Creighton University
Xavier
Women’s Soccer Set for Battles Against Xavier and UConn
10/2/2024 11:27:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Match #10: Creighton Bluejays (4-4-1, 1-2-0 BE) at Xavier Musketeers (9-1-2, 2-0-1 BE)
Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024 • 6:00 p.m. (CT) • Cincinnati, Ohio • Corcoran Field
LIVE VIDEO | LIVE STATS | CU NOTES (PDF)
Match #11: UConn Huskies (6-2-3, 0-1-2 BE) at Creighton Bluejays (4-4-1, 1-2-0 BE)
Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024 • 1:00 p.m. • Omaha, Neb. • Morrison Stadium
LIVE VIDEO | LIVE STATS | RADIO | CU NOTES (PDF)
Up Next
Fresh off a 1-0 shutout win over Marquette, Creighton (4-4-1, 1-2-0 BE) looks to carry momentum this week as they travel to Xavier on Thursday and host UConn on Sunday.
The Bluejays open play on Thursday, Oct. 3 when they battle Xavier (9-1-2, 2-0-1 BE) at Corcoran Field in Cincinnati, Ohio at 6 p.m.
Creighton will then return home to open up a three-match home stand against UConn (6-2-3, 0-1-2 BE) 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 stats for both contests will be featured through http://Creighton.StatBroadcast.com, while live video for both contests will be available on FloSports with Jon Schriner and Josh Peterson on the call for Sunday's match against UConn.
A subscription is required to view the event on FloSports. More information can be found at GoCreighton.com/FloSports.
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 (4-4-1, 1-2-0 BE)
Creighton enters Thursday's match at Xavier with a 4-4-1 overall record and an 1-2-0 mark in the BIG EAST after collecting a 1-0 shutout win over Marquette last Sunday in Milwaukee, Wis.
The Bluejays closed out a rigorous non-conference schedule with a 3-2-1 record, which featured a 2-1 win over Iowa State, as well as a pair of shutout victories over Western Michigan and Kansas City and a scoreless draw against then-No. 19 Saint Louis.
Creighton's offense has slowed down a bit as the Bluejays have scored just two goals over their last five contests.
Senior Azumi Manriki continues to lead the way with six points on three goals, while fellow classmate Ariana Mondiri follows closely behind with a pair of goals herself.
Anja Jestrovic, Tilly Thomas, Marissa LeVine, Kelis Brown and Anna Bragg have each added in a goal of their own, while fifth-year senior Lara Kazandjian paces the team with a pair of assists.
Junior Alyssa Zalac has played all 810 minutes in between the posts for the Bluejays this season, logging four shutouts and 34 saves, a total that ranks tied for second-most in the BIG EAST.
Zalac has earned a spot on the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll twice this season, including receiving the honor after collecting her second consecutive shutout and limiting Kansas City to a season-low one shot on goal on Sept. 16.
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 Stella 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.
Head coach Jimmy Walker is in his first season at the helm of the Bluejays and owns a 180-99-27 career record.
Scouting Xavier (9-1-2, 2-0-1 BE)
Ranked as high as No. 15 in the United Soccer Coaches' poll, first-year head coach Dean Ward has Xavier clicking on all cylinders, owning a 9-1-2 overall record and a 2-0-1 mark in the BIG EAST.
The Musketeers opened the season with five straight wins over Milwaukee, Michigan, Murray State, Dayton and Chattanooga. Xavier has also posted a 2-2 draw at then-No. 4 Michigan State, as well as BIG EAST victories over DePaul and Villanova. The Musketeers only lone loss of the season came to the hands of No. 23 Saint Louis (3-2) on Sept. 12.
Xavier has been clinical on both sides of the pitch this season, outscoring its opponents 34-10 through their first 12 matches of the season. The Musketeers currently lead the BIG EAST in total goals, assists and points, while sitting second in total shots and shutouts.
Senior Samantha Wiehe leads the way offensively for the Musketeers with six goals and four assists, ranking tied for second in the BIG EAST with 16 total points. Junior Emma Flick has also kept pace with Wiehe adding five goals and a team-high six assists for a team-high tying 16 points of her own.
