Creighton University Athletics
Bluejay Men's Soccer Picked Second in BIG EAST Midwest Division
8/11/2026 9:08:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Reed Earns Preseason All-BIG EAST Honors
Creighton defender Matthew Reed was a unanimous selection to the Preseason All-BIG EAST squad, one of 12 players recognized by the 12 BIG EAST coaches.
The Bluejays are coming off an 8-4-4 record in 2025, closing BIG EAST play at 4-2-2. Creighton returns 16 players from last season, including Reed, Andrija Savic and Brian Edelman along the back line as well as goalkeeper Matthew Hudson. Reed and Savic both earned All-BIG EAST honors last season (Second Team for Reed and Third Team for Savic), while Hudson played every second in net for the Blulejays.
Akron and Georgetown earned the top spots in their respective divisions.Georgetown was selected unanimously by the league's men's soccer coaches to finish atop the East Division, while Akron was the unanimous preseason favorite in the Midwest Division. Both programs received 66 points and 11 first-place votes.
Georgetown enters 2026 after capturing both the BIG EAST regular-season and tournament championships in 2025 and advancing to the NCAA Championship quarterfinals. The Hoyas finished the campaign 14-4-4 overall. Georgetown collected 66 points and all 11 available first-place votes in the East Division poll. UConn followed in second with 46 points, while Providence received the remaining first-place vote and 45 points to place third. St. John's was picked fourth with 37 points, followed by Seton Hall with 36 and Villanova with 16.
Akron also advanced to the NCAA Championship quarterfinals in 2025, finishing the season with a 13-5-3 overall record. The Zips received 66 points and 11 first-place votes to lead the Midwest Division. Creighton earned the remaining first-place vote and 56 points to rank second, followed by Xavier with 43 points. Marquette was selected fourth with 34 points, DePaul fifth with 27 and Butler sixth with 20.
Georgetown forward Mitchell Baker was voted BIG EAST Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, Seton Hall midfielder Til Kauschke garnered Preseason Midfielder of the Year honors, Georgetown defender Tate Lampman was selected Preseason Defensive Player of the Year and UConn goalkeeper Kyle Durham earned Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year recognition.
A total of 12 student-athletes were selected to the Preseason All-BIG EAST Team due to a tie in the voting. Georgetown led all programs with three selections, while Akron, Providence and Seton Hall each placed two student-athletes on the team. Creighton's Matthew Reed and Georgetown's Mitchell Baker were unanimous selections.
Preseason All-BIG EAST honors and the coaches' polls were decided by a vote of the league's head coaches, who were not permitted to vote for their own team or players. The 2026 season begins Thursday, Aug. 20, with BIG EAST teams in action across the country.
BIG EAST Preseason Men's Soccer Coaches' Poll
Midwest Division
(first-place votes)
1. Akron (11) 66
2. Creighton (1) 56
3. Xavier 43
4. Marquette 34
5. DePaul 27
6. Butler 20
East Division
(first-place votes)
1. Georgetown (11) 66
2. UConn 46
3. Providence (1) 45
4. St. John's 37
5. Seton Hall 36
6. Villanova 16
Preseason BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year
Mitchell Baker, F, Georgetown
Preseason BIG EAST Midfielder of the Year
Til Kauschke, M, Seton Hall
Preseason BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year
Tate Lampman, D, Georgetown
Preseason BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year
Kyle Durham, GK, UConn
Preseason All-BIG EAST Team ^
Remi Agunbiade, F, Akron
Matt Dreas, M, Akron
Kyle Durham, GK, UConn
Matthew Reed, D, Creighton *
Noeh Hernandez, M, DePaul
Mitchell Baker, F, Georgetown *
Tate Lampman, D, Georgetown
Matthew Van Horn, M, Georgetown
Brandon Marshall, D, Providence
Sam Montalto, F, Providence
Til Kauschke, M, Seton Hall
Mikkel Lejbowicz, F, Seton Hall
*Unanimous Selection
^12 members on the Preseason All-BIG EAST Team due to a tie in the voting.
