McGuire Claims BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year as Seven Bluejays Earn Postseason Honors

New York, N.Y. -- Junior Duncan McGuire earned the BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year, highlighting seven members of the Creighton Men's Soccer squad to be honored as the BIG EAST Conference Awards were announced on Wednesday, November 9.

Joining McGuire on the All-BIG EAST First Team were senior midfielder Charles Auguste and sophomore defender Owen O'Malley. Sophomore Jackson Castro earned All-BIG EAST Second Team honors, while Paul Kruse, Giorgio Probo and Callum Watson collected All-BIG EAST Third Team.

McGuire enters the BIG EAST Semifinals as the conference leader in goals (14), points (30), goals per game (0.82) and points per game (1.76). In the opening weekend of the season McGuire won National Player of the Week honors from the United Soccer Coaches Association after posting a national-best 11 points on five goals and an assist in Creighton's first two matches of the season against Oakland and Rutgers. The 2020 BIG EAST Second Team selection became the 14^th Bluejay to record a hat trick after finding the back of the net three times in the season-opening 6-0 win over Oakland.

This marks the third consecutive year one of Johnny Torres' forwards has been elected BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year after Diego Gutierrez won the title in back-to-back seasons in 2020 and 2021. A Bluejay has now collected BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year seven times since Creighton joined the conference prior to the 2013 season.

O'Malley collected 19 points on seven goals and five assists during the regular season, good for most by a defender in the BIG EAST. The North Carolina native earned BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week on Sep. 19 after notching another three points with a goal and assist in a 6-1 victory against cross-town rival Omaha.

A Third Team selection last season and an All-BIG EAST Second Teamer in 2020, Auguste proved himself as one of the BIG EAST's best midfielders in 2022. Auguste was named BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week on Oct. 31 after contributing to a shutout of DePaul that saw the Blue Demons tally just four shots, none of which on target.

Sophomore midfielder Jackson Castro was the lone Bluejay elected to the BIG EAST Second Team on Wednesday. Castro was a key piece in Creighton's midfield that helped the Bluejays to another BIG EAST Tournament, placing third in the conference and second on the team in goals (8), assists (6), and points (22).

Castro was the only Bluejay to claim multiple conference player of the week honors in 2022, earning BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Week on Sept. 12 and Oct. 31. The Texas native deserved his first honor after scoring 37 seconds into the Sept. 5 matchup with San Diego State and knocking in a critical equalizer against No. 2 Stanford on Sep. 9. Castro warranted his second honor after tallying a goal and assist on Oct. 29 in a 3-0 shutout of DePaul.

In his fifth season between the sticks for the Bluejays Kruse has made 50 saves and holds a 1.56 GAA. Kruse tied a career-high with nine saves in a narrow loss to Georgetown.

A second-team selection in 2020 and 2021, Watson claimed his third All-BIG EAST honor in as many years with Creighton. The Englishman started 15 regular season games in the midfield, scoring a career-high three times and dishing out three assists as well.

In his first season with the Bluejays, Probo started all of Creighton's 17 contests, delivering a team-leading nine assists while also scoring three times. The 2021 JUCO DI Player of the Year had a five-point performance with a goal and hat trick of assists in the 6-1 win over Rutgers. The Italian notched two-assists performances in wins over Omaha and DePaul.

McGuire Claims BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year as Seven Bluejays Earn Postseason Honors

Players Mentioned

Charles Auguste

Jackson Castro

Diego Gutierrez

Paul Kruse

Duncan McGuire

Owen O'Malley

Callum Watson

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