St. John's University Athletics
Christina Bellero Selected to Preseason All-BIG EAST Team
8/9/2018 2:30:00 PM | Women's Soccer
St. John’s picked to finish sixth in the BIG EAST Preseason Coaches’ Poll
QUEENS, N.Y. – Coming off of an explosive junior campaign, Christina Bellero has been selected to the Preseason All-BIG EAST Team, the conference announced this afternoon.
A 2017 Second Team All-BIG EAST Selection, Bellero registered a team-high 17 points for the Red Storm last year, tallying a team-most seven goals to pace the squad and tie for eighth in the conference. In addition, Bellero dished out three assists for the second most on the team. The 5-foot-5 forward also led the Johnnies in shots taken with 48, firing 30 of those on goal.
Last season, the Melville, N.Y., native provided an abundance of talent and a stellar skill-set under pressure, scoring three game-winning goals for the Red Storm in matches against UConn, Creighton and Seton Hall.
The Preseason All-BIG EAST team was announced in conjunction with the annual preseason coaches' poll, which saw Georgetown selected as the favorite after claiming back-to-back regular season championships. The Hoyas (81 pts) also found themselves mentioned in the United Soccer Coaches' preseason poll, ranked at no. 22. Butler (72 pts) followed in conference standings in second place, while Marquette (59 pts), Providence (55 pts) and DePaul (52 pts) rounded out the top half of the league. The Johnnies came in sixth with 38 points followed by Xavier (34 pts), Villanova (31 pts), Creighton (18 pts) and Seton Hall (10 pts).
St. John's will play one more exhibition contest before the start of the 2018 regular season, traveling to Bethlehem, Pa. to take on Lehigh at 6 p.m. this evening. The regular season will then kick off on Aug. 16, as the Johnnies travel to Tennessee for a meeting with the Volunteers at 7 p.m.
BIG EAST Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
Paige Monaghan, Butler, Sr., F*
BIG EAST Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Meaghan Nally, Georgetown, Jr., D
BIG EAST Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year
Arielle Schechtman, Georgetown, Grad., GK
Preseason All-BIG EAST Team^
Paige Monaghan, Butler, Sr., F*
Annika Schmidt, Butler, R-Jr., D
Franny Cerny, DePaul, Sr., F*
Amanda Carolan, Georgetown, Sr., F
Caitlin Farrell, Georgetown, Sr., F
Meaghan Nally, Georgetown, Jr., D
Arielle Schechtman, Georgetown, Grad., GK
Carrie Madden, Marquette, R-Sr., F*
Katie Day, Providence, Sr., D
Kayla Steeves, Providence, Sr., M
Christina Bellero, St. John's, Sr., F
Samantha Dewey, Xavier, R-Jr., F
^extra player added due to a tie in voting
*unanimous selection
BIG EAST Preseason Coaches' Poll
|
Georgetown (9) |
81 |
|
Butler (1) |
72 |
|
Marquette |
59 |
|
Providence |
55 |
|
DePaul |
52 |
|
St. John's |
38 |
|
Xavier |
34 |
|
Villanova |
31 |
|
Creighton |
18 |
|
Seton Hall |
10 |
(first-place votes)
