TicketsAug. 10, 2006
- The University of Cincinnati men's soccer team has been tabbed to finish third in the Red Division of the BIG EAST Conference, as chosen by the league's coaches. Senior forward Omar Cummings (, / State), a unanimous first team All-BIG EAST selection in 2005, was named the 2006 Preseason Offensive Player of the Year.
"Polls are polls. We want to be in a position at the end of the season to be one of the top teams in the BIG EAST," head coach Hylton Dayes said. "We are certainly appreciative of the respect that we're given based on where we are voted in the poll."
The Bearcats surprised many to finish third in the BIG EAST Red Division in 2005. In their first year in the league, UC posted a 10-7-2 overall record and a 6-3-2 mark in league play. The Bearcats knocked off No. 1 Connecticut at home and topped No. 18 Notre Dame in , earning a national ranking as high as No. 15.
With 12 letterwinners and nine starters returning, the Bearcats are primed for a run at the BIG EAST Championship. USF and , both NCAA qualifiers in 2005, were chosen to finish first and second, respectively, in the Red Division. Two-time defending BIG EAST Champion Connecticut was picked to win the Blue Division.
Cummings, an National Soccer Coaches Association of America first team all-region selection in 2005, was part of the 13-member Preseason All-BIG EAST Team.
"This is a great honor for Omar," commented Dayes. "He has proven that he is one of the top players in the conference and we are excited that he is a part of our program."
The Bearcats open the 2006 schedule on Monday, Aug. 14, with an exhibition match at IUPUI. The regular season opener is set for Friday, Aug. 25, at rival Xavier, while the BIG EAST opener will be Friday, Sept. 8, at . Season tickets and Olympic Sports Passes are available now by calling 1-877-CATS-TIX or logging on to UCBearcats.com.
2006 BIG EAST Men's Soccer Preseason Poll
Blue Division Points
(11) 109
Notre Dame (5) 103
Seton Hall 79
58
54
49
37
23
Red Division Points
USF (9) 106
(7) 104
77
76
56
Villanova 39
36
DePaul 16
(-) - Indicates first place votes
BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year
Omar Cummings, Sr., F,
BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year
Julius James, Jr., D,
BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year
Jason Landers, Jr., GK,
2006 Preseason All-BIG EAST Team
Omar Cummings, Sr., F,
Greg Dalby, Sr., M, Notre Dame
Ian Etherington, Sr., M, Notre Dame
Eliseo Giusfredi, So., F, Seton Hall
David Guzman, Jr., M,
Rodrigo , Jr., F/M, USF
Julius James*, Jr., D,
Gordon Kljestan, Sr., D/M, Seton Hall
Jason Landers, Jr., GK,
Yohance Marshall, So., D, USF
Jordan Seabrook, So., F, USF
O'Brian White, So., F,
Andrew Wright, Jr., M,
* - unanimous selection;
^ - Due to a tie in voting, two extra members have been added to the team