Xavier University Athletics
Natalie Bain Picked as the Preseason BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year
08.12.25 | Women's Soccer
Bain, Regan Dancer and Samantha Erbach selected to the Preseason All-BIG EAST Team; Musketeers picked to finish second
NEW YORK – Reigning BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year, Natalie Bain, was selected as the 2025 Preseason Defensive Player of the Year by the league's coaches, the conference announced on Tuesday. Bain, a senior, is joined by senior midfielder Regan Dancer and sophomore forward Samantha Erbach on the 2025 Preseason All-BIG EAST Team.
Xavier was picked to finish second in the league standings, collecting 87 points in the coaches' poll, including picking up a first-place vote. Georgetown was picked to win the conference.
Bain earned 2024 BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year after starting in all 21 matches last season, helping the Musketeer defense limit opposing teams to just 18 goals overall and just seven in BIG EAST play. Bain led the Musketeers' field players in minutes played at 1,845 and played the full time in 16 matches, including nine of 10 BIG EAST games. The native of Alexandria, Ky., helped Xavier's defense to 10 shutouts on the season.
On offense, Bain had a career-high three goals, and combined with an assist, finished the season with a career-best seven points in 2024. Among her goals were the game-winner in Xavier's 8-0 win at Valpo, one of two goals for the game, marking her first multi-goal game as a Musketeer.
In addition to earned BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year, she was a First Team All-BIG EAST selection for a second straight year, also earning Preseason Defensive Player of the Year ahead of the season. Bain, a 2024 MAC Hermann Trophy Semifinalist, also earned a spot on the United Soccer Coaches All-America Second Team, becoming the first Musketeer in program history to earn USC All-American honors twice in her career.
Dancer was a 2024 All-BIG EAST Second Team selection after starting in all 21 matches for the Musketeers. She finished the season with a career-high 14 points on a career-high six goals and two assists, matching for third most goals on the team and fourth most points. Among her goals were three game-winners, including at BIG EAST opponents Villanova and Marquette, tying for third in the BIG EAST for game-winning goals.
Dancer, originally from South Lyon, Mich., finished 2024 with a career-high 49 shots, with 25 looks on-frame, including recording a career-high eight shots in BIG EAST Championship match against UConn. She finished the season ranked fourth in the league for shot accuracy (0.510).
Erbach, the 2024 BIG EAST Freshman of the Year and All-BIG EAST First Team selection, started in all 21 matches for the Musketeers during her rookie season. She wrapped up last season with a team-high 11 goals and dished out five assists to finish with 27 points, second most on the team. Among her goals were a team-best four game-winning goals, including the game-winners in the Musketeers' win at Butler and in the win over DePaul in the BIG EAST Semifinals.
Erbach led the league with seven goals in conference play last season. She also led all league players in points (16), points per game (1.60) and goals per game (0.70). Erbach, originally from Lebanon, Ohio, led the team with 83 shots, with 47 going on-goal. She wrapped up her freshman season ranked 14th in NCAA DI for shots on goal per game (2.24), 24th for shots per game (3.95), and 49th for shot accuracy (.566).
BIG EAST Preseason Women's Soccer Coaches' Poll
(first-place votes)
1. Georgetown - 100 (10)
2. Xavier - 87 (1)
3. UConn - 86
4. Butler - 72
5. Creighton - 64
6. Providence - 53
7. DePaul - 39
8. Villanova - 33
9. Marquette - 28
10. St. John's - 25
11. Seton Hall - 18
Preseason BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year
Chioma Okafor, UConn, Sr., F
Preseason BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year
Natalie Bain, Xavier, Sr., D
Preseason BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year
Cara Martin, Georgetown, Sr., GK
Preseason All-BIG EAST Team
Amelie Darey, Butler, Sr., D
Talia Sommer, Butler, Sr., F/M
Maja Lardner, Georgetown, Gr., F
Cara Martin, Georgetown, Sr., GK
Natalie Means, Georgetown, Sr., F
Ella McBride, Providence, Sr., D
Anaya Johnson, UConn, Jr., M
Chioma Okafor, UConn, Sr., F
Natalie Bain, Xavier, Sr., D
Regan Dancer, Xavier, Sr., M
Samantha Erbach, Xavier, Sr., F
Xavier was picked to finish second in the league standings, collecting 87 points in the coaches' poll, including picking up a first-place vote. Georgetown was picked to win the conference.
