MU Picked Fourth, Prpa and Seagrist Garner Preseason Honors

NEW YORK – Marquette senior midfielder Luka Prpa and senior defender Patrick Seagrist have been selected to the All-BIG EAST Conference Preseason Team, while the Golden Eagles were picked to finish fourth in the league's annual preseason coaches' poll.

Marquette's fourth-place selection by the coaches was bolstered by a pair of Golden Eagles on the preseason All-BIG EAST team, senior midfielder Luka Prpa and senior defender Patrick Seagrist. A Wind Lake, Wisconsin native, Prpa was an All-BIG EAST First Team selection in 2018, earning all-league accolades for the third time. He scored six goals and six assists for 18 points. Seagrist, who hails from Streamwood, Illinois, was also an All-BIG EAST First Team honoree in 2018 and was BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week four times last season. Seagrist helped hold opponents to 1.21 goals per game and a 0.085 shot percentage. He also added three goals and six assists on the season.

The Golden Eagles finished fourth in the standings last season with a 5-3-1 BIG EAST record (16 points) before advancing to the conference championship game and falling to Georgetown, 2-0.

Georgetown, which received a league-high nine first-place votes, is again the BIG EAST-favorite after collecting 91 polling points. Marquette, while predicted to finish fourth by the coaches, was the only other team to receive a first-place vote. MU received 59 total points in the preseason poll.

Creighton (68) was picked second while Providence was third with 65 points. Following Marquette is Xavier (44), Butler (33) and St. John's (28). Rounding out the poll was Seton Hall (28), DePaul (21) and Villanova (11).

The Golden Eagles play exhibitions against Notre Dame tonight and the Milwaukee Torrent on Sunday before opening the regular season at home against UAB on Friday, Aug. 30 at 7:05 p.m.

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).

2019 BIG EAST Men's Soccer Preseason Honors

Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
Derek Dodson, Georgetown, Jr., F

Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Dylan Nealis, Georgetown, Sr., D

Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year
Paul Kruse, Creighton, So., G

2019 Men's Soccer Preseason All-BIG EAST #
^ Derek Dodson, Georgetown, Jr., F
Achara, Georgetown, Sr., F
C.J. Tibbling, Seton Hall, So., F
Samson Sergi, Xavier, RS-Sr., F
Luka Prpa, Marquette, Sr., M
Skage Simonsen, St. John's, So., M
Tiago Mendonca, Providence, Sr., M
Jared Timmer, Butler, Sr., M
^ Dylan Nealis, Georgetown, Sr., D
Patrick Seagrist, Marquette, Sr., D
Max de Bruijne, DePaul, Sr., D
Paul Kruse, Creighton, So., G

2019 BIG EAST Men's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll
First place votes in ( )

1. Georgetown (9)	81 pts.
2. Creighton	68
3. Providence	65
*4. Marquette (1)*	59
5. Xavier	44
6. Butler	40
7. St. John's	33
8. Seton Hall	28
9. DePaul	21
10. Villanova	11