Creighton University
Connecticut
Women’s Soccer Opens BIG EAST Play on Thursday at Connecticut; Hosts #17 Georgetown on Sunday
9/20/2023 9:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023 • 6:00 p.m. CT
Storrs, Conn. | Joseph J. Morrone Stadium
Television: FloSport
Series History: Connecticut leads 2-0-0
LIVE VIDEO | FLOSPORTS INFO | LIVE STATS | CU NOTES (PDF)
Match #10: Creighton Bluejays (2-2-4) vs #17 Georgetown Hoyas (4-1-3)
Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023 • 1:00 p.m.
Omaha, Neb. | Morrison Stadium
Television: FloSports
Series History: Georgetown leads 8-0-3
LIVE VIDEO | FLOSPORTS INFO | LIVE STATS | CU NOTES (PDF)
Up Next
Creighton (2-2-4, 0-0-0 BIG EAST) continues a busy September when it opens its 11th season in the BIG EAST Conference with a road trip to Connecticut before hosting #17 Georgetown.
The Bluejays begin league action on Thursday night at 6 p.m. Central when it takes on Connecticut at Joseph J. Morrone Stadium in Storrs.
Creighton will then return to open the home portion of the BIG EAST schedule against #17 Georgetown on Sunday at 1 p.m. inside Morrison Stadium.
Follow the Match
Thursday and Sunday's matches will feature both live video and live stats.
Live video for both contests will be available on FloSports, while Jon Schriner and Shad Beam will be on the call for Sunday's match against Georgetown. Live stats for the two contests will be featured through http://Creighton.StatBroadcast.com.
A subscription is required to view the event on FloSports. More information can be found at GoCreighton.com/flosports.
Links to video and live stats will be provided on the Creighton Women's Soccer schedule page. Updates will be provided during the match on Twitter (@CreightonWSoc).
Scouting Creighton (1-2-4)
Creighton went 2-2-4 this fall against a rigorous non-conference schedule that has featured matches against four power-five conference opponents.
The Bluejays own a pair of wins over North Dakota State (3-2) and South Dakota State (1-0), while also earning draws against Nebraska (2-2), Kansas State (0-0), Drake (2-2) and Minnesota (0-0).
Offensively, Creighton is led by senior Abigail Santana with three goals and two assists, while seniors Azumi Manriki and Hannah Luke follow closely behind with a goal and an assist.
Senior's Maddie Radke and Hitomi Yamaue as well as freshmen Savanna Soloman and Shani Sirota have each provided one goal for the Bluejays this season.
Fifth-year senior Keelan Terrell has been the driving force for the Bluejays in goal thus far. In eight matches, Terrell ranks second in the BIG EAST with 36 saves. She posted three shutouts while playing all 720 minutes in between the posts.
Fresh off a second trip to the BIG EAST Tournament Semifinals in 2022, the Bluejays have renewed energy as 15 players return from last season's squad that posted an 8-4-8 record. Creighton returned eight players who started 10 or more matches in 2022, led by preseason all-conference selection Lara Kazandjian.
Creighton also welcomes in 14 newcomers, including transfer Andrine Westlie and freshman Maia Sirota are each expected to contribute during their first seasons in Omaha.
Head coach Ross Paule is in his ninth year at the helm of the Bluejays.
Scouting Connecticut (3-2-2)
Connecticut is 3-2-2 this fall, including a 3-0-2 home record. The Huskies three wins have all come via a shutout, as UConn earned victories over Boston (2-0), New Hampshire (2-0) and Marist College (5-0). Connecticut also owns a pair of draws against Army (0-0) and Buffalo (1-0).
The Huskies lone losses of the year have come on the road at Harvard (2-1) and at Yale (1-0).
Sophomore Chioma Okafor leads the Huskies offense and ranks tied for six in the BIG EAST with nine points on four goals and one assist, while junior Abbey Jones and freshman Anaya Johnson have each contributed one goal and an assist this season.
Five other Connecticut players have scored one goal this season, as the team ranks second in the BIG EAST in total shots with 133.
