OMAHA, Nebraska – Creighton Women’s Soccer Senior Azumi Manriki earned a spot on the 2024 Preseason All-BIG EAST Team, while the Bluejays were voted seventh in the BIG EAST Preseason Coaches’ Poll, the league announced Tuesday, Aug. 13.
Manriki, a midfielder from Hiroshima, Japan, was named to the All-BIG EAST second team last fall after leading the Bluejays and ranking sixth in the BIG EAST with 46 total shots. She contributed two goals and one assist while logging 1,570 minutes of playing time in 18 games. Manriki is one of only five players returning to the team this season after starting at least nine games in the 2023 season.
The Bluejays scored 44 points in the preseason coaches poll, ranking seventh. The Jays finished just 2-7-1 during BIG EAST play last season, but with five returning starters with plenty of experience and a total of 15 returning key players, the first-year head coach Jimmy Walker has what it takes to lead the Bluejays back to the postseason.
Defending BIG EAST regular season and tournament champion Georgetown secured the top spot with 100 points, including the maximum possible 10 first-place votes. UConn received one first-place vote and 91 points overall to finish second, while Xavier beat Butler (70) by two points to finish third with 72 points. Providence (66) and St. John’s (57) rounded out the top six spots, while Seton Hall (43), Marquette (22), Villanova (22) and DePaul (19) rounded out the bottom half of the poll.
Creighton opens the 2024 season and the Jimmy Walker Era on Thursday, August 18 at 7 p.m. in the Twin Cities against Minnesota. The Bluejays open the home portion of their schedule on August 29 at 4 p.m. against Western Michigan. Creighton is scheduled to host eight regular-season home games, including five during BIG EAST play.
BIG EAST Preseason Women’s Soccer Coaches Survey
(Votes for the first places)
1. Georgetown 100 (10)
2. UConn 91 (1)
3. Xavier 72
4. Butlers 70
5. Providence 66
6. St. John’s 57
7. Creighton. 44
8. Seton Hall. 43
9. Marquette 22
10. Villanova 22
11. DePaul 19
Preseason BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year
Natalie Tavana, Seton Hall, Sr., F
Preseason BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year
Natalie Bain, Xavier, Jr., D
Preseason BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year
Kaitlyn Mahoney, UConn, Gr., GK
Preseason All-BIG EAST Team
Abigail Isger, Butler, Gr., F
Caitlin O’Malley, Butler, Gr., D
Talia Sommer, Butler, Jr., M/F
Azumi ManrikiCreighton, Sr., M
Natalie Means, Georgetown, Jr., F
Eliza Turner, Georgetown, Sr., M
Kayla Briggs, Providence, So., F
Natalie Tavana, Seton Hall, Sr., F
Lucy Cappadona, UConn, Gr., D
Kaitlyn Mahoney, UConn, Gr., GK
Chioma Okafor, UConn, Jr., F
Natalie Bain, Xavier, Jr., D
Maria Galley, Xavier, Jr., GK
