MSOC Notes - 10.26
Championship Status
No. 19 Creighton, No. 24 Georgetown and Providence have clinched spots in the 2018 BIG EAST Men’s Soccer Championship presented by Jeep, meaning just three slots remain up for grabs. No teams have been mathematically eliminated with two games remaining, as Marquette, St. John’s, DePaul, Xavier, Seton Hall, Butler and Villanova remain in contention. All 10 final matches of BIG EAST play will stream on the BIG EAST Digital Network, including all five matches this weekend which will affect who qualifies and where they stand.
Why We’re Watching
ST. JOHN’S at [24] GEORGETOWN, Saturday, 1 p.m., BEDN): The Hoyas are unbeaten over their last six matches, peaking at just the right time. They’ve already clinched hosting duties in the conference championship, while another win would guarantee a first-round bye. The Red Storm are currently fifth and have a tough final two games, beginning with second-place Georgetown before finishing with third-place Providence on Wednesday. St. John’s has scored back-to-back draws in BIG EAST play, but is looking for its first win since Sept. 29.
VILLANOVA at PROVIDENCE (Saturday, 1 p.m., BEDN): With the Friars’ head-to-head wins over Xavier and Seton Hall, PC clinched a spot in the BIG EAST Championship despite losing on Wednesday. Providence is now playing for home field advantage as another win would guarantee them either a first round or semifinal match at Anderson Stadium. Two late-game goals by Georgetown ended PC’s five-game unbeaten streak in league play, but still kept Providence in striking distance of a first-round bye. The Wildcats can’t afford to lose – if they do, they’re out of postseason contention. Villanova is coming off a 1-1 draw with St. John’s, while its last nine matches have been decided by one goal or less.
[19] CREIGHTON at DEPAUL (Saturday, 2 p.m., BEDN): The Bluejays can clinch at least a share of the regular-season title with a win in Chicago on Saturday. The crown would be the second for Creighton and first since 2014. CU would also receive a first-round bye and advance directly into the conference semifinals. Aside from becoming the only BIG EAST team to knock off the nationally ranked Bluejays, a DePaul win would inch DPU one spot closer to the championship field, depending on other outcomes throughout the league. The Blue Demons have qualified for the BIG EAST Championship eight times, most recently in 2016. DePaul is unbeaten over its last two, coming off a 1-0 win at Xavier on Wednesday.
XAVIER at SETON HALL (Saturday, 6 p.m., BEDN): Depending on other outcomes in the league this weekend, this could become a win-or-go-home match in South Orange. The teams are tied for seventh with seven points apiece as the loser would max out at 10 points on the season. Four teams in the standings already have double-digit points, and two others are on the brink. SHU has won two of its last three, including a 2-1 victory at Butler Wednesday, while Xavier has dropped five straight, four of which were by a single goal.
MARQUETTE at BUTLER (Sunday, 1 p.m., BEDN): Sitting in ninth place currently, Butler will need a win to remain in contention, as too many scenarios with the Bulldogs losing result in being eliminated from postseason possibility. A Marquette win could possibly move the Golden Eagles into a tie for third place, depending on the Providence-Villanova outcome. MU has already matched its highest points total since 2014 and still has two games remaining. MU is coming off a 2-1 loss at No. 19 Creighton on Wednesday, while Butler fell to Seton Hall by the same score.
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