Senior Kaitlyn Mahoney has played all 630 minutes in goal for the Huskies this season. She has allowed just four goals and ranks tied for third with a 0.57 goals against average.
Connecticut was picked to finish sixth in this year's BIG EAST Preseason Coaches' poll as head coach Margaret Rodriguez enters her sixth season at the helm of the Huskies.
Series History Against The Huskies
Creighton and Connecticut have met just two times previously with the Huskies holding a 2-0-0 lead in the overall series.
Last season in Omaha, Connecticut took a 1-0 lead in the 51st minute before a goal from Peighton Steffen leveled the match at 1-1 in the 83rd minute. Just over two minutes later UConn's Cara Jordan delivered the game-winner for the Huskies.
Creighton is 0-1 in matches played in Storrs, while Ross Paule is 0-2 against Margaret Rodriguez.
Scouting #17 Georgetown (4-1-3)
Ranked No. 17 in this week's United Soccer Coaches Top 25 poll, Georgetown is off to a 4-1-3 start with shutout wins over Loyola Marymount (1-0), Bucknell (1-0), Virginia Tech (1-0) and Rutgers (2-0). The Hoyas lone loss came on the road at Princeton last Thursday night in New Jersey.
Georgetown has eight women with at least one goal, a group led by sophomore Natalie Means (4 pts, 2 goals). Sophomore Henley Tippins has contributed a goal and two assists, while senior Tatum Lenain has dished out a team-high three assists.
Defensively, the reigning BIG EAST Defensive Play of the Year, Julia Leas returns for her fifth year and guides one of the top defenses in the NCAA.
Graduate Student Allie Augur, the 2022 BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year, has split time in goal with sophomore Cara Martin this season. Augur has allowed just one goal this season and ranks tied for second in the BIG EAST with a 0.20 goals against average. Augur has missed the past three games for the Hoyas, but Martin has stepped up and owns a 1.33 goals against average, allowing four goals in three matches.
Georgetown was picked to repeat as the champion in this year's BIG EAST Preseason Coaches' poll. Head coach Dave Nolan enters his 18th season at the helm of the Hoyas.
Series History Against The Hoyas
Creighton and Georgetown will meet for the 12th time in program history on Sunday, Sept. 24 as the Bluejays welcome the Hoyas to Morrison Stadium for the fifth time in the series.
The Hoyas have earned the better of the matchup, claiming victories in eight of the contests. The other three battles ended in draws, including a draw in the last meeting in Omaha.
Last season, Georgetown defeated Creighton, 4-0 at Shaw Field and held on for dear life to eliminate the Bluejays with a 1-0 victory in the semifinals of the BIG EAST Tournament.
Georgetown holds a 3-0-1 advantage in matches played at Morrison Stadium, but the Bluejays' level of competition with the BIG EAST's best team has been strong, forcing overtime in four of the last seven battles.
Creighton in BIG EAST Openers
Entering its 11th season in the BIG EAST, the Bluejays are 3-6-1 in BIG EAST openers. Thursday marks just the fourth time in 11 seasons that Creighton begins BIG EAST play at Morrison Stadium.
Under head coach Ross Paule, the Bluejays are 3-4-1 in the BIG EAST opening match.
Creighton BIG EAST History
Year Opener (Result) Final Record (Place)
2013 Marquette (L) 2-6-1 (9th)
2014 at Marquette (L) 2-5-2 (8th)
2015 at Marquette (L) 2-7-0 (8th)
2016 Marquette (W 2OT) 4-5-0 (7th)
2017 at Xavier (L) 2-5-2 (8th)
2018 Xavier (W) 3-5-1 (7th)
2019 DePaul (W) 2-4-3 (8th)
2020 Xavier (L) 4-4-0 (3rd MW)
2021 #25 Georgetown (T) 1-8-1 (9th)
2022 Connecticut (L) 4-3-3 (T-4th)
League Opener History
Creighton owns a 13-10-3 record all-time in conference openers, including a 3-4-1 record under Ross Paule.
