BIG EAST SOCCER
Posted: Wed Aug 07, 2013 12:17 pm2013 College Soccer News Preseason Top 30 National Poll
#2 Georgetown
Seven starters return from the record setting 2012 team that finished with a 19-4-3 overal record and advanced to the national championship game. Senior All-American Steve Neumann (10g, 13a) returns up-top along with sophomore Brandon Allen (16g, 2a) who was the 2012 Big East Rookie of the Year. Georgetown will again have a big play offense that will be very dificult to contain. The graduation of All-American Ian Christianson (2g, 2a) and Jimmy Nealis (0g, 6a) means some rebuilding will be required in the midfield. Senoir Joey Dillon (0g, 1a) is among returning linkmen. Sophomores Cole Seiler and Keegan Rosenberry return in the back along with junior Tomas Gomez in goal. The Hoyas have also added a dynamic recruiting class led by forwards Brett Campbell and Alex Muryl.
#4 Creighton
A College Cup would seem incomplete without Elmar Bolowich on the sidelines. The Bluejays will begin play in the Big East Conference with a solid core of players returning on both sides of the ball supplemented by a nine member recruiting class that features midfielder Ricardo Perez. Creighton will be without the services of All-American midfielder Jose Gomez (6g, 9a) and All-American defender Andrew Ribeiro but with a midfield returnig that includes Timo Pitter (10g, 4a), Bruno Castro (2g, 3a), CSN Presesaon All-American Eric Miller, Zach Barnes and Christian Blandon (4g, 1a) the Bluejays are going to be very competitive. Jose Ribas and Brendan Hines-Ike are among returning defenders. Alex Bolowich will likely assume the starting role between the pipes which became vacant when Jeff Gal elected to transfer to the University of Virginia.
#8 Marquette
The Golden Eagles were a much better team last year than their one and done performance in the NCAA Tournament indicated. Marquette will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the men's soccer program with a team that could be the best yet that the Golden Eagles have put on the pitch. A solid core led by senior attacking mid Bryan Ciesiulka (5g, 9a),senior defensive mid Eric Pothast (4g, 2a), sophomore centeral defender Axel Sjoberg, senior forward Adam Lysak (5g, 4a) and junior goalkeeper Charlie Lyon return supplemented by what looks to be the programs best ever recruiting class. The healthy return up-top of redshirt sophomore forward C. Nortey who missed the 2012 is a big boost to the attack. If the newcomers gel with the returning players Marquette will put a lot of wins on the board.
#21 St. John's
A young St. John's team will welcome back just about everyone from the 2012 squad that was 10-5-4 overall and earned an at-large berth into the NCAA Tourney. Defense has historically been St. John's calling card and should again be a team strength in 2013 with the return of senior defensive midfielder Jamie Thomas, junior back Tim Parker, and senior goalkeeper Rafael Diaz. Senior Jimmy Mulligan (2g, 1a) and sophomore forwards Jelani Williams (4g, 0a) and Danny Bedoya (2g, 1a) are among returning players who Dr. Dave Masur will likely look to for offensive punch. The Johnnies will be tenacious on the defensive side of the ball but there is a twinge of concern on the offensive side of the ball due to lack of a go-to goal scorer.
#22 Xavier
The Musketeers will seek to build on their school best fourteen win 2012 season that included the programs third consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament and first ever NCAA Tourney victory. However they must do it without forward Luke Spencer who has been the Musketeers go-to guy for the past three seasons. Matt Walker (11g, 10a), Will Walker (7g, 6a) and Gino De Paoli (6g, 9a) will power what looks to be a very productive Xavier midfield. Tanner Petrick and Garrett Halfhill are very solid defensive center mids. All-American center back Nick Hagglund will anchor a backline that does require some rebuilding. Xavier moves from the Atlantic 10 to the Big East in 2013.
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#2 Georgetown
Seven starters return from the record setting 2012 team that finished with a 19-4-3 overal record and advanced to the national championship game. Senior All-American Steve Neumann (10g, 13a) returns up-top along with sophomore Brandon Allen (16g, 2a) who was the 2012 Big East Rookie of the Year. Georgetown will again have a big play offense that will be very dificult to contain. The graduation of All-American Ian Christianson (2g, 2a) and Jimmy Nealis (0g, 6a) means some rebuilding will be required in the midfield. Senoir Joey Dillon (0g, 1a) is among returning linkmen. Sophomores Cole Seiler and Keegan Rosenberry return in the back along with junior Tomas Gomez in goal. The Hoyas have also added a dynamic recruiting class led by forwards Brett Campbell and Alex Muryl.
#4 Creighton
A College Cup would seem incomplete without Elmar Bolowich on the sidelines. The Bluejays will begin play in the Big East Conference with a solid core of players returning on both sides of the ball supplemented by a nine member recruiting class that features midfielder Ricardo Perez. Creighton will be without the services of All-American midfielder Jose Gomez (6g, 9a) and All-American defender Andrew Ribeiro but with a midfield returnig that includes Timo Pitter (10g, 4a), Bruno Castro (2g, 3a), CSN Presesaon All-American Eric Miller, Zach Barnes and Christian Blandon (4g, 1a) the Bluejays are going to be very competitive. Jose Ribas and Brendan Hines-Ike are among returning defenders. Alex Bolowich will likely assume the starting role between the pipes which became vacant when Jeff Gal elected to transfer to the University of Virginia.
#8 Marquette
The Golden Eagles were a much better team last year than their one and done performance in the NCAA Tournament indicated. Marquette will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the men's soccer program with a team that could be the best yet that the Golden Eagles have put on the pitch. A solid core led by senior attacking mid Bryan Ciesiulka (5g, 9a),senior defensive mid Eric Pothast (4g, 2a), sophomore centeral defender Axel Sjoberg, senior forward Adam Lysak (5g, 4a) and junior goalkeeper Charlie Lyon return supplemented by what looks to be the programs best ever recruiting class. The healthy return up-top of redshirt sophomore forward C. Nortey who missed the 2012 is a big boost to the attack. If the newcomers gel with the returning players Marquette will put a lot of wins on the board.
#21 St. John's
A young St. John's team will welcome back just about everyone from the 2012 squad that was 10-5-4 overall and earned an at-large berth into the NCAA Tourney. Defense has historically been St. John's calling card and should again be a team strength in 2013 with the return of senior defensive midfielder Jamie Thomas, junior back Tim Parker, and senior goalkeeper Rafael Diaz. Senior Jimmy Mulligan (2g, 1a) and sophomore forwards Jelani Williams (4g, 0a) and Danny Bedoya (2g, 1a) are among returning players who Dr. Dave Masur will likely look to for offensive punch. The Johnnies will be tenacious on the defensive side of the ball but there is a twinge of concern on the offensive side of the ball due to lack of a go-to goal scorer.
#22 Xavier
The Musketeers will seek to build on their school best fourteen win 2012 season that included the programs third consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament and first ever NCAA Tourney victory. However they must do it without forward Luke Spencer who has been the Musketeers go-to guy for the past three seasons. Matt Walker (11g, 10a), Will Walker (7g, 6a) and Gino De Paoli (6g, 9a) will power what looks to be a very productive Xavier midfield. Tanner Petrick and Garrett Halfhill are very solid defensive center mids. All-American center back Nick Hagglund will anchor a backline that does require some rebuilding. Xavier moves from the Atlantic 10 to the Big East in 2013.
http://www.collegesoccernews.com/index. ... son-top-30