#BEfutbol Minute – A Top 10 Match Highlights Men’s Soccer Weekend
#BEfutbol Weekly Notes (PDF)
NEW YORK – Week four of BIG EAST men’s soccer will again feature three games the BIG EAST Digital Network: No. 9 Butler at No. 10 Creighton (Friday, 8 p.m.); Villanova at Providence (Saturday, 1 p.m.) and Georgetown at Marquette (Saturday, 2 p.m.). Not on BEDN, Seton Hall will travel to DePaul and St. John’s will play against Xavier at Walnut Hills High School while the Musketeers get new turf put in at the XU Soccer Complex.
Quick Notes
Leading the league through three Saturdays is Butler alone at the top with nine points. Creighton is close behind with seven points (2-0-1) with Villanova (2-1-0) and Xavier (2-1-0) tied with six points.
The BIG EAST remains ranked third in the league RPI rankings behind the ACC and Pac-12 and has three teams in the top 15.
The Butler-Creighton match on Friday night is the first clash of two top 10 BIG EAST teams since Nov. 5, 2015 when then-No. 3 Creighton visited then-No. 6 Georgetown.
The BIG EAST went 2-4 against non-league opponents this past week.
Saturday Matchup Notes – This Week on BEDN
No. 9 Butler at No. 10 Creighton (Morrison Stadium - 1p.m.)
- The first top 10 match up for the league since Creighton met Georgetown on Nov. 5, 2015. Then-No. 6 Georgetown defeated then-No. 3 Creighton 2-1. Look out for a David Goldsmith vs. Riggs Lennon matchup. Butler’s David Goldsmith is a three-time BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Week and leads the league in points with 23 after not marking a point in the first three matches in 2016. Creighton’s Riggs Lennon leads the conference in league matches in goal (6), goals per game (2.00), points (12), and points per game (4.00) as well as shots (19). Lennon was the league’s Offensive Player of the Week on Sept. 26 after a four-goal game at DePaul on Sept. 24. Creighton is unbeaten at home this season, but has had two draws.
Villanova at Providence (Chapey Field - 1 p.m.)
- Villanova is three points ahead of Providence with a 2-1 record in league play and a 4-2 win over DePaul. The Friars earned their first win in conference play in overtime at home against Xavier last Saturday. Providence has won two-straight overtime games, including their non-conference match against Brown on Wednesday. Players to watch in the Wildcat-Friar matchup will be Providence midfielder Julian Gressel and Villanova goalkeeper Will Steiner. Gressel leads the Friars in goals (6) and points (13). In the net for Villanova, Steiner was the two-time league Goalkeeper of the Week and leads the BIG EAST in saves (4.55) with a 6-4-1 record and two shutouts.
Georgetown at Marquette (Valley Fields - 2 p.m.)
- Georgetown is two points above Marquette in the standings with an early win over Providence. The Golden Eagles marked a tie in league play against St. John’s the same weekend for the Golden Eagles’ lone point. The Hoyas have struggled on offense but Arun Basuljevic has turned up some scoring over the past week with a goal in each game, a PK in the 3-1 win over American and the first goal of a 4-2 loss at then-No. 7/9 Butler. Marquette freshman Luka Prpa has been quiet in league action as the Golden Eagles have scored just one goal in three games, but the rookie has 15 points in non-conference action with five goals and five assists. It is also Marquette’s homecoming weekend – the Golden Eagles should draw a good crowd.
Other Match Notes:
Seton Hall at DePaul
- Seton Hall marked their first W in conference play last weekend with a 2-0 win over Marquette. DePaul is still on the hunt for their first league win after losing to Villanova, Creighton and Xavier.
St. John’s at Xavier
- Xavier is one point ahead of St. John’s in the standings with a 2-1-0 record. The Red Storm has a 1-0-2 record in league play after settling for a 1-1 draw at home against No. 10 Creighton in Week 3. Xavier lost in overtime to Providence last Saturday.
This Weekend’s #BEfutbol Schedule:
Friday, Oct. 7
No. 9 Butler at No. 10 Creighton (BEDN) at 8 p.m. - WATCH
Saturday, Oct. 8
Villanova at Providence (BEDN) at 1 p.m.- WATCH
Seton Hall at DePaul at 1 p.m.
St. John’s at Xavier at 1 p.m.
Georgetown at Marquette (BEDN) at 2 p.m.- WATCH