Bain earned 2024 BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year after starting in all 21 matches last season, helping the Musketeer defense limit opposing teams to just 18 goals overall and just seven in BIG EAST play. Bain led the Musketeers' field players in minutes played at 1,845 and played the full time in 16 matches, including nine of 10 BIG EAST games. The native of Alexandria, Ky., helped Xavier's defense to 10 shutouts on the season.
On offense, Bain had a career-high three goals, and combined with an assist, finished the season with a career-best seven points in 2024. Among her goals were the game-winner in Xavier's 8-0 win at Valpo, one of two goals for the game, marking her first multi-goal game as a Musketeer.
In addition to earned BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year, she was a First Team All-BIG EAST selection for a second straight year, also earning Preseason Defensive Player of the Year ahead of the season. Bain, a 2024 MAC Hermann Trophy Semifinalist, also earned a spot on the United Soccer Coaches All-America Second Team, becoming the first Musketeer in program history to earn USC All-American honors twice in her career.
Dancer was a 2024 All-BIG EAST Second Team selection after starting in all 21 matches for the Musketeers. She finished the season with a career-high 14 points on a career-high six goals and two assists, matching for third most goals on the team and fourth most points. Among her goals were three game-winners, including at BIG EAST opponents Villanova and Marquette, tying for third in the BIG EAST for game-winning goals.
Dancer, originally from South Lyon, Mich., finished 2024 with a career-high 49 shots, with 25 looks on-frame, including recording a career-high eight shots in BIG EAST Championship match against UConn. She finished the season ranked fourth in the league for shot accuracy (0.510).
Erbach, the 2024 BIG EAST Freshman of the Year and All-BIG EAST First Team selection, started in all 21 matches for the Musketeers during her rookie season. She wrapped up last season with a team-high 11 goals and dished out five assists to finish with 27 points, second most on the team. Among her goals were a team-best four game-winning goals, including the game-winners in the Musketeers' win at Butler and in the win over DePaul in the BIG EAST Semifinals.
Erbach led the league with seven goals in conference play last season. She also led all league players in points (16), points per game (1.60) and goals per game (0.70). Erbach, originally from Lebanon, Ohio, led the team with 83 shots, with 47 going on-goal. She wrapped up her freshman season ranked 14th in NCAA DI for shots on goal per game (2.24), 24th for shots per game (3.95), and 49th for shot accuracy (.566).
BIG EAST PRESEASON POLL
BIG EAST Preseason Women's Soccer Coaches' Poll
(first-place votes)
1. Georgetown - 100 (10)
2. Xavier - 87 (1)
3. UConn - 86
4. Butler - 72
5. Creighton - 64
6. Providence - 53
7. DePaul - 39
8. Villanova - 33
9. Marquette - 28
10. St. John's - 25
11. Seton Hall - 18
Preseason BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year
Chioma Okafor, UConn, Sr., F
Preseason BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year
Natalie Bain, Xavier, Sr., D
Preseason BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year
Cara Martin, Georgetown, Sr., GK
Preseason All-BIG EAST Team
Amelie Darey, Butler, Sr., D
Talia Sommer, Butler, Sr., F/M
Maja Lardner, Georgetown, Gr., F
Cara Martin, Georgetown, Sr., GK
Natalie Means, Georgetown, Sr., F
Ella McBride, Providence, Sr., D
Anaya Johnson, UConn, Jr., M
Chioma Okafor, UConn, Sr., F
Natalie Bain, Xavier, Sr., D
Regan Dancer, Xavier, Sr., M
Samantha Erbach, Xavier, Sr., F
Players Mentioned
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