TicketsCINCINNATI – As announced Tuesday by the American Athletic Conference, University of Cincinnati men's soccer sophomore defender Patrick Nielsen has been named the AAC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year as well as being a unanimous selection to the all-conference team. As a unit, the Bearcats were picked to finish seventh in the league.
Nielsen (Copenhagen, Denmark/Rungsted Gymnasium) is looking to build off of a stellar freshman season in which he was both AAC Second Team and All-Rookie Team selections in addition to earning All-Ohio Second Team recognition. The native Dane was one of many newcomers who contributed to UC's success in 2016. Starting each of the Bearcats' 17 matches, he tallied two assists while helping anchor the back line of the defense which recorded seven shutouts.
Nielsen is UC's first AAC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year in its five years the league and its second Player of the Year distinction after John Manga was named Preseason Offensive Player of the Year prior to the 2015 season.
Following earning a 9-7-1 overall record in 2016, including a program-high fourth place finish in The American, the Bearcats will face a challenging and exciting schedule in 2017. This year's slate will feature 10 home contests, highlighted by hosting crosstown rival Xavier on Sept. 8. AAC play will include seven matches including visiting NCAA Tournament teams USF and Tulsa. View the complete 2017 schedule here.
Preseason Coaches' Poll
Place School Points (1st Place Votes)
1. UConn 45 (4)
2. Tulsa 43 (1)
3. USF 34 (2)
4. UCF 29
5. SMU 27 (1)
6. Temple 20
7. Cincinnati 18
8. Memphis 8
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
Matias Pyysalo, UCF
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Patrick Nielsen, Cincinnati
Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year
Michael Nelson, SMU*
Preseason All-Conference Team
GK – Michael Nelson, SMU*
B – Patrick Nielsen, Cincinnati*
B – Jacob Hauser-Ramsey, UConn
B – Dylan Greenberg, UConn
B – Jordan Cano, SMU
B – Zack Stavrou, Tulsa
M – Matias Pyysalo, UCF
M – Jackson Morse, Memphis
M – Ricardo Gomez, USF
M – Mauro Cichero, SMU*
F – Abdou Mbacke Thiam, UConn*
F – Garrett McLaughlin, SMU
F – Joonas Jokinen, Temple
F – Juan Sanchez, Tulsa*
[*] Denotes unanimous selection
Ties are not broken
// UP NEXT
After wrapping up preseason exhibition play Saturday at Lipscomb, the Bearcats will kick off the 2017 regular season on Friday, Aug. 25, when they welcome Gardner-Webb to Gettler Stadium for a 7 p.m. matchup. Admission will be free as part of the Experience UC initiative.
// EXPERIENCE UC
Again this season, the Bearcats will be participating in the University's Experience UC initiative that offers free admission (no ticket required) to regular season, home events for select sports. Enjoy free admission to women's basketball, cross country, lacrosse, volleyball, women's tennis, men's and women's soccer, swimming and diving and track and field home events. The Bearcats will continue to ticket football, men's basketball and baseball home events.
Experience UC is a user-friendly, community outreach effort that offers the opportunity for many more to witness the seismic changes which are transpiring on our incredible campus. From all our beautiful campus has to offer, to our first-class facilities, we are proud to open our doors to our returning patrons as well as those who will experience UC for the first time. The Bearcats are competing to be the class of the league and we invite people to be a part of an unprecedented time in Clifton.
A number of behind-the-scenes experiences geared towards groups are available before most men's soccer matches. Groups interested in attending games in 2017-18 should contact Assistant Athletic Director for Marketing and Branding Luke Willman at 513-556-1081 or luke.willman@uc.edu for more information and to schedule group experiences.
// FOLLOWING THE BEARCATS
GoBearcats.com is your one-stop destination for all things UC Athletics. Socially, the team can also be followed on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram using the handle GoBearcatsMSOC.
Nielsen (Copenhagen, Denmark/Rungsted Gymnasium) is looking to build off of a stellar freshman season in which he was both AAC Second Team and All-Rookie Team selections in addition to earning All-Ohio Second Team recognition. The native Dane was one of many newcomers who contributed to UC's success in 2016. Starting each of the Bearcats' 17 matches, he tallied two assists while helping anchor the back line of the defense which recorded seven shutouts.
Nielsen is UC's first AAC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year in its five years the league and its second Player of the Year distinction after John Manga was named Preseason Offensive Player of the Year prior to the 2015 season.
Following earning a 9-7-1 overall record in 2016, including a program-high fourth place finish in The American, the Bearcats will face a challenging and exciting schedule in 2017. This year's slate will feature 10 home contests, highlighted by hosting crosstown rival Xavier on Sept. 8. AAC play will include seven matches including visiting NCAA Tournament teams USF and Tulsa. View the complete 2017 schedule here.
Preseason Coaches' Poll
Place School Points (1st Place Votes)
1. UConn 45 (4)
2. Tulsa 43 (1)
3. USF 34 (2)
4. UCF 29
5. SMU 27 (1)
6. Temple 20
7. Cincinnati 18
8. Memphis 8
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
Matias Pyysalo, UCF
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Patrick Nielsen, Cincinnati
Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year
Michael Nelson, SMU*
Preseason All-Conference Team
GK – Michael Nelson, SMU*
B – Patrick Nielsen, Cincinnati*
B – Jacob Hauser-Ramsey, UConn
B – Dylan Greenberg, UConn
B – Jordan Cano, SMU
B – Zack Stavrou, Tulsa
M – Matias Pyysalo, UCF
M – Jackson Morse, Memphis
M – Ricardo Gomez, USF
M – Mauro Cichero, SMU*
F – Abdou Mbacke Thiam, UConn*
F – Garrett McLaughlin, SMU
F – Joonas Jokinen, Temple
F – Juan Sanchez, Tulsa*
[*] Denotes unanimous selection
Ties are not broken
// UP NEXT
After wrapping up preseason exhibition play Saturday at Lipscomb, the Bearcats will kick off the 2017 regular season on Friday, Aug. 25, when they welcome Gardner-Webb to Gettler Stadium for a 7 p.m. matchup. Admission will be free as part of the Experience UC initiative.
// EXPERIENCE UC
Again this season, the Bearcats will be participating in the University's Experience UC initiative that offers free admission (no ticket required) to regular season, home events for select sports. Enjoy free admission to women's basketball, cross country, lacrosse, volleyball, women's tennis, men's and women's soccer, swimming and diving and track and field home events. The Bearcats will continue to ticket football, men's basketball and baseball home events.
Experience UC is a user-friendly, community outreach effort that offers the opportunity for many more to witness the seismic changes which are transpiring on our incredible campus. From all our beautiful campus has to offer, to our first-class facilities, we are proud to open our doors to our returning patrons as well as those who will experience UC for the first time. The Bearcats are competing to be the class of the league and we invite people to be a part of an unprecedented time in Clifton.
A number of behind-the-scenes experiences geared towards groups are available before most men's soccer matches. Groups interested in attending games in 2017-18 should contact Assistant Athletic Director for Marketing and Branding Luke Willman at 513-556-1081 or luke.willman@uc.edu for more information and to schedule group experiences.
// FOLLOWING THE BEARCATS
GoBearcats.com is your one-stop destination for all things UC Athletics. Socially, the team can also be followed on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram using the handle GoBearcatsMSOC.