WASHINGTON – The Georgetown University men's soccer team was picked first in the BIG EAST Conference East Division Preseason Coaches Poll on Tuesday as the Hoyas were awarded 66 points and 11 first place votes. Additionally, four players earned preseason honors.  Goalkeeper Ryan Schewe was selected as the Preseason BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year, while senior captain Kenny Nielsen was named the Preseason BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year. Senior Marlon Tabora and junior Kieran Sargeant joined Schewe and Nielsen on the Preseason All-BIG EAST squad.

Ryan Schewe
Preseason BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year
Preseason All-BIG EAST
Marietta, Ga. / Holy Innocents' Episcopal

• The goalkeeper was a Second Team All-BIG EAST selection in 2022.
• Schewe started all 15 games he appeared in last year after taking over the starting role midway through the season.
• The junior had a record of 11-2-1 with seven shutouts on the year.
• He boasted a 0.75 goals-against average ranking him 18th in the country and first in the league. This went along with a 0.838 save percentage to sit at number five in the nation.
• The goalkeeper had 57 saves this season.
• Schewe was named the United Soccer Coaches National Player of the Week on 10/26 after earning BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Week honors a few days prior. He was also selected to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll twice this season (10/3 & 10/31).
• This is his first-career preseason award.

Kenny Nielsen
Preseason BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year
Preseason All-BIG EAST
Irvine, Calif. / University

• Nielsen is a second-year captain after leading the Hoyas a season ago as a junior.
• Last year, he started 19 games for the Hoya defense scoring a goal in the season opener at Pitt and managing an assist in the NCAA Tournament victory over Navy.
• As a junior, he was part of a defense that posted seven shutouts for the season.
• Nielsen is a two-time Third Team All-BIG EAST honoree earning it as both a sophomore and junior.
• This is his first preseason honor.

Marlon Tabora
Preseason All-BIG EAST
Rockville, Md. / Winston Churchill

• The forward was a Second Team All-BIG EAST honoree last season.
• Tabora ranked third on the team in scoring with five goals and seven assists on the season for 17 points a year ago.
• He appeared in all 21 games with three starts to his credit.
• Tabora managed a goal and an assist in a win over Seton Hall, as well as two assists in a victory over Temple during nonconference play.
• He earned BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Week honors on 10/10 and 10/24.
• This is his first-career preseason honor on the Hilltop.

Kieran Sargeant
Preseason All-BIG EAST
League City, Texas / Clear Creek

• The defender was a Third Team All-BIG EAST honoree a season ago.
• Sargeant started all 21 games on the backline.
• He has one goal and five assists for seven points on the year.
• The defender part of a defense that posted seven shutouts this year.
• He was named the BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week on 10/17.
• This is his first-career preseason award.

Preseason Poll

• Following Georgetown was Providence with 56 points and the remaining first-place vote. St. John's checked in at third in the preseason conference coaches' poll with 40 points, followed by Seton Hall with 36. Rounding out the East Division was UConn and Villanova with 24 points apiece.
• Creighton led the Midwest Division with 63 points and eight first-place votes. Butler came in second with 50 points as well as two first-place votes, while league newcomer Akron rounded out the top three with 48 points and two first-place votes.
• With the addition of Akron as an associate member, there are now two regional divisions, and each team is scheduled to play eight conference games, including each of the five teams in their respective divisions, and three teams from the out-of-region division.
• Earlier this month, the Hoyas were selected at No. 17 in the United Soccer Coaches Preseason Poll.

Upcoming Games

• GU will open the season on the road as the Hoyas face Santa Clara on August 24 and then travel to Stanford for the matchup on August 27.