Creighton University
Providence
Women's Soccer Continues Homestand with Pivotal Match Against Providence on Sunday
10/11/2024 11:04:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Match #12: Providence Friars (5-6-1, 2-2-0 BE) at Creighton Bluejays (5-5-1, 2-3-0 BE)
Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024 • 1:00 p.m. • Omaha, Neb. • Morrison Stadium
LIVE VIDEOÂ |Â LIVE STATSÂ |Â RADIOÂ |Â CU NOTESÂ (PDF)
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Fresh off a 2-1 win over UConn last week, Creighton (5-5-1, 2-3-0 BE) looks to carry momentum into a pivotal matchup against Providence (5-6-1, 2-2 BE) on Sunday afternoon inside Morrison Stadium. Kickoff between the Friars and Bluejays is set for 1 p.m. CT.
Follow the Match
Sunday's matches will feature both live video and live stats.Â
Live stats for Sunday's contest against Providence will be featured through http://Creighton.StatBroadcast.com, while live video will be available on FloSports with Jon Schriner and Shad Beam on the call.
A subscription is required to view the event on FloSports. More information can be found at GoCreighton.com/FloSports.Â
Sunday's match will also be simulcast on the radio on 1180 the Zone (KZOT), as well as at http://GoCreighton.com/listen1180.
Links to video and live stats will be provided on the Creighton Women's Soccer schedule page.
Updates will also be provided during the match on Twitter (@CreightonWSoc).
Scouting Creighton (5-5-1, 2-3-0 BE)
The Bluejays enter Sunday's match with a 5-5-1 overall record and currently sit in a tie for third in the BIG EAST with a 2-3-0 mark in league play.
Creighton started slow in conference play, dropping their first two matches at Georgetown (1-0) and at home vs. Villanova (2-0). The Bluejays, however, have increased offensive production over the last few weeks, posting wins over Marquette (1-0) and UConn (2-1), while dropping a heartbreaking at Xavier (2-1) in between.Â
Since recording one goal in four matches from Sept. 6-26, the Bluejays have exploded to score four times in the last three contests and are 3-1-0 when scoring at least two goal this season.
Leading the Bluejays offensively is senior attacker, Azumi Manriki. Following a breakout season in 2023 where she earned Second Team All-BIG EAST honors, Manriki has collected a team-high three goals on a team-high 18 shots. Seniors Ariana Mondiri and Stella Downing follow closely behind with two goals each, while six addition Bluejays have found the back of the net at least once this year.Â
Creighton is anchored in net by senior goalkeeper, Alyssa Zalac. Zalac has been busy between the post this season, recording 42 saves while starting all 11 matches, logging a combined 990 minutes in goal. Zalac's 42 saves rank her third in the BIG EAST, while her 3.82 saves per game is sufficient for second-most in the league.
The Bluejays bring back 15 letterwinners, including five returning starters who boast a wealth of experience from a season ago. Fifth-year seniors Lara Kazandjian and Downing are expected to make significant impacts in the Bluejays offense this season, while seniors Maddie Radke and Alyssa Judkins anchor the Bluejays back line defensively.Â
Head coach Jimmy Walker is in his first season at the helm of the Bluejays and owns a 181-100-27 career record.Â
Scouting Providence (5-6-1, 2-2-0 BE)
Providence enters Sunday's contest with the Bluejays sporting a 5-6-1 overall record, while recording two BIG EAST victories in route to a 2-2-0 league record. The Friars arrive in Omaha on a two game scoreless losing streak, following back-to-back wins over St. John's and Butler to open BIG EAST.Â
The Friars have defended home turf at a high rate, posting a 5-1-1 record in home matches at Chapey Field. Despite strong performances at home, Providence has struggled immensely on the road, losing all five road contests (0-5-0) while being outscored 10-1.Â
Controlling Providence's offensive attack is graduate transfer Kacey Lawrence. Following Lawrence's high-powered performance at the University of Michigan last year (11 goals, nine assists), Lawrence has recorded team-highs for the Friars with four goals and four assists. Following closely behind is freshman Kristin Middaugh with two goals in her debut season.
