MSOC Notes - 10.23
In The Polls
For the fifth week this season, the BIG EAST has multiple teams in the United Soccer Coaches national poll. Georgetown is back in the top 25 for the first time since the Sept. 4 poll, coming in at No. 24. The Hoyas are unbeaten over their last five matches and had received votes in three of the last six weeks. Creighton remained in the top 25 for a seventh consecutive week, sliding down to No. 19. The Bluejays are unbeaten in BIG EAST play at 5-0-1.
Week Ahead
Jockeying for BIG EAST Men’s Soccer Championship bids heats up this week as all 10 league squads will play two conference matches apiece, beginning Wednesday. All 10 matches this week will stream live on the BIG EAST Digital Network, including all five of Wednesday’s showdowns. One of the key matches to watch on Wednesday is a second-place battle between Providence and Georgetown. After dropping their conference openers, both teams have gone 4-0-1 to stand three points back of first-place Creighton. The Bluejays have already clinched a spot in the BIG EAST Championship field, while the PC-GU winner would do so as well.
Why We’re Watching
Villanova at St. John’s (3 p.m., BEDN): A St. John’s win could eliminate the Wildcats from postseason contention if it’s accompanied by a Xavier victory over DePaul. With two games remaining against top-five teams in the standings, Villanova has the chance to earn some notable victories and climb back into the field with some valuable tiebreakers. The Wildcats have had more than their fair share of nail biters as their last eight matches have been decided by one goal or less. The Red Storm picked up a point with a draw against DePaul in their last outing to end a three-match skid and are alone in fourth, but have three teams within striking distance behind them.
DePaul at Xavier (7 p.m., BEDN): The Blue Demons went into overtime for the seventh time this season with a 2-2 draw at St. John’s on Saturday. DePaul trails Xavier by two in the conference standings, with the Musketeers currently the last team into the tourney field if the season ended today, and the Blue Demons the second team out. Xavier’s lost four straight, with the last two being 2-1 decisions. Both teams are averaging 1.17 goals per game in conference play, so the Blue Demons could find themselves in yet another overtime battle.
Georgetown at Providence (7 p.m., BEDN): After the Friars scored a draw at No. 8 Creighton and Georgetown defeated Seton Hall for its third win in the last four matches, PC and the Hoyas moved into a tie for second place in the standings with 13 points apiece. Whoever wins will guarantee its spot in the league tournament, while a draw could do it as well, depending on other outcomes throughout the league. The Hoyas carry a five-match unbeaten streak, while the Friars haven’t lost at home since Sept. 18.
Seton Hall at Butler (7 p.m., BEDN): The Bulldogs have won their last two BIG EAST contests, including a dramatic one in the final seconds at Villanova on Saturday. They’ve crept up the standings and are currently the first team out of the championship field if the season ended today. Despite that, Butler is just one point behind sixth-place Xavier and just one win behind jumping into fifth place. The Pirates’ final three matches are against teams in the lower half of the standings and The Hall will need to pick off a couple of those in order to get back into postseason contention.
Marquette at Creighton (8 p.m., BEDN): The Golden Eagles will look to become the first BIG EAST team to topple the Bluejays who have already clinched a postseason berth. A Marquette win could move them into a tie for third place in the league standings, depending on the Providence-Georgetown outcome. MU has outscored its last two opponents by a combined 6-1 margin, with Luka Prpa totaling three goals and two assists during that stretch. No team has scored more than one goal on Creighton all year as the team goals against average lists third nationally, while Paul Kruse’s individual GAA ranks fourth in Division I.
The Week Ahead
Wednesday, Oct. 24
VILLANOVA at ST. JOHN’S, 3 p.m. (BEDN)
DEPAUL at XAVIER, 7 p.m. (BEDN)
[24] GEORGETOWN at PROVIDENCE, 7 p.m. (BEDN)
SETON HALL at BUTLER, 7 p.m. (BEDN)
MARQUETTE at [19] CREIGHTON, 8 p.m. (BEDN)
Saturday, Oct. 27
ST. JOHN’S at [24] GEORGETOWN, 1 p.m. (BEDN)
VILLANOVA at PROVIDENCE, 1 p.m. (BEDN)
[19] CREIGHTON at DEPAUL, 2 p.m. (BEDN)
XAVIER at SETON HALL, 6 p.m. (BEDN)
Sunday, Oct. 28
MARQUETTE at BUTLER, 1 p.m. (BEDN)
All times listed are Eastern