College Soccer News has named their Pre-Season All-American teams and there are 3 representatives from the MVC. Creighton, who reached the Final 8 in the NCAA last year after defeating Missouri State 1-0 in the Conference Title game.

Seniors Chris Schuler and Byron Dacy of the Creighton men’s soccer team have been named Preseason All-Americans by College Soccer News. Schuler was honored on the first team and Dacy was tabbed to the second team. The duo is part of a seven member senior class which will look to lead the Bluejays to their fourth straight Missouri Valley Conference regular-season title and 18th consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance.

Schuler, who’s father Chris is a local referee and is 1st cousin to Michael and Tyler Bennett (Kickapoo), a second-team All-America honoree by both College Soccer News and the NSCAA last year, returns to lead one of the top defenses in the NCAA. The MVC Defensive Player of the Year as a junior last season, Schuler and the Bluejay defense posted a school record 13 shutouts to lead the nation in shutout percentage (.650). Creighton’s 0.48 goals against average ranked second in the country. A leader on CU’s backline, the 6-foot-4 defender paced the team by playing 1,852 of the team’s 1,864 minutes last year.

Dacy has been named to the preseason MAC Hermann Trophy watch list three times in his career and enters his fifth season at Creighton as the active leader in goals (17), assists (19) and points (53). Last year he returned following a medical redshirt due to a torn ACL in 2007 and started 10 of 20 matches for the Bluejays. The forward had two goals and four assists for eight points last year, after leading the team in points scored in both of his first two seasons on campus. The MVC Freshman of the Year in 2005, Dacy had career bests with nine goals and nine assists for 27 points during his rookie campaign.

Garrett Web has been named to the 3rd team after scoring 7 goals and passing out 5 assists last season en route to All-MVC honors.

Creighton and Drake have also been ranked in the Top 30 Preseason poll by College Soccer News.

2. Creighton – The Bluejays return nine starters from the 2008 team that was 16-2-2 overall and advanced to the Elite Eight in the NCAA Tournament. Byron Dacy and Ethan Finlay return to give the Jays a talented one-two punch up top while Chris Schuler and 5th year senior Seth Sinovic anchor a very solid Creighton backline.
21. Drake – Things are looking up in Des Moines as head coach Sean Holmes welcomes back ten starters from the 2008 team that will be looking for a return trip to the NCAA Tournament. The Bulldogs earned their first ever trip to the NCAA Tourney and secured a school record thirteen wins last year. Seniors Garrett Webb and Kevin Shrout return up-top.