BIG EAST Notes - 10.17.16
In The Polls
Carrying a 13-game unbeaten streak, Butler cracked the top 25 of the United Soccer Coaches Poll for the first time since Sept. 30, 1996, landing at No. 22. The Bulldogs have received votes for the past five weeks. Butler is 3-0-3 in BIG EAST play, coming off a 1-1 double-overtime draw at DePaul on Sunday. Georgetown dropped out of the top 25 for the first time this season following its narrow setback at Providence on Sunday, but continued to receive votes.
Standings Check
Just one point separates the current ninth-place and sixth-place teams as the race for BIG EAST Championship berths is in a dead heat. The top six teams in the standings qualify for the league tournament, with DePaul, St. John’s and Villanova currently in a three-way tie for the sixth and final spot with six points apiece. Despite sitting in ninth place, Creighton is just one point behind the logjam in sixth. RV Georgetown remains atop the standings with 13 points, a one-point lead over the tie in second place between No. 22 Butler and Providence. Xavier is alone in fourth with 11 points, while Marquette is in fifth with nine.
Matchups To Watch
All 10 women’s soccer matches on the calendar this week will stream on the BIG EAST Digital Network, with many tilts proving to be pivotal down the stretch. RV Georgetown, Creighton and Seton Hall have the toughest roads remaining based on the current standings, with each squad’s final three tilts against teams currently in the top half of the standings. In a rematch of last season’s BIG EAST Championship match, the Hoyas welcome Marquette on Thursday at 3 p.m. (ET), while the Bluejays aim for their second straight BIG EAST win when they host No. 22 Butler at 8 p.m. Seton Hall visits Xavier (7 p.m.), while St. John’s and Villanova will look to break free of the sixth-place tie when they meet at 4 p.m. DePaul-Providence (7 p.m.) rounds out Thursday’s slate.
Notable Streaks
The second to last week of the regular season sees four teams carrying multi-game unbeaten streaks. No. 22 Butler highlights the group as the Bulldogs are unbeaten over their last 13 matches, dating back to Aug. 24. Butler is 10-1-4 on the year, 3-0-3 in BIG EAST play. Coming off Sunday’s dramatic win over Villanova, Creighton has its longest unbeaten streak of the season at three games. The Bluejays claimed five points in a span of 10 days to remain in contention for a BIG EAST Championship berth. Coming off a notable win over then-No. 15 Georgetown on Sunday, Providence has won three straight to catapult into a tie for second place in the standings with the Bulldogs. The Friars’ longest winning streak of the season is five games, spanning from Sept. 7 through Sept. 23. DePaul rounds out the group with its two game unbeaten mark, coming off back-to-back 1-1 double-overtime draws with Butler and Xavier.
Weekly Schedule
Thursday
Marquette at RV Georgetown, 3 p.m.*^
St. John’s at Villanova, 4 p.m.*^
Seton Hall at Xavier, 7 p.m.*^
DePaul at Providence, 7 p.m.*^
#22 Butler at Creighton, 8 p.m.*^
Sunday
Providence at Seton Hall, 1 p.m.*^
RV Georgetown at #22 Butler, 1 p.m.*^
Xavier at St. John’s, 1 p.m.*^
DePaul at Villanova, 1 p.m.*^
Creighton at Marquette, 2 p.m.*^
*BIG EAST contest
^BEDN
All times Eastern