Graduate Olivia Lawson (5 goals, 1 assist), junior Regan Dancer (5 goals, 1 assist) and freshman Samantha Erbach (4 goals, 3 assists) have also contributed in a big way this season recording 11 points each. In total, eight different Musketeers have found the back of the net at least twice this season with four five of them score at least four times for 25 of the team's 34 goals.
Preseason All-BIG EAST selection Maria Galley has been the primary netminder for Xavier this season, starting in all 12 contests with 1,027 minutes in between the pipes. She has recorded five solo shutouts while collecting 32 saves. Galley owns the third-best goals against average at 0.79, while her .780 save percentage ranks fifth in the league.
Xavier was picked third in the BIG EAST Preseason Coaches' poll this season after winning a share of the regular season title and finishing as the runner-up in the BIG EAST Tournament last fall
Series History Against The Musketeers
Creighton and Xavier will meet for the 16th time in program history on Thursday night, with the Musketeers holding a 10-5-0 edge in the all-time series.
Xavier took the first meeting between the two schools back in 1992 and has won five out of the last six meetings. The Bluejays last win in the series as a 1-0 shutout victory on March 24, 2021.
Creighton is 2-5-0 all-time against Xavier in matches played in Cincinnati, with their two win on the road coming back on March 24, 2021 and Oct. 31, 2014.
Last season in Omaha, Xavier captured a 1-0 win over the Bluejays, delivering the game-winning goal in the 86th minute as Sonia Vargas netted her fourth goal of the season.
Head coach Jimmy Walker is 0-3-2 all-time as a head coach against Xavier in his career.
Scouting UConn (6-2-3, 0-1-2 BE)
UConn enters Thursday's match against Providence with a 6-2-3 overall record. The Huskies are also 0-1-2 in BIG EAST play, earning draws on the road at St. John's (3-3) and Xavier (1-1) before suffering a 3-1 loss against Georgetown this past Sunday.
UConn lone losses of the year have come at home this season against Wisconsin (2-1) and Georgetown (3-1).
Junior Chioma Okafor has been nothing short of spectacular this season as she paces the Huskies and leads the BIG EAST with 20 points on a league-leading nine goals and two assists. She also owns a BIG EAST best 48 shots this season, landing 29 of them on goal.
In addition, 10 other Huskies have found the back of the net this season with four of them scoring multiple goals. In total, UConn has outscored their opponents 24-13 this fall and owns a 158-98 edge in total shots.
Graduate Kaitlyn Mahoney has been a fixture in net for UConn this season, playing a total 956 minutes in between the posts. She owns a 1.22 goals against average having allowed 13 total goals, while snaring 31 saves and earning four shutout victories this fall.
Connecticut was picked to finish second in this year's BIG EAST Preseason Coaches' poll as head coach Margaret Rodriguez enters her seventh season at the helm of the Huskies.
Series History Against The Huskies
Creighton and Connecticut have met just three times previously with the Huskies holding a 3-0-0 lead in the overall series.
Last season, Connecticut snagged a 2-0 victory over the Bluejays in the BIG EAST opener as Joyce Ryder and Cara Jordan netted goals in the win.
Creighton is 0-1 in matches played in Omaha, while head coach Jimmy Walker is meeting UConn for the first time in his coaching career.
Carpenter, Connealy and Offer Make Return to Xavier
Transfer from Xavier last spring, Reese Carpenter, Mallory Connealy and Ella Offer get an early reunion with their old pas the Bluejays travel to Cincinnati on Thursday, Oct. 3.
The three Bluejays saw a combined 372 minutes of action over 36 total matches over the past two seasons.
Bluejays' Low Scoring Start To BIG EAST Play
Creighton has started BIG EAST play sluggishly in the attacking third, scoring just one goal in their first three match of league action.
This season marks 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.
Creighton's three goals allowed through the first three matches is tied for the least amount of goals allowed for a team single joining the BIG EAST in 2013. They Bluejays also allowed just three goals during the first three matches of BIG EAST play during the 2021 season.
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.
