WSOC Notes - 10.19 Update
Setting The Stage
Sunday is the second-to-last regular-season game day for BIG EAST women’s soccer, with all games having a potential impact on qualifying or seeding in the league tournament. Fourth-ranked Georgetown could clinch a second consecutive regular-season crown with a draw or win, while the complete six-team field for the BIG EAST Women’s Soccer Championship presented by Jeep could potentially be set.
Sunday’s Game-By-Game Implications
RV Butler at #4 Georgetown (BEDN, 1 p.m.): What could amount to a regular-season title game, a Georgetown win or draw would lock up the No. 1 seed for the Hoyas, who already earned a first-round bye, and clinch the regular-season trophy outright. If Butler wins, we’ll have to see how St. John’s-Xavier ends and possibly need next Thursday’s matches to play out to determine who will join the Hoyas as a top-two seed. Butler could leapfrog Georgetown in the standings for the title with two straight wins and two consecutive GU losses. The Hoyas are unbeaten on the year (14-0-2), with two of their last three wins coming in overtime.
St. John’s at Xavier (BEDN, 1 p.m.): Currently tied for third place in the standings with 13 points, both squads are on the cusp of clinching a BIG EAST Championship berth. Since conference realignment, 13 has been the magic number as no team with at least 13 points in the standings has been left out of the tournament field. The winner of Sunday’s match guarantees a home match in the postseason, whether it’s a semifinal should Butler slip up, or a first round game should the Bulldogs pick up one more win. Both teams are on four-game unbeaten streaks and are putting up serious points – Xavier has three straight games with three goals per, while St. John’s has totaled seven scores over its last three tilts.
Seton Hall at Providence (BEDN, 1 p.m.): The Pirates will look to play spoiler the rest of the way after being mathematically eliminated. The Friars are currently on the outside looking in and could use a win to get back into contention. PC’s last six matches have been decided by one goal or less, playing at DePaul to a scoreless draw on Thursday afternoon. The Friars hold head-to-head tiebreakers against Villanova and Marquette which could prove useful at season’s end.
Villanova at DePaul (BEDN, 1 p.m.): The Wildcats have a one-point lead over the Blue Demons in the standings, with Villanova currently in the field and DePaul on the outside. A Blue Demon loss accompanied by a Creighton win over Marquette would eliminate DePaul from postseason contention. On its own, a Villanova win doesn’t guarantee the Wildcats a spot, but would put them in control of their own destiny heading into Thursday’s finale. However, a win, accompanied by a Providence loss would be enough to punch Nova’s ticket.
Marquette at Creighton (BEDN, 2 p.m.): A lot needs to go Marquette’s way to avoid ending its 13-year BIG EAST Championship appearance streak, but the first step is the Golden Eagles need to win their final two matches against Creighton and Seton Hall. The Bluejays are looking to end a streak of different sorts – missing the league tournament. Depending on other games’ outcomes, a Creighton win could lock up the Bluejays’ first berth, but it would certainly eliminate Marquette from contention. Both teams are coming off single-goal setbacks to the top teams in the standings – Creighton at Butler (1-0) and Marquette against No. 4 Geogetown (2-1, 2OT).
Up Next
Sunday
St. John’s at Xavier, 1 p.m.*^
Seton Hall at Providence, 1 p.m.*^
RV Butler at #4 Georgetown, 1 p.m.*^
Villanova at DePaul, 1 p.m.*^
Marquette at Creighton, 2 p.m.*^
*BIG EAST Contest
^BEDN
All times Eastern