Men's Soccer Picked Sixth, Prpa Preseason All-BIG EAST

NEW YORK – For the second-straight year, junior midfielder Luka Prpa has been selected to the All-BIG EAST Conference Preseason Team, while the Golden Eagles were picked to finish sixth as the league announced the results of the annual preseason coaches' poll.

Prpa finished 2017 as an All-BIG EAST Second Team selection after totaling a goal and five assists during his sophomore campaign. The Wind Lake, Wisconsin, native enters his junior year with 11 goals, 11 assists and 33 points in 32 career starts.

He is coming off a successful summer campaign in the Premier Development League in which he led Chicago FC United to the national semifinals. He was later awarded the PDL's Young Player of the Year for his efforts.

The Golden Eagles fell one point shy of qualifying for the BIG EAST tournament a season ago, but is projected to finish as one of the league's top-six teams in 2018.

Georgetown, which received a league-high seven first-place votes, is the BIG EAST-favorite after collecting 79 polling points, while Butler (three first-place votes) was voted a close second with 73 points.

Xavier (60) was picked third, while Creighton and Providence tied for fourth with 54 points, followed by Marquette (67) in sixth. Rounding out the poll was St. John's (33), Villanova (31), Seton Hall (20) and DePaul (9).

The Golden Eagles take on Green Bay in the squad's lone road exhibition on Saturday, Aug. 18, before opening the regular season at home against Valparaiso on Sunday, Aug. 26.

Keep up with the Marquette men's soccer program through social media by following on Twitter (@MarquetteSoccer) and Instagram (@MarquetteSoccer) and `liking' on Facebook (/MarquetteSoccer).

2018 BIG EAST Men's Soccer Preseason Honors

Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
Brandon Guhl, Butler, Jr., F

Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Brendan McDonough, Georgetown, Sr., D

Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year
^ Colin Miller, Providence, RS-Sr., GK

2018 Men's Soccer Preseason All-BIG EAST #
^ Brandon Guhl, Butler, Jr., F
Derek Dodson, Georgetown, So., F/M
Achara, Georgetown, Jr., F
Luka Prpa, Marquette, Jr., M
Simen Hestnes, Xavier, Sr., M
Danny Griffin, Providence, Jr., M
Joel Rydstrand, Creighton, Sr., M
Jared Timmer, Butler, RS-Jr., M
^ Brendan McDonough, Georgetown, Sr., D
^ Joe Moulden, Butler, Sr., D
Cameron Taylor, Xavier, RS-Sr., D
^ Colin Miller, Providence, RS-Sr., GK

2018 BIG EAST Men's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll
First place votes in ( )

1. Georgetown (7)	79 pts.
2. Butler (3)	73
3. Xavier	60
T4. Creighton	54
T4. Providence	54
6. Marquette	37
7. St. John's	33
8. Villanova	31
9. Seton Hall	20
10. DePaul	9