Big East releases Preseason All-Conference Soccer teams

Soccer season begins the college sports season. Both St. John’s men’s and women’s squads are hoping for bigger seasons; the men were 6-7-4 (Wins-Losses-Ties) overall, while the more successful women’s side were 11-4-5, making it to the semifinals of the Big East conference tournament before falling to Marquette.

With the beginning of the soccer season around the corner, the Big East honored three St. John’s soccer players, two from the women’s side and one from the men’s team, by naming them to the preseason all-conference team.

Seniors Shea Connors and Allie Moar were named to the team after their strong junior campaigns, while Harry Cooksley was one of only two unanimous selections, along with Xavier’s Cory Brown.

Allie Moar is no stranger to Big East honors. As a freshman, Moar was named the the Big East All-Rookie team, as a sophomore she was named to the Big East All-Tournament team, and last year was named an All-Big East Second Team member.

Connors led the Johnnies last year with 13 points while starting 19 of the team’s 20 games. After Connors’ lone goal in their 2-1 loss against Marquette in the semi-finals of the Big East Tournament, she was named to the All-Tournament Team.

Wendell Cruz

In his first season as a Division I soccer player last year, forward Harry Cooksley came out of nowhere tallying five goals and six assists, and ranking fourth in the entire country averaging over four shots per game.

Cooksley’s signature moment came with a brilliant solo run resulting in the game-winning goal over 11^th ranked Butler last October. The former Reading and Queens Park Rangers academy member finished with six assists, tied for fourth place in the conference.

Based on the preseason coaches polls that were also released, the Big East coaches were a lot more optimistic about the women, who were picked to finish fourth (despite playing a freshman goalie after Diana Poulin’s graduation), than the men, who were picked to finish eighth.

However, with dynamic players like Cooksley, Italian forward Filippo Ricupati, Alistair Johnston out wide, and a solid defense led by Wilhelm Nilsson, expect the Red Storm to be very competitive this season.

Which teams are picked to win the leagues?

With four players named to the Preseason Big East All-Women’s Soccer team, Georgetown was the consensus pick to win the conference. The Preseason Offensive Player of the Year (Rachel Corboz), Defensive Player of the Year (Elizabeth Wenger), and Goalkeeper of the Year (Arielle Schechtman) are all members of the Hoyas’ squad.

DePaul, the only other team to receive a first place vote, Marquette and the Johnnies were the top four. Seton Hall was projected to finish in last place in both the men’s and women’s leagues.

Providence (ranked number 12 in the national poll) was the coach’s pick to win the conference. The Friars are returning Mac Steeves, who was named Preseason Offensive Player of the Year after scoring five goals and two assists last season. Creighton, Butler, and Villanova rounded out the top four.

St. John’s women’s soccer opens up their regular season tomorrow in Philadelphia against La Salle, while the men also open up in Philadelphia next Friday against Drexel.

Last year when La Salle came to Queens, Connors scored the lone goal to secure a 1-0 win for the women’s side. The men were held to a scoreless draw in double overtime last year when Drexel came to Belson Stadium.