The Butler women's soccer team was tabbed to finish second in the 2021 BIG EAST Preseason Coaches' Poll, as announced by the conference office on Wednesday, August 11. Three Bulldogs, Stephanie Rodriguez, Anastasia Savich, and Katie Soderstrom, were voted to the Preseason All-BIG EAST Team. In addition, Rodriquez was selected as the 2021 BIG EAST Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year.
 
The major awards and All-BIG EAST team were voted on by the conference head coaches who could not cast ballots for themselves or their own student-athletes. Georgetown garnered 10 of 11 first-place votes, finishing with 100 points. Butler came in second, with 88 points, while UConn was third, with 74. Providence (65) grabbed the remaining first-place vote and landed in fourth, while Creighton (64) was just behind, in fifth.
 
Savich is a three-time All-BIG EAST selection, earning First Team honors in 2020-21 and Second Team honors in 2019 and 2018. In addition, she was the 2018 BIG EAST Freshman of the Year. Last season, her 19 points led the Bulldogs and were second in the BIG EAST. Her nine goals were also second in the BIG EAST and tied for 27th nationally.
 
Soderstrom is a two-time All-BIG EAST First Team honoree (2020-21 and 2019). Her 17 points, last season, were fourth in the BIG EAST and second on the team to Savich. She scored six goals and added five assists, which were fourth and tied for third, respectively, in the BIG EAST. Her 39 shots led both the Bulldogs and the BIG EAST.
 
Rodriquez is an All-BIG EAST Second Team selection (2020-21) and was the 2020-21 BIG EAST Co-Goalkeeper of the Year. Last season she started all 12 games and logged the entire 1,098 minutes in route to a 10-2 season record. She allowed only nine goals, producing a 0.74 goals-against average, and posted five shutouts, both of which were second in the BIG EAST and among the Top 50 nationally. Her 43 saves (3.6/game) ranked third in the conference.
 
Savich and Soderstrom were the only two student-athletes to be unanimous selections to the preseason team. The conference-favorite Hoyas joined the Bulldogs with three student-athletes placed on the preseason list, while St. John's had two. UConn, Creighton, and Providence had one each.
 
In national rankings, Georgetown was picked 11th in the United Soccer Coaches NCAA DI Preseason Poll. Butler received votes and stands just outside the Top 25.
 
 
BIG EAST Women's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll
1.      Georgetown          100 (10)
2.      Butler                     88
3.      UConn                    74
4.      Providence            65 (1)
5.      Creighton               64
6.      St. John's               47
7.      Xavier                     45
8.      Marquette             43
9.      DePaul                    41
10.   Villanova                27
11.   Seton Hall              11
(first-place votes)
 
BIG EAST Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
Zsani Kajan, St. John's, Grad., F
 
BIG EAST Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Kelly Ann Livingstone, Georgetown, Grad., D
 
BIG EAST Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year
Stephanie Rodriguez, Butler, Grad., GK
 
Preseason All-BIG EAST Team
Stephanie Rodriguez, Butler, Grad., GK
Anastasia Savich, Butler, Sr., F*
Katie Soderstrom, Butler, Sr., F*
Jessica Mazo, UConn, Jr., M
Aida Kardovic, Creighton, So., M
Kelly Ann Livingstone, Georgetown, Grad., D
Daisy Cleverly, Georgetown, Grad., M
Julia Leas, Georgetown, Jr., M
Meg Hughes, Providence, So., F
Jessica Garziano, St. John's, Jr., M
Zsani Kajan, St. John's, Sr., F
*unanimous selection