University of Connecticut Athletics
Kyle Durham Tabbed as BIG EAST Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year, Huskies Picked to Finish Second in East Division
8/11/2026 11:15:00 AM | Men's Soccer
NEW YORK – UConn men's soccer standout goalie Kyle Durham has been selected as the Preseason BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year. The Huskies were voted to finish in second place in the East Division in the BIG EAST Preseason Coaches' Poll.
Durham, a redshirt-junior from Brooklyn, New York enters his third season with the Huskies and second as the full-time starter in net. Last season, Durham had a breakout campaign, starting in all 21 games while recording eight clean sheets and leading the nation with 98 saves. He led all BIG EAST goalkeepers in saves per game (4.67) and save percentage (.803) in 2025. His stellar season in between the sticks earned him All-BIG EAST Second Team and United Soccer Coaches Third Team All-Region honors.
UConn finished as the BIG EAST runner-up last season, falling to Georgetown, 3-1 in the conference tournament championship match. The Huskies went 5-2-1 in league play in 2025, their best BIG EAST record under fifth-year head coach Chris Gbandi. UConn garnered a league best six All-BIG EAST selections last season, but will return just one of those six players, Durham, to its 2026 roster.
UConn will return key defenders Alex Tupay and Johan Hamel from last year's roster, along with midfielders Max Gummesson, and Preston Alessio, and forward Evan Pickering.
UConn opens the 2026 season against Syracuse on Thursday, August 20 at 5:00pm at Morrone Stadium. TICKETS
BIG EAST Preseason Men's Soccer Coaches' Poll
East Division
(first-place votes)
1. Georgetown (11) 66
2. UConn 46
3. Providence (1) 45
4. St. John's 37
5. Seton Hall 36
6. Villanova 16
Midwest Division
(first-place votes)
1. Akron (11) 66
2. Creighton (1) 56
3. Xavier 43
4. Marquette 34
5. DePaul 27
6. Butler 20
Preseason BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year
Mitchell Baker, F, Georgetown
Preseason BIG EAST Midfielder of the Year
Til Kauschke, M, Seton Hall
Preseason BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year
Tate Lampman, D, Georgetown
Preseason BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year
Kyle Durham, GK, UConn
Preseason All-BIG EAST Team ^
Remi Agunbiade, F, Akron
Matt Dreas, M, Akron
Kyle Durham, GK, UConn
Matthew Reed, D, Creighton *
Noeh Hernandez, M, DePaul
Mitchell Baker, F, Georgetown *
Tate Lampman, D, Georgetown
Matthew Van Horn, M, Georgetown
Brandon Marshall, D, Providence
Sam Montalto, F, Providence
Til Kauschke, M, Seton Hall
Mikkel Lejbowicz, F, Seton Hall
*Unanimous Selection
^12 members on the Preseason All-BIG EAST Team due to a tie in the voting.
