NEW YORK - The Butler women's soccer team was tabbed to finish fourth in the 2024 BIG EAST Preseason Coaches' Poll, as announced by the conference office on Tuesday, August 13. In addition, graduate students Abigail Isger and Caitlin O'Malley, along with junior Talia Sommer, are representing the Bulldogs on the Preseason All-BIG EAST Team.
 
The major awards and Preseason All-BIG EAST Team were voted on by the conference head coaches who could not cast ballots for their own team or their own student-athletes. 
 
Georgetown garnered 10 of 11 first-place votes, finishing with 100 points. UConn came in second, with 91 points, and collected the remaining first-place nod. Xavier landed in the third spot with 72 points, just ahead of Butler with 70. Providence rounded out the top five with 66 votes.
 
Isger, a forward from Indianapolis, has received All-BIG EAST postseason recognition the past two seasons, including BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year honors in 2022. She has 21 career goals and 18 career assists over four seasons.
 
Sommer, a junior from Israel, was named All-BIG EAST First Team in 2023 after being named the BIG EAST Freshman of the Year the previous season. In two campaigns for Butler, she has tallied 11 goals and 10 assists.
 
O'Malley, a defender from Michigan, has accumulated 70 starts over four seasons for the Bulldogs, anchoring the center of the back line. She also has two goals and an assist to her credit.
 
In addition to Butler's trio of representatives on the preseason team, Georgetown, UConn, and Xavier also had multiple selections. UConn joined Butler with three on the list, while the conference-favorite Hoyas and the Musketeers each had a pair. Creighton, Providence, and Seton Hall, with one each, provided the final three selections.
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BIG EAST Preseason Women's Soccer Coaches' Poll
(first-place votes)
1. Georgetown – 100 (10)
2. UConn – 91 (1)
3. Xavier – 72 
4. Butler – 70
5. Providence – 66
6. St. John's – 57
7. Creighton – 44
8. Seton Hall – 43
T9. Marquette – 22
T9. 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 Manriki, Creighton, Sr., M
Natalie Means, Georgetown, Jr., F
Eliza Turner, Georgetown, Sr., MF
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