Creighton Women's Soccer Battles Villanova on Sunday

Omaha, Neb. -- With just four BIG EAST matches remaining in the regular season, the Creighton women's soccer squad begins a stretch of consecutive road matches at Villanova on Sunday, Oct. 14 at 12:00 pm. The Bluejays will try to move closer to reaching the BIG EAST Tournament as Creighton enters the match just one point out of a four-way tie for fourth place.

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Sunday, Oct. 14 @ 12 pm

Creighton (5-8-0, 2-3-0) at Villanova (9-5-0, 3-2-0)

Stats: creighton.statbroadcast.com

Video: Villanova
villanova.com/watch

Series History: Creighton Trails Villanova, 2-3-0
The Bluejays are off to Philadelphia for what could be the conference
changing match of the season as Villanova hosts Creighton on Sunday afternoon. The Bluejays grabbed a 1-0 win against the Wildcats last season at home, Creighton's second win against Villanova. The Bluejays are 0-2-0 against the Wildcats in Philadelphia.

Game-By-Game vs. Wildcats
Date   Location   Score
10/17/13   at Villanova   L, 0-2
10/16/14   Villanova   L, 0-2
10/4/15   Villanova   W, 3-1
10/2/16   at Villanova   L, 1-3
10/15/17   Villanova   W, 1-0

Bold = Home Match

Scouting Creighton (5-8-0, 2-3-0 BIG EAST)
Creighton split two matches last week at home, falling to No. 5 Georgetown and taking a 2-1 decision from Seton Hall on Sunday, Oct. 7.

Sophomore Keelie Fothergill was a difference make for the Bluejays last week, tallying an assist for each of Creighton's three goals. With her three helpers, Fothergill took the team lead with four on the season.

Defense will be critical for Creighton down the stretch of the season as the Bluejays are 5-0-0 when allowing one goal or less. Conversely Villanova is 7-0-0 when scoring at least two goals.

Scouting Villanova (9-5-0, 3-2-0 BIG EAST)
The Wildcats have already surpassed their win total from 2017 and are on the verge of equaling the programs wins in BIG EAST action as well as overall from the past two seasons combined. Villanova went 6-12-0 last year and 4-14-0 in 2016. The Wildcats posted 2-7-0 marks in conference during each campaign.

The different this season has been the improved defense as goalkeeper Hensley Hancuff has allowed just ten goals in ten matches.

Offensively the Wildcats have gotten contributions from 14 different players, led by 15 points from Bri Austin (seven goals and one assist). Just behind her teammate is Chloe O'Neil with 11 points on four goals and three assists.

Villanova has held its opposition to one goal or less in ten of its 14 matches, going 7-3-0 in those contests. Last time out the Wildcats pushed #5 Georgetown into overtime before falling 1-0.

BIG EAST Implications Grow as the Season Turns
With three of their final BIG EAST matches coming on the road, the Bluejays sit one point out of a four-way tie for fourth place. Creighton will likely need to scoop up at least two wins to reach the BIG EAST tournament for the first time since joining the conference. Creighton faces two of the top three teams on the road in its next two matches, battling Villanova on Sunday and Butler the following Thursday.

Creighton's Defense is the Key
Already 13 matches into the season a pattern has developed for the Bluejays. When Creighton has held their opponents to one goal or less the Bluejays are 5-0-0. If the defense has allowed two goals or more Creighton is 0-8-0.

Creighton Women's Soccer Battles Villanova on Sunday

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Players Mentioned

Keelie Fothergill