Jackson Castro Named To Preseason All-BIG EAST Team, Men’s Soccer Picked To Finish Third in Midwest Division
8/19/2024 11:22:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Omaha, Neb. –- Creighton men's soccer senior Jackson Castro claimed a spot on the 2024 Preseason All-BIG EAST team, while the Bluejays were selected to finish third in the Midwest Division of the BIG EAST Preseason Coaches' Poll.
Castro is the only returning player to start all 17 matches for the Bluejays in 2023, where he earned All-BIG EAST First Team honor after leading the Bluejays with six assists while adding a pair of goals. The Plano, Texas native owns 13 career goals and 16 helpers during 56 matches over three seasons as a Bluejay.
Creighton received 50 points and one first-place vote in the 2024 Preseason Coaches' Poll to place third in the Midwest Division, while Akron led the way with 62 votes and seven first-place tallies. Defending BIG EAST Tournament Champion and 2023 Midwest Division Champion Xavier ranked second in the polls with 56 points and four first-place votes.
Following Akron, Xavier and Creighton, Butler checks in at fourth in the Midwest Division with 35 points. Rounding out the rankings, Marquette has been picked fifth with 25 points, while DePaul ranks sixth with 18 points.
Georgetown, the 2023 BIG EAST championship runner-up and East Division champion, topped the East Division preseason poll with 66 points and all 11 possible first-place votes. Providence followed suit with 55 points and the remaining first-place vote, while St. John's followed with 42 points to finish third. Connecticut followed with 38 tallies with Seton Hall (28) and Villanova (17) rounding out the bottom half.
The Bluejays open regular-season play on Aug. 22 at home against Florida Atlantic at 6 p.m. Creighton is scheduled to host 10 regular-season matches, including four BIG EAST contests. For ticket information call 402-280-JAYS or visit GoCreighton.com/Tickets.
BIG EAST Preseason Men's Soccer Coaches' Poll
East Division
(first-place votes)
1. Georgetown (11) 66
2. Providence (1) 55
3. St. John's 42
4. Connecticut 38
5. Seton Hall 28
6. Villanova 17
Midwest Division
(first-place votes)
1. Akron (7) 62
2. Xavier (4) 56
3. Creighton (1) 50
4. Butler 35
5. Marquette 25
6. DePaul 18
Preseason BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year
Palmer Ault, Jr., F, Butler
Preseason BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year
Maximus Jennings, Sr., D, Georgetown
Preseason BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year
Lukas Burns, Gr., GK, Providence
Preseason All-BIG EAST Team
Jonas Buechte, Sr., D, Akron
Malik Henry, Sr., D, Akron
Palmer Ault, Jr., F, Butler
Scott Testori, Sr., F, UConn
Jackson Castro, Sr., M, Creighton
Maximus Jennings, Sr., D, Georgetown
Marlon Tabora, Gr., F, Georgetown *
Zach Zengue, Jr., M, Georgetown
Diego Batista, Jr., M, Providence
Lukas Burns, Gr., GK, Providence
Macoumba Ba, Sr., F, St. John's
Dylan Kropp, Jr., D, Xavier
*unanimous selection
Castro is the only returning player to start all 17 matches for the Bluejays in 2023, where he earned All-BIG EAST First Team honor after leading the Bluejays with six assists while adding a pair of goals. The Plano, Texas native owns 13 career goals and 16 helpers during 56 matches over three seasons as a Bluejay.
Creighton received 50 points and one first-place vote in the 2024 Preseason Coaches' Poll to place third in the Midwest Division, while Akron led the way with 62 votes and seven first-place tallies. Defending BIG EAST Tournament Champion and 2023 Midwest Division Champion Xavier ranked second in the polls with 56 points and four first-place votes.
Following Akron, Xavier and Creighton, Butler checks in at fourth in the Midwest Division with 35 points. Rounding out the rankings, Marquette has been picked fifth with 25 points, while DePaul ranks sixth with 18 points.
Georgetown, the 2023 BIG EAST championship runner-up and East Division champion, topped the East Division preseason poll with 66 points and all 11 possible first-place votes. Providence followed suit with 55 points and the remaining first-place vote, while St. John's followed with 42 points to finish third. Connecticut followed with 38 tallies with Seton Hall (28) and Villanova (17) rounding out the bottom half.
The Bluejays open regular-season play on Aug. 22 at home against Florida Atlantic at 6 p.m. Creighton is scheduled to host 10 regular-season matches, including four BIG EAST contests. For ticket information call 402-280-JAYS or visit GoCreighton.com/Tickets.
BIG EAST Preseason Men's Soccer Coaches' Poll
East Division
(first-place votes)
1. Georgetown (11) 66
2. Providence (1) 55
3. St. John's 42
4. Connecticut 38
5. Seton Hall 28
6. Villanova 17
Midwest Division
(first-place votes)
1. Akron (7) 62
2. Xavier (4) 56
3. Creighton (1) 50
4. Butler 35
5. Marquette 25
6. DePaul 18
Preseason BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year
Palmer Ault, Jr., F, Butler
Preseason BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year
Maximus Jennings, Sr., D, Georgetown
Preseason BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year
Lukas Burns, Gr., GK, Providence
Preseason All-BIG EAST Team
Jonas Buechte, Sr., D, Akron
Malik Henry, Sr., D, Akron
Palmer Ault, Jr., F, Butler
Scott Testori, Sr., F, UConn
Jackson Castro, Sr., M, Creighton
Maximus Jennings, Sr., D, Georgetown
Marlon Tabora, Gr., F, Georgetown *
Zach Zengue, Jr., M, Georgetown
Diego Batista, Jr., M, Providence
Lukas Burns, Gr., GK, Providence
Macoumba Ba, Sr., F, St. John's
Dylan Kropp, Jr., D, Xavier
*unanimous selection
Players Mentioned
M
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