#BEfutbol Minute – Five Top 25 Match Ups on the Schedule
BIG EAST Weekly Notes - 9.2
NEW YORK – Week two of the 2016 men’s soccer season has BIG EAST teams facing five teams ranked in the NSCAA top 25. This weekend’s schedule is highlighted by a top 10 match up with No. 8 Creighton hosting No. 2 Clemson at 7 p.m. In addition to Creighton, Georgetown, Xavier, Villanova and St. John’s will all face top 25 competition this weekend.
Non-Conference Breakdown
BIG EAST men’s soccer will face five opponents from the Atlantic Coast Conference this weekend. The most of any other league on the non-conference slate for the next four days. In the opening week, the BIG EAST went 0-1-1 against teams from the ACC, with Butler tying with Louisville, 0-0-0; and then-No. 3/6 Clemson edging Providence, 2-1.
Overall, #BEfutbol will have 18 matches against 10 different conferences and one independent team, Seton Hall at UMass-Lowell, who will be joining the America East for the 2017 season. In addition to the five ACC match ups, the breakdown is: America East (1); Big Ten (2), Horizon (2), Ivy (2), Missouri Valley (1), Northeast (1), Patriot (1), Summit (1) and Independent (1). The BIG EAST has compiled a 6-9-3 non-conference record after the first full week of play.
Standings Update
Currently in the standings after one week of play, Creighton, Butler and St. John’s are on top. Creighton is unbeaten at 1-0, the Bluejays’ midweek game was cancelled and Creighton hasn’t been in action since last Friday. Butler and St. John’s are also unbeaten at 1-0-1, both earning midweek wins and opening the 2016 slate with scoreless ties.
On the National Scene
The National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) released their national rankings on Tuesday with two BIG EAST men’s soccer teams in the top 25 and one receiving votes. Creighton (1-0-0) was ranked No. 8 with 451 points. Georgetown (0-2-0) came in at No. 24 with 59 points. Creighton defeated then-No. 25 Rutgers in the season-opener 2-0. The Hoyas lost two close ones over the weekend to then-No. 2/1 Akron and West Virgina. Butler is receiving 19 points in the poll after holding Louisville to a scoreless tie on Friday night.
Stats Standings As of Aug. 31
Creighton and St. John’s are tied for first with 24 other teams in save percentage (1.000). The two teams are also tied with 25 other teams for first in shutout percentage (1.00) and Team Goals Against Average (0.000). Individually, St. John’s Michael Bernardi, Creighton’s Alex Kapp and Marquette’s Mac Wheeler are tied for first with 28 other players in goals against average (0.00) and save percentage (1.00). Butler’s Lewis Suddick is second in the NCAA in total points (7).
The weekend ahead in #BEfutbol
Friday, September 2
VILLANOVA at Harvard at 4:30 p.m.
Albany at DePAUL at 5 p.m.
** PROMO ALERT: Discover Chicago Freshman Day, Can Cooler Giveaway & Postgame Autograph Session**
Holy Cross at PROVIDENCE at 7 p.m.
SETON HALL at UMass-Lowell at 7 p.m.
2/3 Clemson at 8/7 CREIGHTON at 7 p.m.
XAVIER at 12/15 Virginia at 7:30 p.m.
24 GTOWN at 7/5 Maryland at 7:30 p.m.
MARQUETTE at Ill.-Chicago at 8 p.m.
Saturday, September 3
S.I.U.E. at BUTLER at 7 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 4
Northern Kentucky at DePAUL at 2 p.m.
** PROMO ALERT: Student Move-In Take Break Match, Can Cooler Giveaway, Park Ridge Soccer Day **
PROVIDENCE at Bryant at 3 p.m.
VILLANOVA at 11/6 Boston College at 4 p.m.
ST. JOHN’S at 6/8 Syracuse at 7 p.m.
Monday, Sept. 5
RV/18 Virginia Tech at GTOWN at 1 p.m.
** PROMO ALERT: Home-Opener for the Hoyas, Georgetown sunglasses giveaway, Postgame Autograph Session**
Dartmouth at XAVIER at 7 p.m.
**PROMO ALERT: 5:30 p.m. XAVIER Fan Fest with free food for students, including Spicy Balls from Danas**
Penn at SETON HALL at 7 p.m.
Neb.-Omaha at CREIGHTON at 8 p.m.
** PROMO ALERT: Postgame Autograph Session & Welcome Week Game for Students **
Northwestern at MARQUETTE at 8:05 p.m.
** PROMO ALERT: High School/Youth Team Night, International Student Night and National Cheese Pizza Day featuring free cheese pizza for students.
** For more details on the school promotions, visit each school’s schedule/promotions page.**