Women’s Soccer Picked to Finish Seventh; Manriki Earns All-BIG EAST Preseason Honors
8/13/2024 10:05:00 AM | Women's Soccer
OMAHA, Neb. – Creighton women's soccer senior Azumi Manriki earned a spot on the 2024 Preseason All-BIG EAST team, while the Bluejays were picked to finish seventh in the BIG EAST Preseason Coaches' Poll, the league announced on Tuesday, Aug. 13.
Manriki, a midfielder from Hiroshima, Japan, was a Second Team All-BIG EAST selection last fall after pacing the Bluejays and ranking sixth in the BIG EAST with 46 total shots. She contributed two goals and dished out an assist while logging 1,570 minutes of action over 18 contests. Manriki is one of just five players returning to the squad this season after starting at least nine matches during the 2023 season.
The Bluejays earned 44 points in the preseason coaches' poll to place seventh overall. The Jays' went just 2-7-1 during BIG EAST play last season, but with five returning starters boasting a wealth of experience and 15 total returning letterwinners, first-year head coach Jimmy Walker has the tools to lead the Bluejay back to the postseason.
Defending BIG EAST regular-season and tournament champion Georgetown claimed the top spot with 100 points, including the maximum 10 first-place votes. UConn tallied one first-place vote and a total of 91 points to place second, while Xavier beating out Butler (70) by two points for third with 72 points. Providence (66) and St. John's (57) closed out the top six, while Seton Hall (43), Marquette (22), Villanova (22) and DePaul (19) rounded out the bottom half of the poll.
Creighton opens the 2024 season and the Jimmy Walker era on Thursday, August 18 at 7 p.m. in the Twin Cities against Minnesota. The Bluejays open the home portion of their schedule on Aug. 29 at 4 p.m. against Western Michigan. Creighton is scheduled to host eight regular season home matches, including five during BIG EAST play.
BIG EAST Preseason Women's Soccer Coaches' Poll
(first-place votes)
1. Georgetown 100 (10)
2. UConn 91 (1)
3. Xavier 72
4. Butler 70
5. Providence 66
6. St. John's 57
7. Creighton. 44
8. Seton Hall. 43
9. Marquette 22
10. Villanova 22
11. DePaul 19
Preseason BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year
Natalie Tavana, Seton Hall, Sr., F
Preseason BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year
Natalie Bain, Xavier, Jr., D
Preseason BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year
Kaitlyn Mahoney, UConn, Gr., GK
Preseason All-BIG EAST Team
Abigail Isger, Butler, Gr., F
Caitlin O'Malley, Butler, Gr., D
Talia Sommer, Butler, Jr., M/F
Azumi Manriki, Creighton, Sr., M
Natalie Means, Georgetown, Jr., F
Eliza Turner, Georgetown, Sr., M
Kayla Briggs, Providence, So., F
Natalie Tavana, Seton Hall, Sr., F
Lucy Cappadona, UConn, Gr., D
Kaitlyn Mahoney, UConn, Gr., GK
Chioma Okafor, UConn, Jr., F
Natalie Bain, Xavier, Jr., D
Maria Galley, Xavier, Jr., GK
Manriki, a midfielder from Hiroshima, Japan, was a Second Team All-BIG EAST selection last fall after pacing the Bluejays and ranking sixth in the BIG EAST with 46 total shots. She contributed two goals and dished out an assist while logging 1,570 minutes of action over 18 contests. Manriki is one of just five players returning to the squad this season after starting at least nine matches during the 2023 season.
The Bluejays earned 44 points in the preseason coaches' poll to place seventh overall. The Jays' went just 2-7-1 during BIG EAST play last season, but with five returning starters boasting a wealth of experience and 15 total returning letterwinners, first-year head coach Jimmy Walker has the tools to lead the Bluejay back to the postseason.
Defending BIG EAST regular-season and tournament champion Georgetown claimed the top spot with 100 points, including the maximum 10 first-place votes. UConn tallied one first-place vote and a total of 91 points to place second, while Xavier beating out Butler (70) by two points for third with 72 points. Providence (66) and St. John's (57) closed out the top six, while Seton Hall (43), Marquette (22), Villanova (22) and DePaul (19) rounded out the bottom half of the poll.
Creighton opens the 2024 season and the Jimmy Walker era on Thursday, August 18 at 7 p.m. in the Twin Cities against Minnesota. The Bluejays open the home portion of their schedule on Aug. 29 at 4 p.m. against Western Michigan. Creighton is scheduled to host eight regular season home matches, including five during BIG EAST play.
BIG EAST Preseason Women's Soccer Coaches' Poll
(first-place votes)
1. Georgetown 100 (10)
2. UConn 91 (1)
3. Xavier 72
4. Butler 70
5. Providence 66
6. St. John's 57
7. Creighton. 44
8. Seton Hall. 43
9. Marquette 22
10. Villanova 22
11. DePaul 19
Preseason BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year
Natalie Tavana, Seton Hall, Sr., F
Preseason BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year
Natalie Bain, Xavier, Jr., D
Preseason BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year
Kaitlyn Mahoney, UConn, Gr., GK
Preseason All-BIG EAST Team
Abigail Isger, Butler, Gr., F
Caitlin O'Malley, Butler, Gr., D
Talia Sommer, Butler, Jr., M/F
Azumi Manriki, Creighton, Sr., M
Natalie Means, Georgetown, Jr., F
Eliza Turner, Georgetown, Sr., M
Kayla Briggs, Providence, So., F
Natalie Tavana, Seton Hall, Sr., F
Lucy Cappadona, UConn, Gr., D
Kaitlyn Mahoney, UConn, Gr., GK
Chioma Okafor, UConn, Jr., F
Natalie Bain, Xavier, Jr., D
Maria Galley, Xavier, Jr., GK
Players Mentioned
M
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