The Bluejays are just 2-6-1 when opening conference play on the road but own an 11-4-2 record when opening conference play at home, including a 7-3-3 mark since moving into Morrison Stadium.
In league road openers, Creighton is 8-15-2 overall, but 0-9-1 in the BIG EAST. In conference home openers, Creighton is 15-8-3 overall and 3-4-1 under Paule.
Return to the BIG EAST Tournament Will Be Paved on the Road
To reach the Bluejays' goal of a return trip to the BIG EAST Tournament (top six teams), Creighton will need to find points on the road. During the Bluejays' 10 seasons in the BIG EAST, Creighton has a combined road record of 10-28-8 in conference play. Last season the Bluejays success on the road helped propel themselves into the BIG EAST Tournament.
Creighton's BIG EAST Record on the road
2013: 2-2-1
2014: 1-2-1
2015: 1-4-0
2016: 0-4-0
2017: 0-3-2
2018: 1-3-0
2019: 1-1-3
2020: 2-2-0
2021: 0-5-0
2022: 2-2-1
First Official RPI Rankings Released
The first official RPI Rankings were released by the NCAA on Monday.
The Bluejays are listed at No. 46 in the initial release. Creighton is one of three BIG EAST teams listed inside the top 50.
BIG EAST in the RPI (Sept. 18 edition)
14. Georgetown
30. Xavier
46. Creighton
54. St. John's
70. Marquette
118. Connecticut
127. Villanova
133. Butler
143. DePaul
189. Seton Hall
Battled Tested Bluejays
Creighton owns a 2-2-4 record this season, but the eight teams the Bluejays have played so far this fall have a combined record of 40-17-14 (.662).
With the first RPI rankings released on Monday, the Bluejays have faced three teams currently listed in the top 30 (0-2-1 vs those opponents) and five teams in the top 100 (0-2-3).
Team (RPI Rank) W-L-T (9/19) CU's Result
Nebraska (18) 6-1-2 T, 2-2
Missouri (10) 5-1-2 L, 1-3
Saint Louis (29) 7-2-1 L, 1-4
Kansas State (132) 2-4-3 T, 0-0
Drake (88) 5-2-2 T, 2-2
Minnesota (73) 4-2-2 T, 0-0
North Dakota State (191) 4-3-2 W, 3-2
South Dakota State (121) 7-2-0 W, 1-0
Connecticut (118) 3-2-2 ???
Georgetown (14) 4-1-3 ???
Bluejays All-Time vs. Top 25 Competition
Facing off against #17 Georgetown on Sunday, Creighton will be seeking its first win over a ranked opponent since defeating #12 Wisconsin, 1-0, back on Sept. 3, 1994.
The Bluejays have faced ranked opposition 24 times and hold a 1-19-4 overall record. Since current head coach Ross Paule took the helm in 2015, Creighton is 0-7-3 against ranked opponents, with each of the three draws coming against Georgetown.
Date Opponent Result
10/27/90 at #20 Central Florida T, 1-1 (ot)
9/28/91 #1 North Carolina L, 1-9
10/2/92 #1 North Carolina L, 0-4
9/3/94 #12 Wisconsin W, 1-0
10/30/94 #7 at Cincinnati L, 4-5 (ot)
11/15/02 % at #6 Santa Clara L, 1-5
11/12/04 % at #8 Kansas L, 1-3
8/26/05 #25 Wisconsin L, 0-2
11/16/07 % vs. #9 USC L, 0-3
9/2/11 #5 Oklahoma State L, 0-1
8/26/12 at #4 Oklahoma State L, 1-4
10/20/13 * at #15 Georgetown L, 0-4
10/11/14 * at #13 DePaul L, 0-2
10/19/14 * #25 Georgetown L, 0-1
10/28/16 * #10 Georgetown L, 0-3
10/5/17 * at #12 Georgetown T, 1-1 (2ot)
10/19/17 * #22 Butler L, 0-3
9/14/18 #20 Oklahoma State L, 0-2
10/4/18 * #5 Georgetown L, 1-7
10/13/19 * at #10 Georgetown T, 2-2 (2ot)
4/16/21 & vs. #10 Georgetown L, 1-2 (ot)
9/23/21 * #25 Georgetown T, 1-1 (2ot)
9/25/22 * at #23 Georgetown L, 0-4
11/3/22 & vs. 18 Georgetown L, 0-1
* BIG EAST?regular-season match
& BIG EAST Tournament match
% NCAA?Tournament
Home matches in bold.