Creighton Through First Three
Matches of BIG EAST Play
Year Goals Scored Goals Allowed
2013 4 (6) 4 (15)
2014 4 (7) 9 (16)
2015 4 (11) 10 (27)
2016 6 (18) 9 (16)
2017 1 (6) 5 (14)
2018 3 (9) 4 (16)
2019 4 (9) 4 (11)
2020 1 (10) 7 (11)
2021 1 (7) 3 (18)
2022 3 (13) 6 (12)
2023 1 (10) 6 (18)
2024 1 3
(#) - Indicates final conference goal totals
Bragg's First of Many
Coming off two of her best games as a Bluejay, freshman Anna Bragg earned the starting nod for the first time in her collegiate career on Sunday Oct. 29 at Marquette.
The true freshman from Omaha took full advantage of her first start and delivered the game-winning goal and the first goal of her Bluejay career during the 31st minute of Creighton 1-0 shutout victory over the Golden Eagles.
Zalac Keeps Impressing with PK Diving Save
Facing her fourth penalty kick of the season, junior goalkeeper Alyssa Zalac stepped up and stopped a Villanova penalty kick with a diving save to the right on Thursday, Sept. 26.
Zalac has faced four penalty kicks this season in goal and has correctly chosen the direction of the kick each time but has only been able to record one save.
Ironically, the last time Creighton stopped a penalty kick was on Oct. 8, 2023, against Villanova when Keelan Terrell smothered a PK opportunity by Jackie Richards in the 24th minute. CU went on to claim a 2-1 victory over the Wildcats.
Official RPI Rankings Updated
The third official RPI Rankings were released by the NCAA on Monday, Sept. 30. The Bluejays were listed at No. 43 in the initial release on Sept. 16 but has since fallen to 90 following losses to Georgetown in the BIG EAST opener and to Villanova at home. Creighton is one of four BIG EAST teams listed inside the top 100 of the RPI rankings.
BIG EAST in the RPI (Sept. 30 edition)
20. Georgetown
35. Xavier
40. UConn
90. Creighton
102. Butler
108. Providence
160. St. John's
161. Villanova
164. DePaul
181. Marquette
208. Seton Hall
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 results on the road. In the Bluejays' 12th season in the BIG EAST, Creighton has a combined road record of 12-32-9 in conference play, including a 1-1-0 record this season in BIG EAST road contests. The Bluejays success on the road in 2022 helped propel themselves into the BIG EAST Tournament and eventually the BIG EAST Tournament Semifinals.
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
2023: 1-3-1
2024: 1-1-0
Home Sweet Home
Creighton is 2-1-1 this season in home matches, including a 3-0 win over Western Michigan, a scoreless draw against #19 Saint Louis and a 1-0 shutout win over Kansas City. With this season's results Creighton now owns a 115-62-28 (.629) all-time record at Morrison Stadium.
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.
In addition to Creighton owning a 115-62-28 overall record at home, the Bluejays also hold a 53-37-13 mark at Morrison Stadium since joining the BIG EAST in 2013 and a 17-30-5 record during home league matches.
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
Scoring First Yields Success
Through nine matches this season, Creighton is 3-1-0 when scoring first, but 1-3-0 when the opponent scores first. The Bluejays are also 0-0-1 in draws. Additionally, CU is 2-1-0 when leading at the break, 1-2-0 when trailing at halftime and 1-1-1 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.
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.
Since the start of the 2013 season, the Bluejays own a 64-12-12 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.
Bringing the Physicality
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.
Through the first seven matches this season, Creighton has racked up 155 fouls and a total of 23 yellow cards. The Bluejays currently lead the country in fouls per game with 17.22 and 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.
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.
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.
Year FPG Yellow Cards
2024 17.22 (1st) 23 (1st)
2023 11.28 (33rd) 12 (209th)
2022 9.85 (118th) 9 (278th)
2021 9.17 (169th) 6 (301st)
2020 10.70 (48th) 4 (215th)
2019 11.56 (39th) 17 (41st)
2018 8.94 (171st) 10 (155th)
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.
Since the program began in 1989, Creighton owns a 274-23-12 all-time record when scoring two or more goals in a match, including a 2-1-0 record this season. On the flip side, the Bluejays are 47-250-52 when being held to fewer than two goals.
Additionally, the Bluejays are 67-8-3 when scoring two or more goals, but 15-83-24 when netting fewer than two goals since joining the BIG EAST in 2013.
Battled Tested Bluejays
Ranked as one of the toughest schedules in the country, Creighton has had its work cut out for them this season as they have faced a grueling slate.
