Xavier’s Cory Brown named Big East Preseason Defender of the Year

NEW YORK – Cory Brown added another big preseason recognition on Wednesday after being named the BIG EAST Preseason Defender of the Year for men’s soccer.

As a team, the Musketeers were picked to finish sixth in the league’s annual coaches poll.

Brown, who was one of just two unanimous selections to the Preseason All-BIG EAST squad, has earned that honor in each of the last three seasons. He was also both the preseason and postseason BIG EAST Defender of the Year in 2016.

Brown started all 19 matches for XU in 2016, registering three points (one goal, one assist) and playing every available minute in 17 of 19 matches. He anchored the backline in five shutouts and ranked second on the team with 1,771 minutes played.

For his career, Brown has made 60 starts and helped XU post two of the top three team GAA’s in program history (2014, 2015). During his three seasons manning the center back position, XU has posted 25 shutouts (including a program-record 11 in 2014).

Brown, a Nelson, New Zealand native, is coming off a season that saw him named the program’s second BIG EAST Defender of the Year. The honor marked a fifth straight season with a major conference award for Xavier men’s soccer.

1. Providence (9) – 81 pts.
2. Creighton (1) – 70
3. Butler – 68
4. Villanova – 52
5. Georgetown – 46
6. Xavier – 45
7. Marquette – 30
8. St. John’s – 27
9. DePaul – 21
10. Seton Hall – 10

First place votes in ( )