BIG EAST Notes - 10.16.18
Coming Down The Homestretch
Just three league matches remain in BIG EAST women’s soccer and two will be played this week. Five spots remain up for grabs in the BIG EAST Women’s Soccer Championship presented by Jeep, after undefeated and fourth-ranked Georgetown clinched the first spot in the field. The Hoyas can seal up a first-round bye with one more win. The top six teams at season’s end qualify for the league tournament, with the top two teams receiving byes directly into the semifinals. The BIG EAST Digital Network (BEDN) will have complete coverage of the final three rounds of the regular season, including all five matches on Thursday.
Why We’re Watching …
Providence at DePaul (BEDN, 4 p.m.): Knotted in seventh place with seven points apiece, both teams are currently on the outside looking in at the BIG EAST Championship field. At No. 43 in the latest NCAA RPI, the Friars are also still in the NCAA Tournament conversation, and could use more top-100 wins, such as DePaul, to bolster that resume. Despite coming off losses, both squads feature some of the most potent scorers in the league, including PC’s Hannah McNulty and the Blue Demons’ Franny Cerny. They both have eight goals on the year to tie for third most in the BIG EAST.
Xavier at Seton Hall (BEDN, 6:30 p.m.): The Musketeers are sitting pretty in third place, with potential tiebreaking wins over the likes of Providence, DePaul and Marquette. XU is unbeaten over its last three matches, scoring three goals in each of its last two outings, including a pair of goals by Samantha Dewey. The Hall is still in search of its first BIG EAST win, but has posted double-digit shot totals in each of its last three matches, while goalkeeper Anna MacLean ranks among the league leaders with 4.67 saves per contest.
Creighton at RV Butler (BEDN, 7 p.m.): With three matches to go, the Bluejays have already surpassed last season’s league wins and points total and are coming off a notable victory at Villanova on Sunday. If the season ended today, Creighton would qualify for the BIG EAST Championship for the first time. With a win, Butler will lock up a spot in the BIG EAST Championship for a fourth consecutive year. The Bulldogs have made the tournament final in two out of the last three seasons, including 2015 when they won the crown. With four wins and a draw over top-100 opponents, the Bulldogs are also very much in the NCAA conversation.
Villanova at St. John’s (BEDN, 7 p.m.): Just one point separates them in the standings and neither has an easy road the rest of the way. The Red Storm is surging, unbeaten over their last three, including a notable win over Butler. Zsani Kajan has posted back-to-back multi-goal games to total 11 scores on the year and 24 points. The Wildcats are on a two-game skid, dropping a pair of 1-0 heartbreakers, including an overtime decision to No. 4 Georgetown. The back-to-back shutouts are uncharacteristic of Villanova, as the Wildcats average nearly 1.5 goals per game led by Bri Austin’s seven scores.
#4 Georgetown at Marquette (BEDN, 8 p.m.): A lot is on the line for this one. A win for the Hoyas would lock up hosting duties for at least the semifinals, if not more, and guarantee a first-round bye. A loss for Marquette could eliminate the Golden Eagles from postseason contention, depending on the results by Providence, Villanova and Creighton. Conversely, a Marquette win wouldn’t bump them into the top six, but could get them within striking distance with two games to play. Georgetown in undefeated on the year and holding firm at No. 4 in the United Soccer Coaches Poll for a second consecutive week, while the Hoyas received a first-place vote for the first time this season.
The Week Ahead
Thursday
Providence at DePaul, 4 p.m.*^
Xavier at Seton Hall, 6:30 p.m.*^
Creighton at Butler, 7 p.m.*^
Villanova at St. John’s, 7 p.m.*^
Georgetown at Marquette, 8 p.m.*^
Sunday
St. John’s at Xavier, 1 p.m.*^
Seton Hall at Providence, 1 p.m.*^
Butler at Georgetown, 1 p.m.*^
Villanova at DePaul, 1 p.m.*^
Marquette at Creighton, 2 p.m.*^
*BIG EAST Contest
^BEDN
All times Eastern