Women's Soccer: WVU Picked To Finish First
August 09, 2007 03:07 PM | General
By Tim Goodenow for MSNsportsNET.com
August 9, 2007
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| Everrett |
“This is a very exciting time for our program to be picked as favorites in the BIG EAST,” says head coach Nikki Izzo-Brown. “We have finished first in years past, but to start the preseason first and end the season in first will be challenging. We haven’t played a game yet but we’ll continue to work hard and stay focused on bringing a championship back to Morgantown.”
The Mountaineers return nine starters as they look to repeat as American Division BIG EAST champions. WVU garnered 10 of the 16 first-place votes in voting done by the league’s 16 head coaches, who were not permitted to vote for their own players or teams.
West Virginia also placed two players on the preseason all-BIG EAST team in juniors Amanda Cicchini and Deana Everrett. The duo totaled 22 goals and 54 points in 2006 as WVU made its seventh straight NCAA tournament appearance.
Notre Dame received 15 first-place votes and was picked to win the National Division. The Irish, like West Virginia, also won their division title last year.
BIG EAST play begins on September 21, as all 16 teams are in action over eight games. Each team plays seven opponents within its division and four opponents from the other division.
The Mountaineers open up the 2007 campaign at home against Bowling Green on Friday, August 31. Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium, also the site of the 2007 BIG EAST Championships, will play host to 10 home matches this fall. The conference home opener is scheduled for Friday, Sept. 28, against St. John’s and senior day will take place on Sunday, Oct. 28, against Marquette.
WVU will take to the road for eight matches at campus sites, including a matchup at regional foe Virginia on Sunday, Sept. 2. The Mountaineers will play a neutral site game against Texas A&M on Friday, Sept. 14, at Penn State.
2007 BIG EAST PRESEASON AWARD WINNERS
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
*Kerri Hanks, Jr., F, Notre Dame
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Carrie Dew, Jr., D, Notre Dame
Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year
Jillian Loyden, Sr., GK, Villanova
2007 ALL-BIG EAST PRESEASON TEAM^
Brittany Bock, Jr., M/F, Notre Dame
Amanda Cicchini, Jr., M, West Virginia
Amanda Cinalli, Sr., F, Notre Dame
Gina DeMaio, So., M, Rutgers
Carrie Dew, Jr., D, Notre Dame
Kelly Eagan, So., D, Villanova
Deana Everrett, Jr., F, West Virginia
Monique Gjini, Sr., M, Louisville
*Kerri Hanks, Jr., F, Notre Dame
Jillian Loyden, Sr., GK, Villanova
*Meghan Schnur, Sr., M, Connecticut
Brittany Taylor, Jr., M, Connecticut
Michele Weissenhofer, So., F, Notre Dame
* - Unanimous Selection
^ – Due to a tie in voting, extra members have been added to the BIG EAST Preseason All-Conference Team
