OMAHA, Neb. — Creighton women’s soccer senior midfielder Aida Kardovic earned unanimous All-BIG EAST Preseason honors as the Bluejays were picked to finish seventh in the 2022 BIG EAST Preseason Coaches’ Poll, the league announced on Thursday afternoon.
Kardovic is the first Bluejay to be named to multiple All-BIG EAST preseason teams and is the first Creighton women’s soccer player to earn all-conference preseason honors in back-to-back years since Brittney Neumann was named to the All-MVC preseason team in 2011 and 2012.
Kardovic was a First Team All-BIG EAST selection last season, when she led the Bluejays with 40 shots. A midfielder from Kassel, Germany, Kardovic ranked second on the team with three goals scored and two assists.
Georgetown, the defending BIG EAST tournament champions, were picked as the favorites after receiving 8-of-11 first place votes and 98 points. Xavier was second with 91 points and two of the three remaining first-place votes. Butler received the final first-place vote and 83 points to finish third. Providence claimed 69 points for fourth, while St. John’s (59) and Connecticut (57) slid in ahead of Creighton (43). Picked eight was Marquette (42), followed by DePaul (31), Villanova (22) and Seton Hall (10).
Creighton welcomes back 11 players who started 10 or more matches in 2021, led by seniors Ansley Atkinson, Keelan Terrell and junior Abigail Santana. Atkinson will return to the pitch after leading the Bluejays and the country in assists with nine before suffering a knee injury midway through the season. Terrell, the Bluejays netminder, posted seven shutouts and a 0.98 goals against average, while Santana led the team with 18 points on eight goals and two assists last season.
Creighton’s regular-season begins with a trip out west to play Montana (Aug. 18, 5 pm) and Gonzaga (Aug. 21, 2 pm). The Bluejays open the home portion of their schedule on Aug. 25 at 3 pm against Kansas City. Creighton is scheduled to host 10 regular-season matches, including five BIG EAST contests.
BIG EAST Women’s Soccer Preseason Coaches’ Poll
1. Georgetown 98 (8)
2. Xavier 91 (2)
3. Butler 83 (1)
4. Providence 69
5. St. John’s 59
6. Connecticut 57
7. Creighton 43
8. Marquette 42
9. DePaul 31
10. Villanova 22
11. Seton Hall 10
(first-place votes)
BIG EAST Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
Katie Soderstrom, Butler, R-Sr., F
BIG EAST Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Julia Leas, Georgetown, Sr., M
BIG EAST Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year
Allie Augur, Georgetown, Sr., GK
Preseason All-BIG EAST Team
Aliyah Diagne, Butler, R-Jr., D
Katie Soderstrom, Butler, R-Sr., F*
Jaydah Bedoya, Connecticut, Jr., F
Aida KardovicCreighton, Sr., M*
Allie Augur, Georgetown, Sr., GK
Julia Leas, Georgetown, Sr., M*
Gia Vicari, Georgetown, Jr., F
Meg Hughes, Providence, Jr., F
Jessica Garziano, St. John’s, Sr., m
Molly McLaughlin, Xavier, So., m
Ella Rogers, Xavier, So., M
*unanimous Selection