Terrell Earns BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Week
Creighton fifth-year senior Keelan Terrell was named the BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Week for the third time in her career on Monday, September 18.
The Olathe, Kan. native was stellar in goal, helping the Bluejays to a 1-0 win over South Dakota State on Sept. 15 in Omaha. Terrell registered her third shutout of the season, collecting two saves as the Bluejays defense held the Jackrabbits scoreless for the first time this season and to a season-low two shots on goal.
Creighton Picked Fifth In BIG EAST Preseason Poll
The Bluejays were picked to finish fifth in the BIG EAST Preseason Coaches' Poll, the league announced on Aug. 10.
Creighton earned 67 points in the preseason coaches' poll to place fifth, two points behind fourth place finisher, Butler. The Bluejays went 4-3-3 during BIG EAST play last season to tie for fourth place before bowing out of the postseason in the semifinals of the BIG EAST Championship. The squad returns eight starters and a total of 15 returners from a season ago and welcomes 15 newcomers for the 2023 campaign.
Defending BIG EAST regular-season and tournament champion Georgetown claimed the top spot with 100 points, including the maximum 10 first-place votes. Xavier tallied one first-place vote and a total of 89 points to place second. St. John's totaled 79 points for third, followed by Butler with 69 points for fourth. Connecticut (63), Providence (47), Marquette (34), Villanova (33), DePaul (16) and Seton Hall (14) rounded out the bottom half of the poll.
The top six teams in the final league standings will qualify for the 2023 BIG EAST Championship Presented by JEEP. The first-round matchups will be hosted by the higher seed on Oct. 30 (3 vs. 6 and 4 vs. 5), while the semifinals on Nov. 3 (1 vs. winner of 4/5 and 2 vs. winner of 3/6) and final match on Nov. 6 will be played in Boyds, Md.
Kazandjian Tabbed To Preseason All-BIG EAST Team
Senior midfielder Lara Kazandjian earned individual recognition as the BIG EAST Preseason honors and poll was released on Thursday, Aug. 10.
Kazandjian, a Kirkland, Quebec, Canada native, made an immediate impact in her first season with the Bluejays in 2022. The senior was voted to the All-BIG EAST First Team last fall after leading the Bluejays with nine points on a team-high four goals and one assist. She logged 1,186 minutes in 17 matches on the pitch. Kazandjian is one of eight players returning to the squad this season after starting at least 10 matches during the 2022 season.
Preseason BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year
Abby Isger, Butler, R-Sr., F
Preseason BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year
Julia Leas, Georgetown, Grad., D*
Preseason BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year
Allie Augur, Georgetown, Grad., GK*
Preseason All-BIG EAST Team
Abby Isger, Butler, R-Sr., F
Talia Sommer, Butler, So., F/M
Chioma Okafor, Connecticut, So., F
Lara Kazandjian, Creighton, Sr., M
Allie Augur, Georgetown, Grad., GK*
Julia Leas, Georgetown, Grad., D*
Eliza Turner, Georgetown, Jr., M
Meg Hughes, Providence, Sr., F
Jessica Garziano, St. John's, Grad., F
Natalie Bain, Xavier, So., D
Ella Rogers, Xavier, Jr., M
*Unanimous selection
Largest Crowds in Bluejay History
Creighton hosted 1,413 fans at Morrison Stadium on Sept. 15 for its match against South Dakota State, the seventh largest crowd in program history.
Six of the top-11 largest crowds have come under the direction of head coach Ross Paule. The largest crowd to witness a Creighton women's soccer game happed when Creighton claimed a 3-1 victory over Omaha in front of 2,308 fans on Sept. 16, 2017.
