EAST crown in the preseason coaches poll on Tuesday, Aug. 18.
The Bluejays and Georgetown enter the 2015 season as co-favorites, both earning five first-place votes as well as 77 overall votes. Creighton won the regular season title last season with a 7-1-1 mark in BIG EAST player and a 16-3-3 record overall.
Moving down the preseason poll Providence was a clear third place selection with 65 points, while Xavier (55) and Marquette (50) followed. Just three points separated St. John's (36) from Butler (33), with Villanova (29), Seton Hall (19) and DePaul (9) closing the poll out.
Highlighting the individual honors for Creighton was senior Connor Sparrow's selection as the Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year. Sparrow started all 22 contests and played all but five minutes in goal for the Bluejays last season, leading the team to the nation's best winning percentage at 16-3-3 (.795). He was second nationally with a 0.49 goals against average and his 11 shutouts placed him eighth in the NCAA with a 0.55 shutout percentage.
Senior Timo Pitter and junior Fabian Herbers also earned spots on the Preseason All-BIG EAST team. Both Pitter and Herbers were named to the MAC (Missouri Athletic Club) Herman Watch list earlier this month.
Herbers, the defending BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year, was a NSCAA All-America First Team selection last season. He led the BIG EAST with 28 points (10 goals and eight assists) and ranked 13th nationally.
Pitter, the defending BIG EAST Midfielder of the Year, earned NSCAA All-America Second Team last season. Pitter opens his senior campaign with 23 goals and 17 assists (63 combined points), including six goals and nine assists last year.2015 Preseason Men's Soccer All-BIG EAST Team and Awards
Preseason Coaches' Poll
First place votes in ( )
1. Creighton – 77 pts. (5 first place votes)
Georgetown – 77 pts. (5)
3. Providence – 65 pts.
4. Xavier – 55 pts.
5. Marquette – 50 pts.
6. St. John's – 36 pts.
7. Butler – 33 pts.
8. Villanova – 29 pts.
9. Seton Hall – 19 pts.
10. DePaul – 9 pts.
^ - denotes unanimous selection
* - due to a tie in voting the preseason All-BIG EAST
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year – Brandon Allen, Georgetown, Sr., F
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year – Joshua Yaro, Georgetown, Jr., D ^
Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year – Connor Sparrow, Creighton, Sr.
Preseason All-BIG EAST *
^ Brandon Allen, Georgetown, Sr., F
Mac Steeves, Providence, Jr., F
C. Nortey, Marquette, Marquette, RS-Sr., F
David Goldsmith, Butler, Jr., F
Fabian Herbers, Creighton, Jr., M/F
^ Timo Pitter, Creighton, Sr., M
Louis Bennett II, Marquette, Jr., M
Julian Gressel, Providence, Jr., M
Keegan Rosenberry, Georgetown, Sr., M/D
^ Joshua Yaro, Georgetown, Jr., D
Cory Brown, Xavier, So., D
Connor Sparrow, Creighton, Sr., GK
