Butler wins 2015 BIG EAST Women's Soccer Championship
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OMAHA, Neb. – Butler defeated Providence 1-0 to win the 2015 BIG EAST Women’s Soccer Championship on a sunny Sunday afternoon at Creighton’s Morrison Stadium. Jamison Midgley scored the go-ahead goal in the 20
th minute in what was the only score of the game. The Bulldogs will make their first appearance in the NCAA Championship after claiming the BIG EAST’s automatic berth with today’s win. The NCAA Selection Show is set for Monday at 4:30 p.m. (ET) on NCAA.com.
The BIG EAST title is Butler’s first in any team championship since joining the league prior to the 2013-14 academic year.
Butler’s Serina Kashimoto served in a corner kick which bounced around a group in the front of the net, including off the body of Providence goalkeeper Kristyn Shea, before Midgley had the last touch which caused the ball to trickle in the net. The Friars outshot Butler over the opening 45 minutes 9-6 but only one of those were on Madison Card in net for the Bulldogs.
Much of the second half was played in the middle of the field as the scoring threats were limited and defenses held strong. Providence held the Bulldogs without a single shot on net in the second half and to just four shots over the final 45 minutes overall. The Friars earned a 7-4 advantage in shots in the second half.
Providence’s best chance of evening the game came in the 82
nd minute when BIG EAST Championship Most Outstanding Offensive Player Catherine Zimmerman’s free kick from 10 yards outside the box hit Card square in the chest and bounced in front of the Butler keeper who had the afternoon sun shining in her eyes. Card managed to scramble and pick up the ball before a Providence player got a foot on it as the Bulldogs escaped the threat. The save was one of three in the second half for Card and one of the four she made overall. PC’s Shea made two stops in net. Butler managed to keep Providence scrambling over the final minutes as the clock ran out.
Zimmerman had a game-high five shots while Butler’s Sophia Maccagnone had four. Senior midfielder Randi DeLong led the Bulldog defense which allowed just one goal over three BIG EAST Championship contests en route to earning BIG EAST Championship Most Outstanding Defensive Player honors. DeLong was joined on the All-Tournament Team by fellow Bulldogs Kashimoto, Maccagnone and Shannon McDevitt. Zimmerman was named to the squad along with fellow Friars Christina Klaum and Kathryn Hiller. Additionally, St. John’s Allie Moar and Mikhaila Martinov, and Georgetown’s Sarah Adams and Crystal Thomas also earned spots on the All-Tournament Team.
Butler will learn its NCAA Championship destination during Monday’s selection show (4:30 p.m.), while other BIG EAST postseason hopefuls will also tune in. The BIG EAST has sent multiple teams to the NCAA Tournament for 20 consecutive seasons, with DePaul earning the automatic bid last season and Georgetown collecting an at-large berth. Notable RPIs as of Monday included St. John’s at No. 26, Georgetown at No. 32 and DePaul at No. 60.
BIG EAST Championship Most Outstanding Offensive Player
Catherine Zimmerman, Providence, Sr., F
BIG EAST Championship Most Outstanding Defensive Player
Randi DeLong, Butler, Sr., M
BIG EAST All-Tournament Team
Mikhaila Martinov, St. John’s, So., D
Allie Moar, St. John’s, So., M
Sarah Adams, Georgetown, Sr., F
Crystal Thomas, Georgetown, Sr., F
Kathryn Hiller, Providence, Sr., F
Catherine Zimmerman, Providence, Sr., F
Christina Klaum, Providence, So., M
Serina Kashimoto, Butler, Jr., M
Sophia Maccagnone, Butler, Sr., M
Randi DeLong, Butler, Sr., M
Shannon McDevitt, Butler, So., D