Xavier University Athletics
Photo by: Steven Branscombe
Women's Soccer Picked to Win BIG EAST Midwest Division
02.01.21 | Women's Soccer
Molly McLaughlin, Brooke Sroka named preseason All-BIG EAST
NEW YORK – Xavier women's soccer was the unanimous favorites to win its division this spring as the BIG EAST announced the results of the 2020-21 Preseason Women's Soccer Coaches' Poll on Monday. The Conference schedule will feature two geographic divisions this spring, with Xavier picked to win the Midwest Division, while the Georgetown Hoyas were favored in the East Division. A pair of Musketeers, junior midfielder Molly McLaughlin and junior forward Brooke Sroka, were also named to the Preseason All-BIG EAST as voted on by the coaches.
Xavier come in atop the Midwest Division Poll with 16 points, including all four available first-place nods. DePaul followed in second with 12 points and the remaining first-place vote, edging Butler which tallied 11 points. Marquette followed in fourth with six points, while Creighton rounded out the Midwest with five points.
Georgetown topped the East Division Poll with 25 points, including all five available first-place nods. The Hoyas were followed by Villanova with 19 points, and Providence with 18 points and the remaining available first-place vote. Returning to BIG EAST play for the first time since 2012, Connecticut was slotted fourth in the East with 12 points, followed by St. John's in fifth with 11 points and Seton Hall in sixth with five.
Xavier claimed its first BIG EAST titles in 2019, winning both the regular season and conference championship to advance to its first NCAA Tournament since 2000. The Musketeers led the BIG EAST in shots (151), points (62), assists (22) and goals (20), while allowing less than a goal (0.67) per contest over nine league games. Xavier returns 10 players who made regular starts in 2019, including preseason all-conference picks Molly McLaughlin and Brooke Sroka.
McLaughlin appeared in 19 matches in the midfield for the Musketeers in 2019, starting in 18, finishing with nine points on the season on four goals and an assist. Among her goals were two game-winners, including the go-ahead tally in the second minute of the NCAA Tournament First Round game at Virginia Tech to help Xavier to the program's first NCAA Tournament win in program history. Following the 2019 season, McLaughlin earned a spot on the All-BIG EAST Second Team and BIG EAST All-Tournament Team.
Sroka appeared in all 23 matches for the Musketeers in 2019, starting in 17, finishing the season with 14 points, on six goals and two assists…Scored her first goal of the season in 3-1 win over Creighton, a three-point game after also picking up an assist. She led the Musketeers with 11 points on five goals and an assist during conference play, earning All-BIG EAST Second Team honors. Sroka also tallied the game-winner in the BIG EAST Championship match, scoring off a long Grace Bahr pass in the 11th minute, helping her earn Most Outstanding Offensive Player for the Championship.
A total of 12 were named to the Preseason All-BIG EAST Team, including Preseason Defensive Player of the Year Jenna Royson (GU), Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, Zsani Kajan (SJU) and Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year Stephanie Rodriguez (BU). Kajan, as well as Creighton sophomore forward and reigning BIG EAST Freshman of the Year, Skylar Heinrich, and Providence senior forward Hannah McNulty were unanimous all-league selections.
All-BIG EAST honors and preseason polls were decided by a vote of the league's head coaches, who were not permitted to vote for their own team or players. Divisional Polls were voted upon only by coaches in their respective divisions while awards were chosen regardless of division.
BIG EAST Women's Soccer East Division Preseason Poll
1. Georgetown 25 (5 first-place votes)
2. Villanova 19
3. Providence 18 (1)
4. UConn 12
5. St. Johns 11
6. Seton Hall 5
BIG EAST Women's Soccer Midwest Division Preseason Poll
1. Xavier 16 (4 first-place votes)
2. DePaul 12 (1)
3. Butler 11
4. Marquette 6
5. Creighton 5
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
Zsani Kajan, St. John's, R-Sr., F
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Jenna Royson, Georgetown, Jr., D
Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year
Stephanie Rodriguez, Butler, R-Jr., GK
Preseason All-BIG EAST Team^
Stephanie Rodriguez, Butler, R-Jr., GK
Anja Savich, Butler, Jr., F
Katie Soderstrom, Butler, Jr., F
Skylar Heinrich, Creighton, So., F*
Kristen Boos, DePaul, So., F
Morgan Turner, DePaul, Sr., F
Jenna Royson, Georgetown, Jr., D
Hannah McNulty, Providence, Sr., F*
Zsani Kajan, St. John's, R-Sr., F*
Brice McInroy, Villanova, Jr., M
Molly McLaughlin, Xavier, Jr., M
Brooke Sroka, Xavier, Jr., F
^extra player added due to a tie in voting
*unanimous selection
Xavier come in atop the Midwest Division Poll with 16 points, including all four available first-place nods. DePaul followed in second with 12 points and the remaining first-place vote, edging Butler which tallied 11 points. Marquette followed in fourth with six points, while Creighton rounded out the Midwest with five points.
