WASHINGTON – The Georgetown University men's soccer team was picked first in the BIG EAST Conference East Division Preseason Coaches Poll on Monday as the reigning national champions were awarded 25 points and five first place votes. Additionally, five Hoyas earned preseason honors including two major award winners.
Senior Rio Hope-Gund was named the BIG EAST Preseason Defensive Player of the Year and junior Giannis Nikopolidis selected as the BIG EAST Preseason Co-Goalkeeper of the Year. Along with Hope-Gund and Nikopolidis, seniors Derek Dodson and Jacob Montes as well as junior Sean Zawadzki all earned nods to the Preseason All-BIG EAST squad.
Rio Hope-Gund
Defender
Senior

• Selected 19th overall in the 2021 MLS SuperDraft by Orlando City FC.
• Started in 20 games as a junior for the Blue & Gray.
• Managed a pair of assists in 2019, both coming during the run to the national championship.
• Has tallied 24 career starts in 36 games played after moving into the lineup as a junior.
• Posted two career goals along with two assists for six points currently on the Hilltop.
• Selected as a 2020 team captain.

Giannis Nikopolidis
Goalkeeper
Junior

• Recently selected to the MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List.
• Named 2019 First Team All-East Region by the United Soccer Coaches.
• Selected as the BIG EAST Co-Goalkeeper of the Year and First Team All-BIG EAST in 2019.
• Nikopolidis split time in the net having 12 starts to his credit with 1105 minutes played.
• As a sophomore, he had a record of 10-1-1 overall and boasted 5.5 shutouts.
• He had 36 saves and a 0.49 goals-against average last season.
• Nikopolidis was named the BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Week on 10/13/19 and earned one nod to the weekly honor roll.
• Named to the BIG EAST All-Freshman squad in 2018.

Derek Dodson
Forward
Senior

• Selected eighth overall in the 2021 MLS SuperDraft by Orlando City FC.
• A Third Team All-American selection.
• Named First Team All-East Region.
• A First Team All-BIG EAST honoree.
• Led the team in scoring with 11 goals and eight assists for 30 points as a junior.
• Had three game winners to his credit and was 2-for-3 on penalty kicks in 2019.
• Earned a spot on the 2019 BIG EAST All-Tournament Team.
• Has 30 career goals along with eight assists in three seasons on the Hilltop.
• His 30 goals put him at No. 9 on the all-time list.
• Named team captain in 2019 and 2020.

Jacob Montes
Midfielder
Senior

• Recently named to the MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List.
• Earned 2019 Third Team All-America honors.
• Named 2019 First Team All-East Region.
• The 2019 BIG EAST Midfielder of the Year and selected unanimous First Team All-BIG EAST.
• Montes was second on the team in scoring with a team-high 11 goals and five assists for 27 points.
• He boasted a team-best four game winners.
• The junior started all 24 games for the Blue & Gray in 2019.
• Montes was named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll on 9/23/19.
• Selected as Georgetown's 2019 Most Improved Player.
• It was his first all-region honor and the first nod to the All-America squad.

Sean Zawadzki
Midfielder
Junior

• A 2021 spring captain for the Hoyas.
• Selected Third Team All-East Region as a sophomore.
• Named Second Team All-BIG EAST in 2019.
• The midfielder started all 22 games he appeared in with three goals, including two game winners, as well as one assist for seven points on the season.
• Has played in 43 career games with 35 starts boasting three goals and two assists in two seasons on the Hilltop.

Preseason Poll

• Following Georgetown, Providence was picked second with 20 points and six first-place votes. St. John's and UConn came in at No. 3 and 4 with 17 and 13 points, respectively. Seton Hall (8) and Villanova (7) rounded out the poll.
• The league has been split into two divisions for the 2021 spring season with each team playing only those in their division along with nonconference contests.
• Georgetown's 2021 spring schedule will be announced in the coming week.