Earlier this season, Creighton hosted the third largest crowd in school history, as 1,834 fans saw the Bluejays deliver a pair of equalizing goals in the second half to earn a 2-2 draw against Nebraska in the season opener on Aug. 17.
Overall, Creighton ranks 19th nationally in average home attendance (through matches played Sept. 19) with an average of 1,170 fans per home match.
Top-11 Creighton Women's Soccer Home Crowds
1. 2,308 vs. Nebraska-Omaha, Sept. 16. 2017 (W, 3-1)
2. 2,023 vs. Kansas State, Aug. 23, 2019 (W, 3-2)
3. 1,834 vs. Nebraska, Aug. 17, 2023 (T, 2-2)
4. 1,678 vs. Nebraska-Omaha, Sept. 20, 2013 (W, 3-2)
5. 1,547 vs. Iowa, Sept. 21, 2007 (L, 0-1)
*6. 1,444 vs. South Dakota, Sept. 9, 2016 (W, 2-1)
7. 1,413 vs. South Dakota State, Sept. 15, 2023 (W, 1-0)
8. 1,289 vs. Northern Iowa, Sept. 23, 2011 (W, 1-0)
9. 1,277 vs. Arizona State, Sept. 18, 2009 (L, 1-2)
10. 1,251 vs. Kansas, Sept. 29, 2006 (W, 1-0)
*11. 1,248 vs. South Dakota, Sept. 7, 2018 (W, 2-1 OT)
* - Socctoberfest Matches
The Non-Conference Gauntlet
This season head coach Ross Paule arguably put together the toughest non-conference schedule in program history.
Creighton opened the season with a match-up against Nebraska, who was receiving votes in the United Soccer Coaches Top-25, before battling Power 5 opponent Missouri. Creighton then traveled to defending A10 conference champion Saint Louis, who was also receiving votes in the polls before once again facing off against another Power 5 conference opponent in Kansas State. Creighton then hosted Minnesota in the Bluejays annual socctoberfest on Sept. 8
All told, the Bluejays eight non-conference opponents have combined for a 40-17-14 record this season.
Steffen's Logging Serious Minutes
Since arriving on campus in the fall of 2020 senior Peighton Steffen has been a staple in the Bluejays starting lineup. The heart of Creighton's backline, Steffen has played 5,208 minutes in her career, 99.4 percent of the 5,238 possible minutes she could have played.
Dating back to last season, Steffen has played 2,090 consecutive minutes along the Creighton backline. Her 2,090 consecutive minutes played is the longest stretch by a Bluejay player since Keelan Terrell played 2,193 consecutive minutes in goal between the 2020 and 2021 seasons.
Terrell's Logging Major Minutes
A fixture in goal for Creighton over the last four seasons has graduate goalkeeper Keelan Terrell climbing the Creighton ranks for career goalkeeper minutes.
Over the course of her career with the Bluejays, the Olathe, Kans. native has seen action in 60 matches, making 59 starts and logging 5,432 total minutes in between the posts, ranking second on Creighton's all-time goalkeeper minutes played list.
Her 5,432 total minutes in goal currently ranks 17th among active goalkeepers in Division I.
This season, Terrell has played all 720 minutes in goal for the Bluejays, posting a trio of shutouts against Kansas State, Minnesota and South Dakota State.
Goalkeeper Minutes Played
1. Jaimie Thompson 6,815 2000-03
2. Keelan Terrell 5,432 2019-present
3. Denise Zaver 5,287 1990-93
4. Kristen Casey 5,180 2005-08
5. Maggie Phelan 5,058 1997-00
6. Mary Libert 4,883 1993-96
7. Katie Jo Swanson 3,329 2009-12
8. Danielle Rice 3,303 2013-14
9. Valerie Zimmerer 3,012 2003-06
10. McKenzie Meola 2,869 2016-17
Terrell's Chasing History
Graduate Keelan Terrell has proven time and time again over her first four years as a Bluejay that she is one of the greatest goalkeepers to ever wear a Creighton uniform.