Georgetown topped the East Division Poll with 25 points, including all five available first-place nods. The Hoyas were followed by Villanova with 19 points, and Providence with 18 points and the remaining available first-place vote. Returning to BIG EAST play for the first time since 2012, Connecticut was slotted fourth in the East with 12 points, followed by St. John's in fifth with 11 points and Seton Hall in sixth with five.
Xavier claimed its first BIG EAST titles in 2019, winning both the regular season and conference championship to advance to its first NCAA Tournament since 2000. The Musketeers led the BIG EAST in shots (151), points (62), assists (22) and goals (20), while allowing less than a goal (0.67) per contest over nine league games. Xavier returns 10 players who made regular starts in 2019, including preseason all-conference picks Molly McLaughlin and Brooke Sroka.
McLaughlin appeared in 19 matches in the midfield for the Musketeers in 2019, starting in 18, finishing with nine points on the season on four goals and an assist. Among her goals were two game-winners, including the go-ahead tally in the second minute of the NCAA Tournament First Round game at Virginia Tech to help Xavier to the program's first NCAA Tournament win in program history. Following the 2019 season, McLaughlin earned a spot on the All-BIG EAST Second Team and BIG EAST All-Tournament Team.
Sroka appeared in all 23 matches for the Musketeers in 2019, starting in 17, finishing the season with 14 points, on six goals and two assists…Scored her first goal of the season in 3-1 win over Creighton, a three-point game after also picking up an assist. She led the Musketeers with 11 points on five goals and an assist during conference play, earning All-BIG EAST Second Team honors. Sroka also tallied the game-winner in the BIG EAST Championship match, scoring off a long Grace Bahr pass in the 11th minute, helping her earn Most Outstanding Offensive Player for the Championship.
A total of 12 were named to the Preseason All-BIG EAST Team, including Preseason Defensive Player of the Year Jenna Royson (GU), Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, Zsani Kajan (SJU) and Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year Stephanie Rodriguez (BU). Kajan, as well as Creighton sophomore forward and reigning BIG EAST Freshman of the Year, Skylar Heinrich, and Providence senior forward Hannah McNulty were unanimous all-league selections.
All-BIG EAST honors and preseason polls were decided by a vote of the league's head coaches, who were not permitted to vote for their own team or players. Divisional Polls were voted upon only by coaches in their respective divisions while awards were chosen regardless of division.
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PRESEAON ALL-BIG EAST POLL |
BIG EAST Women's Soccer East Division Preseason Poll
1. Georgetown 25 (5 first-place votes)
2. Villanova 19
3. Providence 18 (1)
4. UConn 12
5. St. Johns 11
6. Seton Hall 5
BIG EAST Women's Soccer Midwest Division Preseason Poll
1. Xavier 16 (4 first-place votes)
2. DePaul 12 (1)
3. Butler 11
4. Marquette 6
5. Creighton 5
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
Zsani Kajan, St. John's, R-Sr., F
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Jenna Royson, Georgetown, Jr., D
Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year
Stephanie Rodriguez, Butler, R-Jr., GK
Preseason All-BIG EAST Team^
Stephanie Rodriguez, Butler, R-Jr., GK
Anja Savich, Butler, Jr., F
Katie Soderstrom, Butler, Jr., F
Skylar Heinrich, Creighton, So., F*
Kristen Boos, DePaul, So., F
Morgan Turner, DePaul, Sr., F
Jenna Royson, Georgetown, Jr., D
Hannah McNulty, Providence, Sr., F*
Zsani Kajan, St. John's, R-Sr., F*
Brice McInroy, Villanova, Jr., M
Molly McLaughlin, Xavier, Jr., M
Brooke Sroka, Xavier, Jr., F
^extra player added due to a tie in voting
*unanimous selection
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