#BEfútbol Minute: League Play Kicks Off Friday
BIG EAST Men's Soccer Update (9.14.18)
All five games of opening weekend will air on the BIG EAST Digital Network presented by SoFi as the 35th year of BIG EAST men’s soccer league play kicks off with Providence at DePaul in a 3 p.m. Friday afternoon match. It is the eighth meeting between the two teams. Providence holds a 4-0-3 advantage all time. Four of these games have gone to double overtime, including a scoreless draw in Providence last season.
On Saturday, games start with a rematch of the 2017 BIG EAST Tournament championship game with Xavier returning to Shaw Field to face Georgetown at 1 p.m. Last year, the two squads split two meetings with Xavier defeating Georgetown 1-0 in overtime in the regular season and Georgetown returning the favor in the tournament finale, 2-1 in double overtime. Xavier holds a 3-2-0 advantage in regular season play. Overall, the series is tied 4-4-0. Regionally, Georgetown is ranked fourth, Xavier is fifth.
At 7 p.m., it will be a regional matchup between Seton Hall and St. John’s. The Pirates and Red Storm have played each other 33 times previously, with St. John’s having a narrow lead in the series, 19-12-2. The Red Storm has won the last three meetings, four of their last five with Seton Hall grabbing a win in 2014. Since 2009, six games have been shutouts. The last four games have been 1-0 contests.
There are two games at 8 p.m. with Butler at Creighton and Villanova at Marquette. Butler enters Fortress Morrison in Omaha amidst Homecoming Weekend. Creighton’s Morrison stadium currently ranks fourth in average attendance with 3,761 fans per game. Butler has won the last two meetings against Creighton, including the 2016 BIG EAST Tournament finale. All five meetings have been decided by one goal or less. Creighton won the first four meetings. Butler’s first win was the 2016 tournament championship. Last year, the Bulldogs won in overtime, 3-2.
No. 13 Villanova travels to Milwaukee with a 4-1-0 record and the highest ranking of all of the 10 BIG EAST teams. Marquette had previously been receiving votes, but has lost the last three games. Marquette and Villanova have only played six times previously in BIG EAST action. Villanova has won the last three meetings, scoring seven goals to Marquette’s three. The Wildcats have a 4-1-1 series advantage with the Golden Eagles winning 1-0 in overtime in 2013.
Note: All records mentioned are league-only and tournament records.
#BEfútbol Weekend Schedule
Friday, Sept. 14
PROVIDENCE at DEPAUL, 3 p.m. (
BEDN)
Saturday, Sept. 15
XAVIER at [rv] GEORGETOWN, 1 p.m. (
BEDN)
SETON HALL at ST. JOHN’S, 7 p.m. (
BEDN)
BUTLER at [25] CREIGHTON, 8 p.m. (
BEDN)
[13] VILLANOVA at MARQUETTE, 8:05 p.m. (
BEDN)
All times listed are Eastern.
BIG EAST teams are noted in ALL CAPS.