Kruse Listed As BIG EAST Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year, Men's Soccer Picked Second
8/21/2019 1:00:00 PM | Men's Soccer
Sophomore Paul Kruse led the BIG EAST and ranked 10th nationally with a 0.636 goals against average in 2018
Kruse allowed a conference-low six goals and posted four shutouts against league opponents last season, on his way to an All-BIG EAST Second Team selection and unanimous selection to the All-Freshman team. The Heilbronn, Germany native started all 18 of Creighton's matches last season and ranked 10th nationally with a 0.636 goals against average, the fifth-best mark in program history. The sophomore is also Creighton's lone representative on the Preseason All-BIG EAST team.Â
Kruse is the first Bluejay to earn a preseason conference player of the year honor since Connor Sparrow claimed BIG EAST Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year selection prior to the 2015 season.Â
The Bluejays were picked second behind Georgetown, the defending BIG EAST tournament champions, in the 2019 BIG EAST Preseason Coaches' Poll. The Hoyas received 81 points, with all nine possible first-place votes, while Creighton earned 68 points. Providence claimed 65 points for third, followed by Marquette (59, one first-place vote) and Xavier (44) to round out the top five.
Creighton claimed the 2018 regular-season title, its second regular-season crown in the past five years.Â
The 2019 season marks head coach Johnny Torres' first at the helm of the Bluejays after spending 12 years as a Creighton assistant coach. The Bluejays compiled a .719 winning percentage during the previous 12 seasons (163-54-31), including two trips to the College Cup (2011, 2012). Torres earned NSCAA National Assistant Coach of the Year acclaim in 2011. The Creighton Athletics Hall of Famer also earned National Player of the Year honors in 1996 and 1997 as a Bluejay.Â
Creighton returns seven starters from last season's squad and added 11 players for the new campaign.Â
The Bluejays open their home schedule tonight with an exhibition match against Missouri State. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Creighton's regular season begins with a trip to the east coast to play ACC foes North Carolina (Aug. 30, 6:30 p.m.) and Wake Forest (Sept. 1, 6 p.m.).
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2019 BIG EAST Men's Soccer Preseason Honors
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Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
Derek Dodson, Georgetown, Jr., F
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Dylan Nealis, Georgetown, Sr., D
Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year
Paul Kruse, Creighton, So., GK
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2019 Men's Soccer Preseason All-BIG EAST #
^ Derek Dodson, Georgetown, Jr., F
Achara, Georgetown, Sr., F
C.J. Tibbling, Seton Hall, So., F
Samson Sergi, Xavier, RS-Sr., F
Luka Prpa, Marquette, Sr., M
Skage Simonsen, St. John's, So., M
Tiago Mendonca, Providence, Sr., M
Jared Timmer, Butler, Sr., M
^ Dylan Nealis, Georgetown, Sr., D
Patrick Seagrist, Marquette, Sr., D
Max de Bruijne, DePaul, Sr., D
Paul Kruse, Creighton, So., GK
2019 BIG EAST Men's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll
First place votes in ( )
1. Georgetown (9), 81 pts
2. Creighton, 68
3. Providence, 65
4. Marquette (1), 59
5. Xavier, 44
6. Butler, 40
7. St. John's, 33
8. Seton Hall, 28
9. DePaul, 21
10. Villanova, 11Â Â Â
^ - denotes unanimous selection
# there is an extra player on the preseason All-BIG EAST team due to a tie in voting
