IU men's soccer senior defender Grant Lillard was named to Top Drawer Soccer’s Preseason Best XI and College Soccer News’ First-Team Preseason All-American sides on Monday.
These are the second and third national honors for Lillard this preseason. He was also named to the MAC Hermann Preseason Watch List.
The Big Ten also added Lillard to its preseason watch list earlier in August. The senior enters the 2017 season after having received second-team honors from both Top Drawer Soccer and College Soccer News for his play last season.
Lillard started 18 games last season and served an important role in an IU defense that posted a Big Ten-best 11 clean sheets. He was named to the All-Big Ten First Team and given All-Region First honors for his play in 2016.
The Hillsdale, Illinois, product figures to play a big role in 2017 for IU Coach Todd Yeagley.
Lillard is one of three Big Ten players on Top Drawer’s first team and one of two on College Soccer News’ first team. He joins Maryland forward Gordon Wild on both of the first teams. The Hoosier defender is the only IU player to receive honors from either site.
The No. 7 Hoosiers will kick off their regular season Friday in South Bend, Indiana, against the Cal Poly Mustangs of the Big West Conference.
Josh Eastern
