#BEfutbol Minute: Opening Weekend Preview
NEW YORK – BIG EAST men’s soccer opens this weekend with 15 games on the slate with five games against teams in the 2015 NCAA Tournament field. All 10 teams are in action on Friday highlighted by No. 10/12 Georgetown at No. 2/1 Akron and No. 7/9 Creighton at No. 25 Rutgers. Sunday has five games on the schedule with another Top 25 match up in Providence at No. 3/6 Clemson.
Six teams open at home: Villanova, Providence, Xavier, Creighton, St. John’s and Marquette, while Seton hall, Georgetown, Butler, Creighton and DePaul play on the road on Friday.
Facing Top Competition
There are three ranked teams on the schedule for Friday and Sunday and five games against NCAA tournament teams from last year. On Friday, Villanova hosts Rider, who lost to Virginia in the first round of the NCAA; Georgetown plays at No. 2/1 Akron; Creighton is at No. 25 Rutgers and Marquette hosts Kentucky. Akron made it to the College Cup in 2015 and knocked fellow BIG EAST squad Creighton out of the NCAA tournament. Rutgers lost in PK’s to Akron in the second round and Kentucky lost in the NCAA first round to Drake, who ended up losing to Creighton, 5-1, in the next round. On Sunday, Providence will play at No. 3/6 Clemson, the NCAA Champion Runner Up.
Two Top 10 BIG EAST Teams
Creighton and Georgetown were both ranked in the preseason top 25 polls. Creighton is No. 7 in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) rankings and No. 9 in the Soccer America poll. Georgetown is No. 10 in the NSCAA preseason poll and No. 10 in the SA rankings.
For Fans Around the League – Posters, Scarves, Pizza and more!
Friday at St. John’s is schedule poster giveaway day and camper reunion night as well as a pizza contest hosted by residence life. The Xavier Musketeers are giving away a Xavier Soccer scarf to the first 350 students that come to the game against the Evansville Purple Aces. Marquette's game against Kentucky is camper reunion day as well as a soccer shirt giveaway for students. Seton Hall is encouraging all students to pack the stands for opening night.
Mac Steeves On Hermann Trophy Watch List
BIG EAST Preseason Offensive Player of the Year Mac Steeves from Providence is the BIG EAST’s representative on the Missouri Athletic Club Hermann Trophy Award Watch List. Steeves was a unanimous All-BIG EAST First Team selection in 2015 who finished third in the league in points and second in goals. The senior forward led the Friars with 28 points on 13 goals and two assists. He notched five game-winning goals and tallied three, two-goal games. Steeves enters the 2016 season tied for second all-time at Providence in career points (63) and goals (27). There were 28 men on the Watch List which was released in late July.
#BEfutbol Weekend Schedule
Friday, Aug. 26
SETON HALL at Saint Peter’s at 4 p.m.
Rider at VILLANOVA at 4 p.m.
Rhode Island at PROVIDENCE at 7 p.m.
Evansville at XAVIER at 7 p.m.
No. 10/12 GEORGETOWN at No. 2/1 Akron at 7:30 p.m.
BUTLER at Louisville at 7:30 p.m.
No. 7/9 CREIGHTON at No. 25 Rutgers at 8 p.m.
DE PAUL at Oregon State at 8 p.m.
Drexel at ST. JOHN’S at 8 p.m.
Kentucky at MARQUETTE at 8:05 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 28
West Virginia vs. No. 10/12 GEORGETOWN at 2 p.m.
PROVIDENCE at (3/6) Clemson at 6:30 p.m.
XAVIER at Ala.-Birmingham at 7 p.m.
Stony Brook at SETON HALL at 7 p.m.
DE PAUL at Portland at 8 p.m.