#BEfutbol Minute – Three Matches To Watch On BEDN; BIG EAST Third In NCAA RPI League Rankings
NEW YORK – Week three of BIG EAST men’s soccer will have three games on the BIG EAST Digital Network: DePaul at Villanova (1 p.m.), Xavier at Providence (4 p.m.) and Creighton at St. John’s (7 p.m.). Not on BEDN, Marquette will travel to Seton Hall for a 7 p.m. contest and No. 7 Butler will host Georgetown.
Quick Notes:
Leading the league through two Saturdays is Butler, Creighton and Xavier, all tied at six points with two wins. St. John’s is in second with four points.
The first NCAA RPI was released this past week. The BIG EAST is ranked third in the league rankings behind the ACC and Pac-12 and has four teams in the top 26. Butler is ranked seventh in the RPI ratings, with Xavier next at 19th. Villanova is a close third at No. 22 and Creighton is No. 26.
Butler saw its seven-game win streak come to an end on Wednesday with an exciting overtime loss to instate rival, No. 6 Indiana, 3-2. The Bulldogs, who have jumped up to No. 7 this week, will look to get things back on track. It was Butler’s first loss this season.
The BIG EAST went 4-3 against non-league opponents this past week.
Saturday Matchup Notes – This Week on BEDN
DePaul at Villanova (Villanova Soccer Complex - 1 p.m.)
- DePaul is looking for its first win in league play after a successful non-conference schedule that earned them five wins. The Blue Demons have lost at Xavier and against Creighton, but earned a midweek non-conference win at Northwestern last week. DePaul hasn’t played since last Saturday. Villanova is 1-1 in conference play with a loss in overtime to then-No. 10 Butler and a 2-1 road win at Marquette. As a midweek tune up this week, the Wildcats defeated Princeton 1-0 in overtime. The Wildcats have some impressive wins on their resume, topping then-No. 11 Boston College 2-1 and then-No. 22 Delaware 2-1.
Xavier at Providence (Chapey Field - 4 p.m.)
- The second game in a sort of BIG EAST men’s soccer triple header will have two 2015 BIG EAST Championship semifinal teams squaring off head-to-head. Last year, Xavier lost to Georgetown in the semis, while Providence lost at Creighton. Xavier is currently at the top of the BIG EAST standings with six points and wins over DePaul and Georgetown. The Musketeers have not played since last Saturday. The No. 2 team in the league RPI rankings (19), Xavier made an appearance aroudn the top 25 polls, receiving votes in Tuesday’s NSCAA rankings. Seven different Musketeer players have contributed goals this season. Providence is looking to break a three-game losing skid, which includes league losses to Georgetown and then-No. 10 Butler. Julian Gressel leads the Friar offense with four goals and an assist. Freshman Danny Griffin adds three goals. Xavier and Providence met in the 2014 BIG EAST Championship final. The Friars won 2-1 en route to its first-ever appearance in the College Cup. XU went on to the Sweet 16.
No. 10 Creighton at St. John’s (Belson Stadium - 7 p.m.)
- St. John’s will once again host the night cap on BEDN, this time welcoming No. 10 Creighton to Queens. Creighton has not lost a game since Sept. 2 at then-No. 2 Clemson and has compiled a 5-0-2 record in that span. Most recently, the Bluejays defeated previously unbeaten No. 12 Loyola-Chicago, 3-0, on Tuesday. The Red Storm has put together a week long streak of two games, defeating Seton Hall 2-0 in league action last Saturday and Saint Joseph’s 2-0 on Tuesday. In the last six matches, St. John’s has lost just one, 1-0 to Quinnipiac on Sept. 20. Sophomore Filippo Ricupati scored both goals in St. John’s midweek tune up against St. Joseph’s. Creighton’s forward Riggs Lennon and keeper Alex Kapp are the reigning BIG EAST Players of the Week for their respective positions. Lennon scored four goals in last Saturday’s 4-1 win at DePaul. Creighton is tied at the top of the league standings with six points, while St. John’s is in second with four points.
Other Match Notes:
Marquette at Seton Hall
- Both Marquette and Seton Hall are winless in BIG EAST action after two Saturdays of play. The Golden Eagles squeaked out a point in a 0-0 draw against St. John’s to open the season, while Seton Hall lost to Creighton and St. John’s on the road. It is the league opener for the Pirates.
Georgetown at No. 7 Butler
- The Hoyas started the season ranked in the NSCAA top 10, but after a tough non-league schedule that saw Georgetown at the losing end of one-goal heartbreakers, the Hoyas fell out. Butler, on the opposite end of the spectrum just lost its first game on Wednesday, a 3-2 overtime stunner at No. 6 Indiana. Butler is 2-0 in the league standings, while Georgetown is 1-1.
Saturday’s #BEfutbol Schedule:
DePaul at Villanova at 1 p.m. (BEDN)
Xavier at Providence at 4 p.m. (BEDN)
Marquette at Seton Hall at 7 p.m.
Georgetown at No. 7 Butler at 7 p.m.
No. 10 Creighton at St. John’s at 7 p.m. (BEDN)