In the net, goalkeeping duties for Providence are split between the graduate duo, Emma Bodmer and Ellie Thallman. Bodmer has spent the majority of the time in between the posts, recording 660 minutes of action over 12 matches while owning 29 total saves. Thallman has appeared in nine contests for the Friars this season and has recorded 17 saves over 405 minutes of playing time.Â
Providence was picked fifth in the BIG EAST Preseason Coaches' poll this season as head coach Sam Lopes is in his 11th season with the Friars.
Series History Against The Friars
Creighton and Providence battle for the 11th time in program history on Sunday afternoon. The Bluejays are 3-2-0 in matches played at Morrison Stadium but trail in the overall series 4-6-0.Â
Creighton has dropped six of the last eight matches against Providence, including falling 3-1 in Rhode Island last fall. Â
Prior to Creighton's 2-0 victory in 2022 and the Friars 3-1 win last season, the first eight matches in the series had been decided by one goal with five of the contests being determined in overtime.Â
Brace Yourself
Stella Downing netted the first goal of her collegiate career in the 13th minute against UConn on Oct. 6 and added in a game-winning goal in the 85th minute to record the first brace of her career.Â
Scoring her two goals last Sunday, Downing became the first Bluejay to score twice in a match since Abigail Santana logged two goals against North Dakota State on Sept. 10, 2023. In addition, Downing became just the fourth Bluejay to score two goals in a BIG EAST match since Creighton joining the league in 2013.Â
Braces in BIG EAST Play (Since 2013)
Player   Opponent   Date
Lauren Sullivan   Villanova   10/4/15
Lauren Sullivan   Providence   10/17/15
Lauren Sullivan   Marquette   9/25/16
Taryn Jakubowski   Xavier   10/23/16
Taryn Jakubowski   Providence   10/26/17
Skylar Heinrich   Marquette   3/21/21
Stella Downing   UConn   10/6/24
Downing Earns BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Week
Creighton senior midfielder Stella Downing collected the first weekly honor of her Bluejay career, earning BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Week on Monday, Oct. 7.Â
Downing led the Bluejays to a 1-1-0 record last week, recording her first career goal and the first brace of her collegiate career during Creighton's 2-1 win over UConn on Sunday.
After recording two shots, including one on goal, in the Bluejays 2-1 setback to Xavier on Thursday, Downing led the Jays with a pair of goals in Creighton's 2-1 win over UConn on Sunday afternoon. The Vancouver, Canada native touched the back of the net for the first time in her career in the 13th minutes, as a fumbled ball from UConn's MaryKate Ward fell to the foot of Downing, who tapping a shot into the net to give the Jays a 1-0 lead.Â
With the match leveled at 1-1 and less than six minutes remaining, Downing found herself on an island with the Huskies goalkeeper off a perfectly placed pass from senior Ariana Mondiri. Downing then drove in her second goal of the match and the game-winner with a rocket past the outstretched reach of Ward in the 85th minute (84:44) to secure the Bluejays 2-1 victory.Â
Netting two goals on UConn, Downing became the first Bluejay to score twice in a match since Abigail Santana logged two goals against North Dakota State on Sept. 10, 2023. In addition, Downing became just the fourth Bluejay to score two goals in a BIG EAST match since joining the league in 2013, joining Skylar Heinrich (vs. Marquette, 3/21/21), Taryn Jakubowski (vs. Providence, 10/26/17, vs. Xavier, 10/23/16) and Lauren Sullivan (vs. Marquette, 9/25/16, vs. Providence, 10/17/15, vs. Villanova, 10/4/15).
Scoring First Yields Success
Through 11 matches this season, Creighton is 4-2-0 when scoring first, but 1-3-0 when the opponent scores first. The Bluejays are also 0-0-1 in draws. Additionally, CU is 3-1-0 when leading at the break, 1-2-0 when trailing at halftime and 1-2-1 when tied at the break.
