WSOC Notes - 10.1.19
NEW YORK – Week 2 of conference play for BIG EAST women’s soccer teams gets under way on Thursday. All five matches will stream live on the BIG EAST Digital Network presented by SoFi, beginning with a pair of tilts at 4 p.m. ET. Two teams that won their BIG EAST openers on Sunday kick off the day as 11
th-ranked Georgetown visits Villanova. The Hoyas moved up one spot in the latest United Soccer Coaches Poll, announced today. Butler visits DePaul to wrap up the early slate before action continues at 7 and 8 p.m. For more on why we’re tuning in to all five of Thursday’s tilts, see below.
Why We’re Watching …
#11 Georgetown at Villanova (Thursday, 4 p.m.): The lone battle of unbeatens on Thursday as winners of their BIG EAST openers square off at Higgins Soccer Complex. The Hoyas were impressive in their BIG EAST debut as Amanda Carolan scored twice while the Meaghan Nally-led defense limited Marquette to just five shots. The Wildcats staved off an aggressive Xavier attack on Sunday, while Brice McInroy scored her team-leading fifth goal of the season, third of the game-winning variety, to lead VU over the visiting Musketeers. VU is 4-1-1 at home this season, which includes an upset of then-No. 24 LSU.
Butler at DePaul (Thursday, 4 p.m.): Butler is unbeaten over its last three and has given up just one goal during that stretch. Amanda Kowalski is the latest Bulldog to be tabbed BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week, while junior goalkeeper Stephanie Rodriguez has 14 stops over the last three outings. Scoring has been quiet for DePaul recently, but not because of lack of opportunities. Kristin Boos ranks second in the BIG EAST with 4.11 shots per game and the Blue Demons have outshot three of their last four opponents. Boos enters Thursday’s match with six points, tied for the team lead with Morgan Turner.
Creighton at Xavier (Thursday, 7 p.m.): Thursday’s matchup pits the BIG EAST’s top two scorers against one another – Xavier’s Samantha Dewey (21pts, 9g, 3a) versus Creighton’s Skylar Heinrich (18pts, 8g, 2a). Dewey has scored in three of the last five outings but was held without a point in Sunday’s setback at Villanova, while Heinrich notched her third game-winning goal of the year against DePaul in Saturday’s victory. The Bluejays and Musketeers were two of the hottest teams through non-conference play, combining for 13 victories.
Seton Hall at St. John’s (Thursday, 7 p.m.): The nearby foes are eyeing their first BIG EAST wins of the season after suffering setbacks in last weekend’s openers. A notable faceoff between standout scorer Zsani Kajan of St. John’s versus rookie goalkeeper Harpa Johannsdottir of The Hall. Kajan has four goals on the year while Johannsdottir averages nearly four saves per contest, including six denials against Butler this past Sunday.
Providence at Marquette (Thursday, 8 p.m.): Though the Golden Eagles have struggled to find a go-to scorer so far, Macey Shock has that potential. The sophomore saw her first action of the season on Sept. 20 and has scored in two of the last three games since. Scoring could be at a premium for Marquette on Thursday, however, when it faces BIG EAST Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year Shelby Hogan. Hogan led Providence to its fourth shutout of the season by blanking St. John’s on Saturday – the redshirt-junior leads the conference in goals against average (0.57) and save percentage (.891).
Upcoming Schedule
Thursday
Butler at DePaul, 4 p.m.*^
#11 Georgetown at Villanova, 4 p.m.*^
Seton Hall at St. John’s, 7 p.m.*^
Creighton at Xavier, 7 p.m.*^
Providence at Marquette, 8 p.m.*^
Sunday
#11 Georgetown at Providence, 1 p.m.*
Seton Hall at Xavier, 1 p.m.*^
Villanova at Butler, 1 p.m.*
St. John’s at DePaul, 2 p.m.*^
Creighton at Marquette, 2 p.m.*
All times Eastern
*BIG EAST contest
^BEDN