M. Soccer Predicted First in Red Division

[Brad]

M. Soccer Predicted First in Red Division

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The University of South Florida’s men’s soccer team was selected to finish first in the Red Division of the league, the BIG EAST Conference announced Tuesday. The votes were cast by the league’s 16 head coaches, who were not permitted to vote for their own teams.

“I look at the division and it’s so tight,” said USF head coach George Kiefer.  “To say we’re this or that, it’s tough for coaches to predict where we’re going to finish up.  I don’t think it has much of an impact on us.”

Seniors Yohance Marshall, Kevon Neaves and Jordan Seabrook were selected to the All-BIG EAST Preseason Team. Marshall was also selected as the BIG EAST Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.

“I’m glad for them to be selected to this honor, but obviously it’s just a preseason selection,” said Kiefer.  “It would make me happy to see them there at the end of the year.”

Despite its fourth-place finish in the league standings a year ago, USF made a surge late in the season and advanced to the NCAA Championship third round, before falling to Connecticut in a rare interconference postseason matchup. In the preseason poll, the Bulls earned seven first-place votes and 99 points, topping Louisville by two points. USF ended 2007 with a 14-6-2 mark and was 6-4-1 in league action. 

Marshall, a defender from Malabar Arima, Trinidad, helped the Bulls to eight shutouts in 19 games in 2007, anchoring a defense which recorded a .85 goals against average. Marshall scored one goal last season. During the fifth week of the 2007 season, TopDrawerSoccer.com selected Marshall to the National Team of the Week after the Bulls held No. 8 West Virginia scoreless in Morgantown.

Neaves, a midfielder from Petit Valley, Trinidad, was awarded his second-career BIG EAST award last season, following his third-team selection in 2006. Neaves tallied 19 points last season, scoring six goals and making seven assists. Neaves earned BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll accolades the first week of last season, when he notched two goals and a pair of assists.

Earning conference honors for the third-straight season, Seabrook notched 18 points from five goals and eight helpers in 19 games last year. The league selected Seabrook to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll after his two-goal weekend, scoring one against No. 2 Connecticut and another at Providence. In the first game of last season, the Indianapolis, Ind., native recorded five points from two goals and an assist in the Bulls’ 5-2 win over UCF.

2008 BIG EAST Men’s Soccer Preseason Awards & Coaches’ Poll

BIG EAST Preseason Offensive Player of the Year

O’Brian White, Connecticut, Sr., F

BIG EAST Preseason Defensive Player of the Year

Yohance Marshall, USF, Sr., D

BIG EAST Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year

Brian Visser, DePaul, Sr., GK

All-BIG EAST Preseason Team

Matt Besler, Notre Dame, Sr., D

Ryan Maduro, Providence, Sr., MF

Yohance Marshall, USF, Sr., D

Kevon Neaves, USF, Sr., MF

Akeem Priestley, Connecticut, Sr., MF

Jordan Seabrook, USF, Sr., F

Ryan Soroka, St. John’s, Jr., F

Toni Stahl, Connecticut, Jr., MF

Brian Visser, DePaul, Sr., GK

*O’Brian White, Connecticut, Sr., F

Hansen Woodruff, Syracuse, Jr., F

* - unanimous selection

BIG EAST Men’s Soccer Preseason Coaches’ Poll

                                                             

Blue Division                

Connecticut (14)             

Notre Dame (2)               

Providence                       

West Virginia                   

Seton Hall                         

Georgetown                     

Marquette                           

Pittsburgh                         

                                                               

Red Division                 

USF (7)                               

Louisville (4)                     

St. John’s (3)                     

DePaul (2)                         

Rutgers                             

Cincinnati                         

Villanova                           

(-) - Indicates first place votes

[Rizman]

I hope they are right.  We need a big season and have the team that is capable.

[Brad]

and the Bulls are ranked No. 18 In NSCAA/adidas Preseason Poll

[gobulls03]

There ranked #11 in the www.collegesoccernews.com preseason top 30

[Brad]

I know little about soccer, but the soothsayer in me says this is our year.

[Paisa el Toro]

I know little about soccer, but the soothsayer in me says this is our year.

I feel like I've been thinking this is "our year" for the past four years of Men's Soccer. I hope they make some more noise this season.

[lewdtenant]

yeah we have had a real good squad for the last 3 or 4 years and for whatever reason we just haven't had it all come together. i can't remember what team it was but that post-season game that was 4-4 and we lost in PK's was just devastating to me. that year was our best shot-- i think it was two years ago.