Last season Creighton finished the season with 2-1-2 record with scoring first, but 2-8-1 when the opponent scores first.Â
Despite starting this season 2-1-0, Creighton has had incredible success when netting the first goal of the match since joining the BIG EAST in 2013.Â
Since the start of the 2013 season, the Bluejays own a 65-13-12 record when finding the back of the net first, but a 19-79-8 mark when the opponent scores first and a 0-0-8 in scoreless draws.Â
Late Match Dramatics
Stella Downing's game-winning goal during the 85th minute (84:44) on Oct. 6 against UConn marked Creighton's 17th game-winner with less than 10 minutes remaining in regulation time and/or in overtime since joining the BIG EAST in 2013. Â
Including Downing's game-winner on Sunday, Creighton has scored a game-winner during the final 10 minutes of regulation nine times and a game-winner in golden goal overtime eighth times. It also was the 12th consecutive season that Creighton has scored a game-winning goal in the final 10 minutes of regulation and/or in overtime.
Hailey Rothwell owns the most dramatic game-winner in recent seasons, scoring in the 110th minute of a double-overtime 2-1 win over Montana in the 2021 season opener.
Creighton Game-Winning Goals During Final 10 Minutes/Overtime since 2013
Date   Opponent       GW Goal Time (Scorer)
9/15/13   Montana   93:48 (Kirstyn Corder)
8/22/14Â Â Â at SDSUÂ Â Â 82:27 (Kirstyn Corder)
9/7/14   Drake   85:49 (Addison Nokels)
9/21/14   at Omaha   101:57 (Lauren Sullivan)
10/2/14   Providence   106:25 (Addison Nokels)
10/8/15   at Seton Hall   98:26 (Alyssa Jara)
9/25/16   Marquette   107:32 (Lauren Sullivan)
10/15/17   Villanova   88:35 (Kaira Houser)
9/7/18   South Dakota   95:55 (Keelie Fothergill)
9/23/18   Xavier   85:12 (Taryn Jakubowski)
9/6/19   Iowa State   87:50 (Skylar Heinrich)
9/17/19   at Kansas City   85:06 (Kylin Grubb)
4/1/21   at Marquette   91:02 (Ansley Atkinson)
8/19/21   Montana   109:14 (Hailey Rothwell)
10/13/22   at Seton Hall   85:50 (Ariana Mondiri)
9/10/23Â Â Â at NDSUÂ Â Â 83:39 (Hitomi Yamaue)
10/6/24   UConn   84:44 (Stella Downing)
Bluejays' Low Scoring Start To BIG EAST Play
Creighton started BIG EAST play sluggishly in the attacking third, scoring just one goal in their first three matches of league play. The Bluejays, however, have regrouped and delivered a trio of goals over the last two contests, earning a 2-1 win over UConn last season.Â
This season marked the Bluejays' fourth time in the last five seasons and the fifth time since joining the BIG EAST that Creighton has only scored one goal through the first three matches of the conference schedule. Â
Creighton's three goals allowed through the first three matches were also tied for the least amount of goals allowed for a team single joining the BIG EAST in 2013. The Bluejays also allowed just three goals during the first three matches of BIG EAST play during the 2021 season.Â
The Bluejays have averaged 9.6 goals per conference season (1.05 per match) since joining the league in 2013. The most goals Creighton has scored in BIG EAST play was 18 during the 2016 season.Â
Creighton Through First Three Matches of BIG EAST Play
Year    Goals Scored    Goals Allowed
2013Â Â Â Â Â Â 4 (6)Â Â Â Â Â Â 4 (15)
2014Â Â Â Â Â Â 4 (7)Â Â Â Â Â Â 9 (16)
2015Â Â Â Â Â Â 4 (11)Â Â Â Â Â Â 10 (27)
2016Â Â Â Â Â Â 6 (18)Â Â Â Â Â Â 9 (16)
2017Â Â Â Â Â Â 1 (6)Â Â Â Â Â Â 5 (14)
2018Â Â Â Â Â Â 3 (9)Â Â Â Â Â Â 4 (16)
2019Â Â Â Â Â Â 4 (9)Â Â Â Â Â Â 4 (11)
2020Â Â Â Â Â Â 1 (10)Â Â Â Â Â Â 7 (11)
2021Â Â Â Â Â Â 1 (7)Â Â Â Â Â Â 3 (18)
