#BIGEASTwsoc Semifinals Set For Thursday
No. 1 seed Georgetown hosts fourth-seeded Marquette at 2 p.m., No. 2 seed Butler welcomes fourth-seeded Providence at 7 p.m., on BEDN.
BIG EAST Notes - 10.31
NEW YORK – The 2017 BIG EAST Women’s Soccer Championship presented by Jeep continues Thursday with a pair of Semifinal tilts. Regular-season champion and No. 1 seed Georgetown hosts fourth-seeded Marquette at 2 p.m. (ET), followed by No. 2 seed Butler versus No. 3 seed Providence in Indianapolis at 7 p.m. Both matches will stream live on the BIG EAST Digital Network. Thursday’s winners meet Sunday at the site of the highest remaining seed at 1:30 p.m., in a game airing on FS1, to decide the champion and winner of an automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament.
Georgetown is the reigning BIG EAST Champion and will begin its quest for a second straight postseason crown in a rematch of last season’s title match. The Golden Eagles scored a 3-0 win over fifth-seeded Xavier on Sunday to advance to their 10
th semifinal. Marquette has won three straight matches by a combined 8-0 margin, with its last loss coming on Oct. 19 at Georgetown, 3-0. The Hoyas, playing in their seventh consecutive BIG EAST Semifinal, enter Thursday unbeaten over their last three outings and have allowed just one goal over the last five matches (3-1-1). Georgetown jumped back into the United Soccer Coaches Poll this week, coming in at No. 19.
Georgetown’s offense was hard to stop in its regular-season meeting with Marquette, outshooting the Golden Eagles 22-3, while holding a 9-1 lead in corner kicks. Maddy Henry made eight saves for MU, while BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year Arielle Schechtman made three stops to claim the shutout. In last season’s title match, the Hoyas held a 16-1 shot advantage and scored a goal in each half to win 2-0, earning its first BIG EAST Championship trophy. Both teams played in the NCAA Tournament following that match, with GU advancing to the College Cup. Georgetown and Marquette have met just twice in BIG EAST Championship history, both in the finals, with the Golden Eagles winning the 2012 edition, 1-0. The Hoyas lead the all-time series 5-3-1, and carry a 4-0-1 mark over their last five meetings.
In a rematch of the 2015 BIG EAST title game, Butler will look to continue its historic season when it hosts Providence on Thursday. The Bulldogs, ranked 20
th in today’s United Soccer Coaches Poll, are unbeaten over their last 16 games, boasting Division I’s top goals against average (0.207) and save percentage (0.945). The Friars advanced past sixth-seeded DePaul on Sunday in penalty kicks, punching their fourth BIG EAST Semifinal ticket.
Butler leads the all-times series with Providence 4-3 after scoring a 2-1 double-overtime victory in Friartown on Oct. 1. Caitlyn DiSarcina scored the golden goal in the 109
th minute off a feed by recently crowned BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year Paige Monaghan. PC outshot the Bulldogs 18-11, who split time in goal between Hannah Luedtke and Leonie Doege and combined for eight saves. The Friars also had the advantage in corner kicks, 6-3. Doege and Friar netminder Shelby Hogan were among three players to share BIG EAST Freshman of the Year honors last week. The 2015 BIG EAST final in Omaha, Neb., between Butler and Providence was their lone postseason meeting. The Bulldogs edged the Friars, 1-0, to claim what was their first BIG EAST title in any sport.
2017 BIG EAST Women’s Soccer Championship
Presented By Jeep
First Round - Oct. 29 - BEDN
No. 4 seed Marquette 3, No. 5 seed Xavier 0
No. 3 seed Providence 1, No. 6 seed DePaul 1 (2OT) – Providence advances on PKs, 4-1
Semifinals - Nov. 2 - BEDN
No. 4 Marquette at No. 1 seed Georgetown, 2 p.m.
No. 3 Providence at No. 2 seed Butler, 7 p.m.
Final - Nov. 5 - FS1
Semifinal Winners, 1:30 p.m.
All times Eastern - All games played at the higher seed
For more information on the BIG EAST Women’s Soccer Championship, visit Championship Central by clicking
HERE.