CU has battled three Power 5 opponents this season, while also playing perennial powers in then No. 19 Saint Louis and Georgetown as well as previously unbeaten Kansas City. Combined, the nine opponents Creighton has played this season are 42-28-23 against opponents that are not Creighton.
With a 4-4-1 record this season, Creighton still has a tough road to navigate as their future opponents have a combined record of 36-23-116 through seven weeks of play.
Team (RPI Rank, 10/1) W-L-T (10/1) CU's Result
Minnesota (45) 8-2-2 L, 1-2
Iowa State (196) 3-5-3 W, 2-1
Western Michigan (59) 5-1-5 W, 3-0
Nebraska (77) 4-7-0 L, 2-5
Saint Louis (46) 6-1-4 T, 0-0
Kansas City (149) 5-3-3 W, 1-0
Georgetown (21) 7-1-3 L, 0-1
Villanova (160) 4-5-2 L, 0-2
Marquette (181) 3-7-2 W, 1-0
Xavier (35) 9-1-2 -
UConn (43) 6-2-3 -
Providence (108) 5-4-1 -
DePaul (163) 2-5-3 -
Seton Hall (220) 3-6-3 -
Butler (103) 6-3-2 -
St. John's (165) 5-2-4 -
Bluejays Rank Among Top in Attendance
Despite Creighton only playing four games at home this season, the Bluejays currently rank ninth nationally in average home attendance (1,529) and 35th in total home attendance (6,117).
The Bluejay faithful has shown up in a big way this season, with Creighton hosting a program record crowd of 3,670 for its annual Socctoberfest match against #19 Saint Louis on Sept. 6.
Below is a list of the average attendance leaders during the 2024 season (as of Sept. 10).
Rk. Team Games Total Avg
1. South Carolina 5 25,033 5,007
2. BYU 6 21,337 3,556
3. North Carolina 7 18,166 2,595
4. Texas A&M 6 14,220 2,370
5. Arkansas 8 17,890 2,236
6. Michigan State 8 16,299 2,037
7. Tennessee 7 13,007 1,858
8. Stanford 5 8,747 1,749
9. Creighton 4 6,117 1,529
10. Saint Louis 5 7,593 1,519
Largest Crowds in Bluejay History
Hosting the Bluejays 10th annual Socctoberfest celebration, Creighton drew a crowd of 3,670, which was the largest single-game attendance in program history on Sept. 6.
It also marked the seventh highest attended game at the time this fall across all Division I Women's Soccer.
Three of the top 11 largest crowds have been during Socctoberfest matches. The 2016 Socctoberfest match against South Dakota was the largest attended Socctoberfest match before last the Jays attracted 3,670 fans last Friday night.
In addition, eight of the top 12 largest crowds have come since the Bluejays made the move to the BIG EAST in 2013, including opening last season with the third largest crowd in program history (1,834, vs. Nebraska).
During the 2023 season, Creighton ranked second in the BIG EAST and 69th nationally in average home attendance with an average of 719 fans per home match.
Top 12 Creighton Women's Soccer Home Crowds
*1. 3,670 vs. #19 Saint Louis, Sept. 6, 2024 (T, 0-0)
2. 2,308 vs. Nebraska-Omaha, Sept. 16. 2017 (W, 3-1)
3. 2,023 vs. Kansas State, Aug. 23, 2019 (W, 3-2)
4. 1,834 vs. Nebraska, Aug. 17, 2023 (T, 2-2)
5. 1,678 vs. Nebraska-Omaha, Sept. 20, 2013 (W, 3-2)
6. 1,547 vs. Iowa, Sept. 21, 2007 (L, 0-1)
*7. 1,444 vs. South Dakota, Sept. 9, 2016 (W, 2-1)
8. 1,413 vs. South Dakota State, Sept. 15, 2023 (W, 1-0)
9. 1,289 vs. Northern Iowa, Sept. 23, 2011 (W, 1-0)
10. 1,277 vs. Arizona State, Sept. 18, 2009 (L, 1-2)
11. 1,251 vs. Kansas, Sept. 29, 2006 (W, 1-0)
*12. 1,248 vs. South Dakota, Sept. 7, 2018 (W, 2-1 OT)
* - Socctoberfest Matches