2022Â Â Â Â Â Â 3 (13)Â Â Â Â Â Â 6 (12)
2023Â Â Â Â Â Â 1 (10)Â Â Â Â Â Â 6 (18)
2024Â Â Â Â Â Â 1 (4)Â Â Â Â Â Â 3 (6)
(#) - Indicates final conference goal totals
Home Sweet Home
Creighton owns a 116-62-28 (.629) all-time record at home since moving into Morrison Stadium prior to the 2003 season. This year the Bluejays are 3-1-1 in home matches with impressive wins over Western Michigan (3-0), previously unbeaten Kansas City (1-0) and UConn (2-1) as well as a scoreless shutout over then #19 Saint Louis.Â
Including this year's win over the Broncos, the Bluejays are now 22-9-5 all-time in home-openers, which includes an 13-5-4 mark during home-openers at Morrison Stadium.Â
In addition to Creighton owning a 116-62-28 overall record at home, the Bluejays also hold a 54-37-13 mark at Morrison Stadium since joining the BIG EAST in 2013 and a 18-30-5 record during home league matches.Â
Most Win in Morrison Stadium in a Season
   Year   Wins   Overall Home Record
1.   2010   9   9-1-2
2.   2009   8   8-2-2
   2008   8   8-2-1
   2005   8   8-1-1
5.   2015   7   7-4-0
   2007   7   7-2-1
7.   2022   6   6-1-3
   2019   6   6-4-0
   2016   6   6-2-2
   2013   6   6-4-0
   2006   6   6-5-0
Bringing the PhysicalityÂ
Over the course of the last few years there is one portion of the game that Creighton is not shy to bring, and that is the physicality.Â
Through the first 11 matches this season, Creighton has racked up 183 fouls and a total of 23 yellow cards. The Bluejays currently lead the country in fouls per game with 16.64 and is tied for third in yellow cards with 23.
Creighton's 23 yellow cards this season are the most in a singles season since at least the 2000 season. Â
In 2023, the Bluejays were called for 11.28 fouls pre match, ranking 33rd in the nation. Creighton was also only booked for a total of 12 yellow cards all of last season.Â
During the Bluejays' 2-1 win over Iowa State on Aug. 18, Creighton was called for 27 fouls over the course of the match. The Bluejays 27 fouls were its most in a single match since being called for 30 fouls during a match against Illinois State on Nov. 9, 2003.Â
Year   FPG   Yellow Cards  Â
2024Â Â Â 16.64 (1st)Â Â Â 23 (3rd)Â Â Â
2023Â Â Â 11.28 (33rd)Â Â Â 12 (209th)Â Â Â
2022Â Â Â 9.85 (118th)Â Â Â 9 (278th)Â Â Â
2021Â Â Â 9.17 (169th)Â Â Â 6 (301st)Â Â Â
2020Â Â Â 10.70 (48th)Â Â Â 4 (215th)Â Â Â
2019Â Â Â 11.56 (39th)Â Â Â 17 (41st)Â Â Â
2018Â Â Â 8.94 (171st)Â Â Â 10 (155th)Â Â Â
Scoring Two Works Almost Everytime
It would stand to reason that scoring goals increases a team's chances of winning. For the Bluejays, that is most certainly the case.Â
Since the program began in 1989, Creighton owns a 275-23-12 all-time record when scoring two or more goals in a match, including a 3-1-0 record this season. On the flip side, the Bluejays are 47-251-52 when being held to fewer than two goals.
Additionally, the Bluejays are 68-8-3 when scoring two or more goals, but 15-84-24 when netting fewer than two goals since joining the BIG EAST in 2013.
Official RPI Rankings Updated
The fourth official RPI Rankings were released by the NCAA on Monday, Oct. 7. The Bluejays were listed at No. 43 in the initial release on Sept. 16 but fell to as low as on 90 on Sept. 30, before knocking off UConn on Oct. 6 to climb to 62 in this week's rankings. Creighton is one of five BIG EAST teams listed inside the top 100 of the RPI rankings.
BIG EAST in the RPI (Oct. 7 edition)
16.   Georgetown
28.   Xavier
53.   UConn
62.   Creighton
87.   Butler
144.   Providence
164.   DePaul
165.   St. John's
168.   Villanova
175.   Marquette
201.   Seton Hall
