#BEfutbol Minute – Marquette’s Prpa Garners National Honors, Two Teams Ranked
NEW YORK – BIG EAST Offensive and Freshman Player of the Week, Marquette’s Luka Prpa, was recognized as the National Player of the Week by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA). The NSCAA also released the Week 2 Top 25 where Creighton holds fast at No. 14 and Butler enters the rankings at No. 19.
Marquette’s Prpa National Player of the Week
Prpa has had a standout second week for the Golden Eagles, recording a BIG EAST best 12 points (four goals and four assists) in a 2-0 week. The freshman midfielder had consecutive six-point efforts, helping Marquette to wins over Northern Illinois and Illinois-Chicago. Prpa, who leads the nation in assists while ranking fourth in goals, had a hand in each of the team’s eight goals scored last week, resulting in the first time since 2001 that Marquette has scored four goals in back-to-back games. Prpa’s back-to-back two-goal, two-assist efforts is something not accomplished by a Marquette player, much less a freshman, in the 53-year history of the program. Prpa was additionally named the Top Drawer Soccer National Player of the Week.
Top 25 Round Up
Creighton men’s soccer holds steady in the NSCAA Top 25 poll with a No. 14 ranking, dropping down from No. 8 last week. The Bluejays went 0-1-1 last week with a loss at No. 2 Clemson on Friday. Not counted in the ranking was last night’s tie against Nebraska Omaha. The Bluejays are 1-1-1 on the season. Butler enters the rankings after receiving votes last week. With 155 points and a 2-0-1 record, the Bulldogs are No. 19 this week. Notre Dame is No. 1 with Clemson sticking with the No. 2 spot.
Over the weekend, BIG EAST teams went 1-3-1 against teams in the NSCAA Top 25. This upcoming weekend, Butler will play No. 7 UC Santa Barbara and Oregon State (receiving votes) in Akron, Ohio. Villanova will play at No. 22 Delaware.
Where #BEfutbol Ranks on the National Scene -- Highlights
Prpa is third in the country in points per game (3.75), 11th in goals per game (1.25) and fourth in assists per game (1.25). He is second in total points (15), assists (5) and fourth in goals (4). Marquette’s Jan Maertins ranks second in the nation in game-winning goals (2). Georgetown keeper JT Marcinkowski ranks fifth in total saves with 24. Marquette’s offense is ranked seventh with an average of 3.00 goals per game and second in total goals (12). For the full NCAA listing click
here.
Active Career Leaders
The BIG EAST has four players from three teams rank in 10 of the NCAA’s active career leader lists. Butler senior forward David Goldsmith, a unanimous preseason All-BIG EAST selection and 2015 All-BIG EAST Second Team ranks in four of the categories: fourth in goals (29), sixth in goals per game (0.54), tied for eighth in points (64) and sixth in points per game (1.19). Providence’s Julian Gressel ranks in three categories: assists (T-6th – 20), assists per game (7th – 0.31), goals (T-7th – 27). BIG EAST Preseason Offensive Player of the Year Mac Steeves from Providence ranks in two categories: points (10th – 63) and points per game (9th – 1.15). Georgetown’s Bakie Goodman ranks 8th in games played with 66.
| Player, School |
Category |
Stat |
Rank |
| David Goldsmith, Butler |
Goals |
29 |
4th |
| David Goldsmith, Butler |
Goals Per Game |
0.54 |
6th |
| David Goldsmith, Butler |
Points |
64 |
T-8th |
| David Goldsmith, Butler |
Points Per Game |
1.19 |
6th |
| Bakie Goodman, Georgetown |
Games Played |
66 |
T-8th |
| Julian Gressel, Providence |
Assists |
20 |
T-6th |
| Julian Gressel, Providence |
Assists Per Game |
0.31 |
7th |
| Julian Gressel, Providence |
Goals |
27 |
T-7th |
| Mac Steeves, Providence |
Points |
63 |
10th |
| Mac Steeves, Providence |
Points Per Game |
1.15 |
9th |