Nov. 12, 1999

Vernon, Conn.- Villanova men’s soccer player Jim Curtin (Oreland, Pa./Bishop McDevitt) has been named to the 1999 All-Big East First Team by a vote of the league’s 12 head coaches. The junior split time this season between his natural position of defender and midfielder, scoring three goals on just 13 shots and totaling six points in 16 games. Curtin, the 1997 Big East Rookie of the Year, was named to the All-Big East Second Team after the 1998 season as a defender. This year he was forced to play more on offense to help the Wildcats score more, but when called upon, he was his usual steady self on defense. Curtin becomes the first Villanova men’s soccer player to make the All-Big East First Team since Doug Nevins in 1995. Villanova finished the ’99 season 2-15-0 overall and 0-11-0 in the Big East.

Individual Big East award winners for 1999 include Seton Hall’s Peter Scavo (Offensive Player of the Year), Connecticut’s Chris Gbandi (Defensive Player of the Year), Rutgers’ Jon Conway (Goalkeeper of the Year), Notre Dame’s Erich Braun (Rookie of the Year), and West Virginia’s Paul Marco (Coach of the Year).