Terrell is one of just five players in Creighton history to rank in the top-10 of every career goalkeeper category. She currently sits second in goalkeeper minutes (5,432), sixth in goals against average (1.21), seventh in shutouts (16), seventh in total saves (196) and ninth in goalkeeper victories (19)
Goalkeeping Victories Total Years
1. Jaimie Thompson 41 2000-03
2. Denise Zaver 35 1990-93
3. Alicia Montgomery 30 2008-11
4. Kristen Casey 29 2005-08
Mary Libert 29 1993-96
6. Maggie Phelan 26 1997-00
7. Danielle Rice 19 2013-14
Valerie Zimmerer 19 2003-06
9. Keelan Terrell 19 2019-present
10. Katie Sullivan 13 2018-20
Saves Total Years
1. Denise Zaver 355 1990-93
2. Jaimie Thompson 345 2000-03
3. Kristen Casey 259 2005-08
4. Mary Libert 256 1993-96
5. Alicia Montgomery 226 2008-11
6. Danielle Rice 199 2013-14
7. Keelan Terrell 196 2019-present
8. Maggie Phelan 193 1997-00
9. Katie Jo Swanson 173 2009-12
10. McKenzie Meola 160 2016-17
Goals Against Average Total Years
(Minimum 1,000 Minutes Played)
1. Alicia Montgomery 0.81 2008-11
2. Valerie Zimmerer 0.96 2004-06
3. Denise Zaver 1.14 1990-93
4. Jaimie Thompson 1.15 2000-03
5. Kristen Casey 1.18 2005-08
6. Keelan Terrell 1.21 2019-present
7. Katie Jo Swanson 1.24 2009-12
8. Danielle Rice 1.36 2013-14
9. Lori Kwapiszeski 1.37 1989-90
10. Mary Libert 1.38 1993-96
Shutouts (indicates shared shutouts)
1. Jaimie Thompson 24 (2) 2000-03
Denise Zaver 24 (8) 1990-93
3. Alicia Montgomery 22 (0) 2008-11
4. Kristen Casey 18 (0) 2005-08
Mary Libert 18 (6) 1993-96
6. Maggie Phelan 17 (6) 1997-00
7. Keelan Terrell 16 (0) 2019-present
8. Valerie Zimmerer 10 (3) 2003-06
Lori Kwapiszeski 10 (8) 1989-90
10. Katie Sullivan 9 (0) 2018-20
Meghan Coleman 9 (6) 1994-97
First of Many?
Not only did freshman Savanna Solomon deliver her career goal against Drake on Sept. 3, but classmate Shani Sirota notched her first score of her collegiate career with the game-winning header against South Dakota State on Sept. 15.
Solomon and Sirota are just the 24th and 25th freshman to score a goal for the Bluejays since joining the BIG EAST in 2013. Solomon's goal aginast Drake was also the first Bluejay goal scored by a Creighton freshman since Hailey Rothwell netted the game-winning goal on a penalty kick in a 2-0 win over Seton Hall on Oct. 17, 2021.
Scoring First Yields Success
Through the first eight matches this season, Creighton is 1-1-1 when scoring first and 1-1-1 when the opponents score first. The Bluejays have also battled to a pair of 0-0 draws.
Additionally, the Bluejays are currently 1-0-0 this season when leading at the break, 1-2-1 when trailing at the break and 0-0-2 when the score is tied at halftime.
Last season, Creighton finished 8-0-2 when scoring first, but 0-4-4 when its opponent scores first. The Bluejays were also a perfect 6-0-0 when leading at the half, but 0-3-3 when trailing after 45 minutes and 2-1-5 when the score was tied at halftime.
Overall, Creighton is 47-11-10 when scoring first, but 11-55-7 when the opponent scores first and 0-0-6 in scoreless draws under head coach Ross Paule.
Prior to Creighton's 3-2 come-from-behind win over North Dakota State on Sept. 10., Creighton's last come-from-behind victory and last victory when trailing at the half came during the 2020 season, when Aida Kardovic and Lea Høiness each netted goals in the second half for a 2-1 win against DePaul (April 4).
